What to do when a beloved pet dies
We often share intense bonds with our pets. They are not considered just “a dog” or “a cat” but a member of our family. They may give you a sense of meaning and purpose, keep you active and social, be the source of joy, and provide you with consolation when you are feeling dejected. So when your pet passes away, it is normal to feel affected by grief. You may not even know what to do next. If so, keep calm and follow these steps.
Death at home
Let’s talk about what to do when your pet meets a natural death at home. Before anything else, make sure that your pet is deceased. Sometimes, people think that their pet has died, when the pet is actually still alive. Conversely, you may think that your pet is still alive when it is actually deceased. A pet’s body may have natural movements or signs of life even after death, but this does not mean that the pet is coming back to life. These signs include twitching, the release of air from the mouth, or the release of bodily gas. When your pet passes away, its bowels will release, so you should place a towel or container under their hind end.
If you have other pets at your home, let them smell their friend. They do not have to get up close to smell your deceased pet - being in the same room will do. This will help them understand what has happened. Otherwise, they will wonder where their buddy has gone.
Before the cremation or burial
After a pet’s death, you should tuck in their front and back legs tight into their body. About three or four hours after death, your pet will start to undergo rigor mortis, where every muscle becomes stiff. Tucking in the legs is primarily for transportation and burial reasons.
You may want to keep your deceased pet at home for a short period (usually a day or so) until you decide between cremation or a burial. In this case, you should keep your pet’s remains in a container at a cold spot. Otherwise, your pet will start to decompose, which creates a health risk and an odor difficult to remove.
Cremation, home burial, and pet cemeteries
Now you will need to make a decision on whether you wish your pet to be cremated or buried. During this process, you also have the option to contact your local vet to handle your pet’s remains.
If you wish for your pet to be cremated, you should contact a crematorium of your choice, either through your vet or on your own. Although cremation is more costly than a home burial, some may prefer it because it helps memorialize their pets. Crematoriums will return your pet’s ashes to you, and you can scatter them or keep them according to your preference.
You may choose to bury your pet at home. This is an inexpensive and meaningful method of taking care of your pet’s remains. However, before you proceed with a burial, there are certain things to consider:
Make sure to be wary of local laws - sometimes, it may not be permitted to bury your pet in a rented property or any other property you do not own.
Verify with your vet to make sure that your pet’s remains are not hazardous to human health before the burial.
Make sure the grave is more than three feet deep if you want to ensure that your pet’s remains stay covered.
Mark the burial site with something if you wish to remember the exact location of your pet’s remains.
You may also choose to bury your pet at a pet cemetery. These cemeteries will provide burial services which are usually more expensive than cat or dog cremation. The price usually depends on the weight of your pet, and the type of container used (such as a coffin). The cemetery will allow you to erect a headstone or other memorial marker on the grave.
Taking care of yourself throughout the process
It’s okay to feel pain, loss, grief, or even anger. These reactions are an inevitable part of loss and death, and suppressing these feelings will make things worse. Instead, there are healthy ways of coping with the pain:
Reach out to others who have also lost pets. If your friends or family are not sympathetic about pet loss, reach out to pet loss support groups.
Spend some time with those who care about you, eat healthy, get some sleep, and take care of yourself. The stress of losing your pet can affect your health, so it is important to stay healthy and in tune.
If you have other pets, maintain your normal routine by taking walks with them and playing with them.
Create a legacy for your pet. Prepare a memorial, create a photo album, plant a tree in memory of your pet, and so on. Remembering the good times may help you move on.
Last of all, seek professional help if you need it.