How to cope with pet loss and the feeling of not doing enough?

Here at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach we are very sorry for your loss. We are glad to hear that we were able to help you with him. Please let us know if you ever need anything else from us. We will be thinking of you as you go through this difficult time.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Mattie. Losing a pet can be one of the hardest things to go through. There are a few things that may be able to help. Many veterinary clinics (and some local animal shelters) do offer grief counseling for the loss of a pet, as well as support and craft groups that allow owners to share their stories, and even create memorials for their pets. If that is not available, speaking with a counselor or therapist in your area may also help so that you do not have to go through this on your own. There are also resources online such at The Rainbow Bridge, where you can chat with and share stories with other owners which may help you to remember the good times you had with Mattie, instead of the sorrow over her loss. It sounds like Mattie was very loved and well cared for during her time with you, and she likely loved you just as much.

I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye to Odis! He was a handsome boy. It's never easy to have to say goodbye to a beloved pet, but it did sound like he was quite sick. By letting him go, you took away his pain and discomfort, which is a great gift. He's at peace now, no long suffering, and you should know you did the right thing for him. I'm sure he loved you, and try to remember all the good times you had with it. It's so painful now, but over time, the pain will ease. You will always love him and miss him, but keep the memories of him close with you. I hope this helps.

I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of Motis. It sounds like she was very loved and had a wonderful home to live her life in with a loving family. If you're having trouble coping with her loss, checking out resources such as The Rainbow Bridge may help as you can connect with other owners and even create a digital pet memorial for Motis. We're also here to help if you have any other questions during your time of loss.

I am so sorry to hear about Scooby. You did everything you could do, he was just too sick. You might find it helpful to write him a letter- it has been very therapeutic for me in the past. I hope his memory keeps you smiling for many years to come. Thinking of you. Take care.

Hi, sorry to hear about your loss. I totally understand how lost you feel, I have been through the same a few times and recently I have lost my mum who was extremely precious to me.. I stayed by her side 21 days and when I left for one night she died in hospital on her own. I wonder if she was scared and frightened and I wasn’t there.. I would have never left her alone So imagine all this occurred 6 months ago and I still suffer a lot. I also feel bad for trying to make her move, as they advised me to do, because she was in pain and since she passed away probably didn’t need the extra aggravation. Remember we are only human, we do the best that we can, we live, love and die. Please visit https://www.theralphsite.com a fantastic pet bereavement support web-site set up by a great, sensible vet in the name of his cat Ralph. Hope this helps

I'm so incredibly sorry to hear about this. Sometimes in emergent situations when the pets are painful, the explanations get shortened- but I believe you and your vet came to the best solution for Joey. Typically, when the spinal cord compresses enough to cause paralysis, the surgery needs to be done within 24 hours to be effective, and the surgery alone generally runs 8,000-10,000 dollars, not including a lot of aftercare and physical therapy. There's also a risk of the surgery not working because the damage is too extensive already. In these situations, the pets are in an extreme amount of pain and very confused as to why they can't move. In situations where perhaps only one leg was affected or he was in back pain without being paralyzed, surgery would likely be more successful and your vet may have pushed you to pursue it more. I believe based on what you're telling me, that Joey's spinal problem had a poor outlook for surgery and your vet didn't want you to spend the money on something that wouldn't cure him or end his pain in the long run. I believe you made the most ethical and kind decision for Joey. It's heartbreaking to have to make these decisions for our pets, but you made a painful decision on your behalf to end Joey's physical pain when he had no other option. You made a beautiful sacrifice for his quality of life. Please seek counseling or grieving avenues with your loved ones during this hard time. I know unexpected loss can be so, so tragic. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.