Tag Archives: grief

Recently, one of my friend’s dogs developed cancer. Although I am not her veterinarian, she and I had a long talk about the grim prognosis and the treatment options. A few weeks later, after her beloved dog had crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I overheard a mutual friend, who is not a pet person, saying something

The loss of pet can be emotionally wrenching. Pets that support you through critical life milestones such as marriage and the birth of a child, a serious illness, or the death of a close family member are especially difficult losses. Grieving comes in many forms as does the celebration and remembrance of a pet’s life. Over the years

In my last blog I wrote about children and pet loss based on a presentation given at The Animal Medical Center by Dr. David Schonfeld, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. I recently posed some frequently asked questions about pet loss to him; here’s what he had to say. Q: I just found out our 15-year-old family cat

Last week I received a telephone call from one of my clients. She realized the time had come for her 17-year-old dog to be euthanized. She had not previously euthanized a pet and we had a long discussion about the logistics related to timing, the procedure itself, and the options of cremation and burial. All

Making certain decisions for your pet can be pretty simple. Yes, I give heartworm medication every month, because the drug is effective and much safer than treating my dog for heartworms. Yes, I know spaying my dog prevents mammary gland cancer and unwanted puppies. Yes, I keep my cat indoors to protect against cat fights,