Pets: How to cope with loss of a loved one

THE death of an animal hits most families hard - whether sudden or expected, losing a pet is a heartbreaking experience.

Pets are usually seen as another member of the family and are given the love and attention that comes with that role, so their death brings the emotional response most people would expect.

The PDSA veterinary charity understands this and believes as part of the grieving process, it is important for people to express their feelings.

"The loss of a companion can be heartbreaking, so make sure you share your feelings with others who understand your loss, and don't feel embarrassed to show your emotions," advises Sean Wensley, senior veterinary surgeon.

The grieving process comprises many different stages, including disbelief, pain, anger, guilt and acceptance.

The first is usually shock - a disbelief that a pet, who may have been part of a family for many years, is no longer alive.

As a home can feel empty and quiet, owners usually then feel pain, along with anger and depression as objects or places remind them of their deceased animal.

But perhaps the most common feeling is guilt as owners question whether there was more they could have done to prevent their pet getting ill, particularly if vets end up having to put them to sleep.

"People often feel they have given up on them," explains senior veterinary surgeon Andrew Hogg. "We always reassure owners that we would not recommend that if we honestly didn't believe it was the best course of action.

"In many situations it's the nicest thing that can be done for a pet, just to stop their pain and misery. It can be very hard for a vet as well though as we feel we have not been able to do more and have reached the final option."

All these emotions are routine and normal, according to the PDSA, and over time the heartache will ease as pet owners accept what has happened.

Much of this is helped by remembering the joy their pet brought them and what a happy life they had led, often by framing a picture of the animal or planting a tree of remembrance. There is also the option of placing a pet tribute tag at the PDSA's Paws Forever Pet Tribute Garden, or even arranging for your animal to be buried or its ashes scattered at home. Visit www.pdsa.org.uk for more information.