Losing a pet is so much more painful than most people realize. It can even end in “broken heart syndrome.” Here’s how.
The Agony of Losing a Pet
When a pet dies, the family who loved that fur baby is grief-stricken. Pets are family members. They are there when we wake up, and beside us when we go to sleep. They see us sick, happy, angry, sad, and they never pass judgment. Our pets see the truth of who we are and they love us in spite of ourselves.
Isn’t that what family is supposed to do? Be there in good and bad times, offering support and unconditional love? Some may say they don’t even get that kind of care from their human families.
That’s why Scientific American says we should take pet loss seriously.
The aching hearts of those who lose a pet are often lonely hearts. After her dog died, a woman suffered from a terrible condition called “broken heart syndrome.” SA explains, “It can happen when the response to grief is so severe the person exhibits symptoms that mimic a heart attack, including elevated hormone levels that can be 30 times greater than normal.”
Essentially, the author says when you’re in anguish after this kind of loss, you need to reach out and let people know how badly you’re hurting.
“We need to seek social support from people we know will understand and sympathize with our emotions and not judge us for them.”
I think as a society we can always do a better job of supporting each other.
Crossing the Rainbow Bridge
You were used to morning purring to wake you up and now it’s quiet. You and your good boy always went for a walk before heading to bed. Now the leash hangs still.
When you open the front door, no one runs to you. At night all you can think about is how long it been since you slept in a bed without a four-legged friend taking up all the space.
That’s why the rest of us should show up, be loving, supportive and continue to be so for as long as it takes. There is no timeline on grief.
“It is time we gave grieving pet owners the recognition, support and consideration they need. Yes, it is up to us to identify and address our emotional wounds when our pet dies, but the more validation we receive from those around us, the quicker and the more complete our psychological recovery will be.” – Scientific American
If you’ve lost a pet, I want you to know how sorry I am you’re in pain. Tell us about them in the comments. What made you love them so? Did they have a favorite toy or a sweet way of showing you their love?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a therapist to help you get through.
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249 comments on “The Agony of Losing a Pet Is Worse Than People Know”
I had two Dachshunds. I got George when he was a couple months old. I went through a divorce so it was just George and I. I decided George needed a brother, so I got Jack, a little less than a year later. They were only a few months apart. Oh the antics of a Dachshund! They were my bestest buddies. George was usually Mr Independent. Off on his own. Jack was always by me. If I was at the craft table, they’d be laying together by my feet. If Jack wasn’t in my lap, he and George would be together. I got George in 2006. I got Jack in 2007.
July 2018 we were at the dog park. They are something and had swallowed it before I could get to them. The next day they started getting sick. Sunday night,Jack took a turn for the worse. I was up with him all night. 430 Monday morning he was still up walking around, but weak. I was going to get him to the vet first thing in the morning. 730 in the morning, he couldn’t even raise his head. A bout of diarrhea, all blood. I didn’t hesitate. I rushed him to the vet. She ran tests on him and said she could hook him up to iv’s, push fluids. I asked if she could save him. She said, “ I don’t think so because his little body is shutting down.” I made the choice of not putting him through anymore. I held my baby Jack as she gave him the med form him to go to sleep. I held him. I kissed his little head and told him how much I loved him and how much joy he had brought me and how much George and I would miss him. I kissed him one last time as he took a final breath, and my baby Jack was gone. July 9th, 2018, my baby Jack left me.
October 19, 2018,George, who wasn’t so Mr Independent anymore, was always by my side, was sitting beside me and I was asking him if was ready for another brother. I knew how much he missed Jack. I could tell by how he acted. He was mourning, just as I was. We went to bed that night. The next day, I woke up at 2pm. I NEVER sleep that late. George was ALWAYS barking, ready to go outside by 830-900am. Not October 20, 2018. I woke and found my George. He had left me, too. Not even four months since Jack left us. I truly believe George died of a broken heart. He was missing his little buddy. I held him and cried. I held him so close because I didn’t get to tell him goodbye. I kissed him and told him how much I loved him and how very much I already missed him.
George and Jack weren’t just my bestest buddies, they were bestest buddies on their own. I have their picture right here beside me. I talk to them every day. I tell them goodnight every night and tell them how very much I miss them. Losing them has put a hole in my heart. Next month will be one year for Jack. I don’t know how I’ll make it through the day.
This just hurts.
