Planning for Goodbye
We see every day the emotional heartache when other pet parents have lost or about to lose their cherished companion’s
I thought I would post this on here you never know it might help.
I know this is not a subject that we like to think about but If you have time, then it can be better for both you and your pet to plan your pet’s end-of-life care, rather than leaving everything to decide on at the end. Planning ahead allows you to think through what you’d really like to do, how you would like to remember your pet’s end-of-life, and how you’d like to remember your pet after their death. It takes the pressure off having to make decisions when under emotional distress. In these circumstances, you might make decisions that you’d later wish you hadn’t or wish you had done differently. Spending a little time forward-planning, even if it’s just to be prepared for what you can expect if your pet is being euthanased, will help you cope both at the time and in the period beyond.
Please have a look at this website: compassionunderstood.com, it might help if you are worrying about your cherished companion and share as it might help somebody who is experiencing:
Anticipatory Grief
Grieving is a very natural process. You can read more about the emotions involved in grieving for a pet in our Feelings of Loss page. For some, grieving can start before the pet has actually died. This is called Anticipatory Grief. This is the name given to the feelings that occur in some people who are expecting death in a loved one. It can apply just as much to pets as to people.These feelings can be similar to the feelings of grief that are experienced after a pet's passing, but in addition might include feelings of fear about what life might be like without a beloved companion. Anticipatory grief is normal; it doesn't mean that you are giving up on your pet. In the same way that you would reach out or express your emotions of grief after your pet has passed, it's equally valid to express your grief before your companion is gone.
What anticipatory grief does do, is to allow us to reflect on life without that companion. It gives an opportunity to spend time with our beloved friend, and to express your love before they are gone. You have the chance to spend the time doing some things that you perhaps hadn't got around to, or to just simply spend precious spare moments cuddling on the sofa.
Keeping a grief diary or journal is one way of helping us come to terms with the impending death of our companion. Committing our thoughts to paper helps to validate our feelings and provides an outlet to the intense emotions that we are feeling. We can express any fears and identify where we might need more support.
https://www.compassionunderstood.com/page/planning-for-goodbye
