What is the loss of a pet from a psychological point of view?
For many people, a dog is not just an animal, but a real member of the family. The owner remembers all the moments associated with his pet. Therefore, the loss becomes very difficult, it is as if a person is deprived of a loved one. From a psychological point of view, the explanation is simple - people lose the source of unconditional love.
Dogs can die after a long illness
The animal may die suddenly. Being hit to death by a car, a heart attack, or simply an insect bite - these reasons are not rare.
Psychological stages experienced by an owner who has lost a pet
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According to many psychologists, after a person has lost his beloved pet, he goes through several stages, which in most cases end in humility and acceptance of the situation.
The death of a dog becomes a very big grief for the whole family.
Aggression, guilt
Initially, any owner experiences a period of emotional prostration. In this case, the person wants to be alone and give vent to tears. Even a little reassurance can result in a new stream of tears if at least something reminds you of your pet.
However, this stage is quite short. After it, the owner experiences a period when he begins to blame himself and others for the death of his dog. At the same time, anger and aggression may appear against those who, in the owner’s opinion, are guilty of the current situation.
Deep grief, depression
Immediately after the loss of a pet, the dog owner experiences a feeling of great grief, which can gradually develop into prolonged depression. In the absence of other diseases that have worsened against the background of the experienced situation, the duration of the depressed state lasts approximately 2-3 weeks.
Important! If depression persists for a longer period of time, psychological help may be needed.
Awareness of loss and humility
After some time, the owner begins to accept the fact of the pet’s death and the fact that it is impossible to return it. The person comes to terms with the situation, everyday activities gradually crowd out sad thoughts.
Memories of wonderful days will help you cope with loss
Adoption
The last psychological stage is the acceptance of grief. The owner is left with a feeling of light sadness. He understands that the dog cannot be returned, and remembers with a warm feeling all the moments spent with the animal.
How to let go of a dead pet
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Immediately after the death of a dog, it is very difficult to live normally; many people plunge into a depressive state for a long time. It is recommended to seek some advice from a psychologist on how to cope with the death of a dog.
Fill the void in time
When a dog with whom you spent a lot of time dies, an emptiness forms in your soul. Out of habit, a person takes a leash and enters a pet store. It is recommended to try to find a hobby or hobby that can distract you from sad thoughts. As a result, there will be less free time for negative thoughts.
Don't rush to forget
There is no need to try to forget the dog immediately and quickly. Psychologists recommend showing all emotions and crying if necessary. It is worth determining for yourself the time it will take for mourning. However, you should not fall into a depressive state that can last for a long time.
It is recommended to remove toys and all your pet’s belongings so that they do not remind you of him.
Remove pet supplies
After a few days or weeks, it is recommended to collect all of the dog's personal belongings and hide them in a place where they will not be seen. Perhaps at this moment there will be a feeling of betrayal, but this must be done.
Remember only the good things
It is recommended to remember only positive moments. Psychologists advise thinking about how much good the owner did for his pet, how happy the dog was with him. You shouldn’t feel sorry for yourself, it’s better to be proud of your actions and the fact that the animal was comfortable with its owner.
Don't rush to get another dog
Many people immediately buy a new puppy after the death of one dog. Such an action is not always the solution. Often, such an attempt to replace a dead dog with a living baby leads to the owner comparing them with each other all his life and living in the past. Both the person and the new pet suffer from this.
Professional help after the death of a dog
If the grief from the death of a dog is too great and you cannot cope with it on your own, then it is recommended to turn to professional psychologists. No self-respecting doctor will turn away from a person with such a problem, but will give the necessary recommendations.
Advice! It is not forbidden to visit a priest and talk to him about this situation.
Search for joy
To avoid depression, you need to pay more attention to the positive moments in life. It is worth enjoying every little thing, then bitter feelings will gradually begin to pass.
Do not walk in areas where your pet is allowed to walk
Sports and walks
Exercising and long walks are good for the health of both body and soul. In addition, such a pastime will allow you to take your mind off negative thoughts. It is worth noting that it is better not to visit those areas where the dog was constantly walked, so that sad memories do not appear.
Chat with friends
Chatting with friends will help fill the emptiness inside. You can tell them about your love for your pet and your sadness after its death. Good friends will always understand and support.
Advice! Many psychologists recommend visiting dog shelters and helping homeless animals.
Such communication will allow you to switch your attention and forget a little about your sadness.
Paradise for cute fluffies
Paradise for them is similar to human heaven - a place where cats, dogs, hamsters want to be... They want to be with their beloved owner or other animals with whom they were friends while still alive.