My K.C. Was the smartest, cutest, and lovingest dog ever. At least in our minds he was. This ruby King Charles was a Christmas Gift 8 1/2 years ago and gave us joy every day since. He matched up well with Chloe, my wife’s King Charles gotten 4 years prior. He had a toy basket with about twenty toys and would pick each one out when asked for by name. I am handicapped and retired, so I was with him basically always. He rode with me every day to get lunch and would always talk me into getting him cookies or ice cream. (My wife doesn’t believe that). He was with me until bedtime every night and there every morning while I showered, got dressed and went downstairs. He had favorite commercials to bark at the dogs which we can hardly watch now. He laid on my lap all day long and if you asked him for a hug, he would stand up and wrap his front paws around your neck and hug you. That cheered you up immediately. He was always by the table to be sure he helped you clean up any scraps that you would “accidentally” drop. He would always start out in his bed beside ours, but always seemed to be under our covers in the morning. Pretty smart to be that sneaky. We found out about a year ago that their heart murmurs were getting worse, so we put both on medication. We kept a close look, but they continuously went down hill and KC started having fainting spells. Chloe started being incontinent as well. KC became more lethargic and losing some eyesight. Both would just stand and stare and look confused. We finally had to make the decision to put them down. Even though it was a calm experience at the vet, I’ll never forget KC sleeping so soundly on my lap and Chloe snuggling up to my wife also sound asleep. I can’t seem to stop seeing him like this and I’m an emotional disaster. I feel embarrassed about crying all the time with each reminder we see or hear. I just know we will never forget either one of them.
NEVER feel embarrassed for mourning your fur baby!! They are your children as well as your human children are. It’s good to mourn them. they were our sidekicks, bedbuddies, therapists, you name it!! You do what is necessary to get through this grieving part. I made a memory garden for my babies in my back yard.It’s where I go to talk to them. And its beautiful and colorful. Something like that may help? It was cathartic for me to make it. It helped me to grieve and speak to them as I did it. I sure hope this helps you and your wife!! Time does help make it easier. Hugs to you both.
Rachel
My 32 year old horse, Copper, passed away on Wednesday. I’ve lost other pets and they were emotional, but this one has hit me hard! As if I’d lost a family member! I’ve had him for 25 years and not only did we compete together, he was my companion, my therapist, my world. When I found him, my world crumbled! I will miss the soft nickers I would hear coming down to the barn and the morning nozzles and butterfly kisses he’d give to get a peppermint or ginger snap cookies
Bella passed 3 weeks ago today. She was 15 and had several significant health issues and it was time for her to rest. For the past year or so, especially the pay few months, she required more hands on care. This meant more closely monitoring her movements. And like you said, we created a strict schedule for all her medications. All of a sudden that stopped. What I nurtured and took care of for 8 years is suddenly gone. And what do I do now. I’ve been lost for 3 weeks. Recently 2 friends each lost am adult child so I feel ashamed to be this grieved compared to their circumstances (I don’t have kids, I have furbabies).
I lost my baby Brie April 2018. I feel like i’m stuck. I miss her so much and my heart hurts so bad. she was a little dog who relied on me quite a bit. she was 14 1/2 and died of Chronic Heart Failure. i’m just so broken x
Libby was with me for 18 years. She had beautiful blue sapphire eyes. I loves her, she was sweet, tough, and persevering. A mom, gma, friend, competitor for a toy, snuggle buddy and meal buddy. I miss her.
My Bichon was 17.5 yrs. when he passed . When I would get my hair dryer out, he would come in
The bathroom and stomp he’s paws. Am I going, am I going. I would say yes, go tell Bob you can
Go. He would take off and bark at Bob, I’m going. It’s been almost 7 yrs and I still cry. It was like
Losing a great loved one. Because that’s exactly what it is.
We recently moved our business to a new location that had a resident Red Hen, Henrietta. She visited all of the businesses up and down the street. She had the most charming personality and we all fell in chicken love with her. She greeted me every morning, came in the office for mealworms and melon. She left us beautiful brown eggs and talked quite a story. We have only been here since 4/1/19, so only 3 months of sharing her joy. She was killed last week during the night by another animal. I am devastated by her loss….I just can’t grasp how a little hen could get under my skin so thoroughly is such a short time. I still tear up at the thought of her not being here.
On May-28-2019 My Puppy Max Cross The Rainbow Bridge..He Was 13 Years Old….On June-07-2019 He Was Cremated I Have His Ashes And Dog Prints…God Only Know How Hurt I Am..I Cry All day & Everyday I Look Threw All Hi Pictures I Cry..I See His Ashes I Cry As Well As His Dog Print..Lord I Miss My Pups Dearly..
#JackRussellTerrier
Monday of this week I was still in the rehabilitation facility and was extremely excited to be going home. I particularly missed my pups. Roxie was missing me, too. She managed to get out the gate and decided she was going to come see me. She knew where I was because she had been up to visit. She headed up the road toward the facility that is only a block away. Unfortunately, she never made it. She was hit by a car and killed instantly. I can’t tell you what a hole this has left in my heart.
I chose her from a rescue organization nine years ago because she was such a cuddle bug. It was all an act, she soon earned her nickname, ’Wild Woman’. Mail delivery was never the same. The mailman quickly pushed it through the door slot to make she didn’t get his fingers. She then had to pick up piece and make sure it was dead by shaking the hell out of it. She slept with me every night, under the covers, stretched to her full length with all four feet in the air. Unless, of course one of the grandkids was spending the night and then she had to sleep with them. I think I have more pictures of her sleeping than awake. I miss her so much!