It can be hard to anticipate or experience the loss of a pet. In this blog, we will be sharing experiences and tips about supporting yourself and/or others on this journey.
Looking after yourself and your pet
Self-care is just as important as pet care when dealing with end of life in your pet. Our first tip would be to include and inform your loved ones. Everyone who cares about you and your pet can possibly help and support you, not only by giving you a break but also to stimulate your pet with a different set of cuddles. You will feel so much better equipped to care for your pet, if you feel well yourself.
Making sure you stay healthy and get sleep is paramount. As a hospice vet I often talk about setting up a rota of who sleeps in the same room as the pet and who sleeps in the guest room. It is important to acknowledge the impact caring for a poorly pet has on your life and to adapt where possible. Make sure you sleep on a proper mattress and safeguard your back as we need our backs to help our pets.
Making a bucket list with all the pet’s loved ones can be really inspire and create some great memories which might soften the pain of missing them. Having the knowledge, they had the best time they could have right till the end is important. It can also give you something really positive to focus on at a time when it’s easy to put all the focus on what lies ahead. It can help bring focus to the moment instead.
Don’t go through it alone it is best to break the isolation of caring for a terminal pet as early in the process as possible and to include others in your worries and concerns. At dignipets we offer online consults for exactly that purpose and more. We can talk about the things that matter for your and your pet’s quality of life right up to their final moments.
Preparing for the future. We only have so much control when it comes to end of life situations. Knowing what lies ahead and thinking about decisions you will be asked to make at a difficult time can help. Memorialising your pet can give you ideas on how to pay tribute. Looking up aftercare options after your pet has passed away can give you a feeling of being more prepared.
Looking after others
Do you have a loved one that is dealing with the care of a terminally ill pet?
Listening without offering solutions can be difficult but very helpful. Allowing this time for it to be about their pet loss and try and put aside your personal experiences unless asked to share. This means accepting that their way of grieving might be different from yours. When someone comes to us with something that’s difficult for them, it’s easy to feel like we should fix things for them and make it better. But when it comes to pet loss, it is better to listen instead.
Referring to supportive organisations can be a tremendously helpful. Lots of organisations that offer help with pet loss are available for support long before a pet has passed away. You can also book an online visit for them with one of our supportive team members if you feel they would be more comfortable talking to a professional. Joining a support page to read about other pet carers experiences can also help hugely.
Volunteering to help can also be a very rewarding. Especially if your friend or loved one is elderly. The knowledge that their pet still will have all their care needs met by you in case something happens to them can prevent a lot of anxiety. The cinnamon trust has been doing this for years and has a lot of useful information on this subject.
We help pet carers every day with support and scoring for their pet’s quality of life
Together with you, our hospice vets will make a plan looking at all aspects of your pet’s needs, taking into consideration you and your pets’ goals and wishes. We will also help you and your family implementing this plan in the weeks to come and if needed guide you through the process of making decisions. Along side your family veterinary practice we will support you in caring for your pet with an individualised care plan to help you achieve the very best care for your pet at home.
We even offer our hospice vet consultations online via video call to provide advice on veterinary care, diet and support, with less stress to your pet or you.