That is why, after the furries pass away, they want to once again meet the one they loved then and continue to love now.
Another sign of the presence of a deceased animal is that you can feel its presence simply by sitting or lying on a bed or in a chair. It seems as if something invisible is curled up or stretched out on a pillow near your face.
This is more typical for cat owners. A typical style of these proud animals and a sign that the cat has come for a visit is to feel it lay down on your lap or at your feet. Most often, the owner feels it precisely at the moment of rest.
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With your peripheral vision you can detect the presence of a dead fluffy. This can mean two things: either the person received the gift from one of his great-grandmothers, or the pet actually came to visit.
How to get rid of the feeling of guilt about euthanasia
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The dog does not always die on its own. Unfortunately, there are cases when the owner has to make a difficult decision about euthanasia. Of course, every owner hopes to the last that the dog will be helped, it will be cured and everything will be as before. Many inexperienced owners sometimes do not understand how an animal suffers when it cannot even express its pain in words. However, in such cases it is necessary to show a certain composure and make the right decision about euthanasia.
Important! If there is even a minimal chance that the pet will survive, euthanasia should not even be considered.
In severe cases, a similar procedure is performed and the pet dies quietly in its sleep. The owner cannot always come to terms with this, but psychologists recommend reassuring yourself that this was the only right choice.
Euthanasia is sometimes a necessary procedure
How can loved ones help during the shock stage?
Close people will always support you in grief, so you should not isolate yourself. Relatives will listen and try to help. However, sometimes it happens that they simply do not understand the situation and believe that it is just an animal, so they should not suffer like that.
In such cases, you can try to explain to them what the pet meant to the owner. If this does not work out, then it is better to refuse to communicate with such people.
Often the owner is lost and does not know what to do if the dog dies. In this case, close relatives are recommended to help bury the pet and carry out the necessary procedures.
Pet perfumes
The spirits of pets in the form of some signs can visit not only a righteous believer, but also a convinced skeptic. That's why we need to talk about it. And the signs will appear in the feeling of the presence of a cat or dog in the house, in a real vision of a fluffy, touching his fur, inhaling the smell of his food...
In the film “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” the main idea is the understanding that being “on the other side” of life, a pet will definitely come to the one it loved during life.
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There are several common types of visits your beloved pet may receive. Some of them are documented, others were told by mediums, others are part of the family history of some people.
How to help your child come to terms with the death of a dog
The death of a dog sometimes becomes a serious shock for a child; the child can fall into depression for a long time. Therefore, parents should take a more responsible approach to the problem:
- You need to understand that the child does not show suffering, but longing for his friend.
- It is recommended to try to distract the baby from sad thoughts and keep him occupied with something.
- Some psychologists recommend getting a second animal a few years after the first one appears. Then, after the death of the older pet, the younger one will become some consolation for the child.
In general, psychologists advise preparing the child in advance for what may happen. In this case, if a beloved dog has died, it will be a little easier for him to bear it. Teenagers often keep all their emotions to themselves, hardly showing them. However, this is also not a solution; parents should carefully monitor the child’s behavior and pay attention to alarming symptoms.
How to cope with the death of a dog? This is undoubtedly difficult for any owner; a pet often becomes a member of the family. However, we must come to terms with the fact that the life of furry pets is much shorter than that of humans, so you should immediately understand what awaits you in the end. They say that when a dog dies, it takes everything bad with it, so you should let the animal go and try to move on with your life.
Who is guilty?
The main problem that prevents people from experiencing grief is the search for someone to blame. It doesn’t matter what exactly happened, instinctively, a person looks for those responsible for what they did, let it be God or evil fate, but the accusation will find the defendant.
It is much worse when the owner blames himself for the death of the pet - “I didn’t have time,” “I didn’t notice,” “I made a mistake in choosing a veterinarian.” Finding someone to blame applies to situations where a pet leaves due to illness or an accident.
Naturally, you should not wait for the fateful hour; you need to take care of your friend while he is alive and well - proper nutrition, vaccinations, safety, care, regular veterinary examinations. The more responsible you are about your basic responsibilities, the faster you will be confident that you did everything right when the time comes to cope with the loss of your dog.
A separate topic for discussion is euthanasia. Many owners refuse to humanely euthanize an animal, considering it murder. In fact, a hopelessly ill dog suffers only because the owner’s inner selfish child cannot accept reality. If you are gnawing at guilt, atone for it in any way available to you. Contact an animal shelter, become a volunteer, pick up a kitten on the street, wash it and find it a home.
