Grief and pet loss – symptoms you may experience

There are a wide range of symptoms of grief:
Physical - such as crying, loss of appetite, loss of concentration, sleeplessness, vomiting, d+ collapsing.
Emotional - anger (including displaced anger), guilt, sadness, depression
Cognitive - blaming people, suicidal thoughts, denial, hallucinations
Social implications - withdrawing, becoming dependant on others
Anticipatory grief - grieving before the actual loss

Not everyone will display all the symptoms, but it is helpful to know the possible responses people might have so that we are not alarmed if we react in a way we don't expect. Belinda goes through what these responses might be.

Our Special Friends helps people continue to benefit from animal companionship by providing practical and emotional support during illness, bereavement or other crises.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:20 The human-animal bond / human-animal relationship
1:39 The difficulty of losing a pet
3:07 Symptoms of grief
3:51 Emotional signs of grief
5:14 Cognitive symptoms of grief
7:05 Social implications
9:06 Anticipatory grief

Other videos about grief and pet loss:

[VeraCasaca]

I'm experiencing: nausea, total lack of appetite, apathy, massive sadness, feeling like a ghost myself, just want to sleep all day not to feel the pain, guilty or feeling like I betrayed her for putting her to sleep although she was getting sick. My companion, my beautiful 16 yo Minie is gone. I'm a grown up woman and I can't even wash her blanket so that I can still hold it and smell it. I hear her paws and her drinking water. It's like I'm going mad... I miss you so much Minie 💔🙏🏼💔

[chantallajeunesse]

The awful feeling of walking in a soulless empty apartment. I recognized my furniture but I don't feel at home anymore. I feel so deeply sad and heavy. Often at the edge of having a panic attack when I think that he is gone and this is real. He was 15 years old, the sweetest and most gentle and happy dog. He was my greatest joy and love. He was my only family. He meant the world to me. I am devasted. I said goodbye last week, I feel so confused, I don't understand how I can even find the strength to get up and go to work. My heart bleeds

[TheBrianna]

It feels like a bad dream I can't wake up from. I keep forgetting and thinking he is right in the next room.

[Progressivelyyou]

Thank you for this.
Ive lost my first dog, Im almost three weeks into this and I can say with certainty, the emotions and physcial symptoms were unbearable, I thought my heartbreak would kill me.
My heart goes out to everyone going through this, the pain is quite undescribable.
I am wishing you all, and myself, brighter days to come.

[truthwarrior]

Just lost my dog Vida of 9 years tonight. She passed from cancer. She was amazing and better than any human I have ever met. The heartache is unbearable. To me, she was my child and my best friend. I feel lost and broken without her.

[spropp]

It's been over 2 1/2 years for me now and at times the pain feels as fresh as if I just lost him. I think it's because this type of love is so unconditional that it hurts so bad for so long.

[lorenzoparedes]

For me, the most painful part was having to make the decision for euthanasia at the veterinarian emergency clinic. After that, it was removing her collar for the last time before walking away from the now stilled body of my furry, loving companion of 12 years. Then, coming home to a silent, excessively empty house. I could not sleep all night, and finally exhaustion overcame and I fell asleep around 4:30 in the morning, only to wake up about 1-1/2 hours later to the shocking, cruel reality she's not there, my Little Buddy. I could not stay in bed, feeling an overwhelming sense of panic, loss and lack of direction and the will to pick up a routine that involved my friend at every moment of the day. If I would go out to do errands, I would automatically look at my watch and think I needed to return home to do her doggie squats. Again, the shocking, painful reminder that she's not here, waiting for me to care for her. If I would walk past her food and water dishes, it was an automatic reflex to try to add food and water to those shiny stainless steel bowls. At night, I miss the gentle sounds of her soft breathing as she sleeps, sometimes even her snoring at the foot of my bed, where her beds are. My world felt so safe and well anchored when she slept near me. I owe a depth of gratitude to the dogs who've been my loving companions over many years. They have kept me motivated during very trying times in marriages that dissolved over the years, and they kept me company during bouts of serious illnesses, unemployment, and even when I broke my back and could hardly stand up. Thank you, sweetest friends.

[biljam]

The worst things about losing fur baby are feeling you could've done something to prevent it, especially when it was an accident, and repeating in your head how everything could be fine if you just didn't or did... The other thing is terrible emptiness where little ball of happiness and sunshine used to be, all the noises and cute looks and knowing you will never see her or him again. And the worst thing is everyone telling you your grief is not valid, "it's just an animal" and making you feel guilty by telling you how they lost people they loved and you lost "just a pet"... It's the worst, I hate it! Just say you are sorry if you can't feel anything for me!

[andreejohnston]

Just put my beauty down today. Finnegan! Rescued him at 2 yrs old from a terrible puppy mill. He was my truest soulmate I have ever had. Never ever experienced pain like this before. I’m feeling sick over it. I might of put him down a lil early but I couldn’t stand to see him suffer or be sad anymore. He was my everything. 😢😢

[Greatideas]

I am broken, I will never be the same again 😢

[nilswestman]

The same for me. Lost my fur baby 5 days ago.
I couldn't ever imaging that level of pain would come.
The first 24 hours was pure hell.
Seems like we grieve our pets as much as people.
It was like loosing my best friend.

[bradscott]

Just lost my Friend, Hunting partner, Hiking Buddy, Emotional support friend, and most importantly a loyal Friend I have never seen in people.
The pain is so intense with crying, lack of sleep, and anger.
Trying to go with the emotions and know this will be a long process.
Amber, Daddy will miss you forever.
See you in Heaven someday.

[Octo]

Just lost our dog Beautiful. She lived up to her name. God love was shown through her, and we love her dearly for it. God Bless everyone going through grief and pain.

[sylvianblue]

I Lost my spaniel of 15 years yesterday; Blue. I was there at the end and am so happy I was with him. But gosh, I miss him so much, the yearning is so intense. It helps to look at videos and photos of him. But I can’t believe I’ll never physically see him again.

[beesilva]

I just lost my cat Lucky yesterday. He was my boy. My greatest teacher of unconditional love. Im devastated & cannot stop crying.

[russbeardsley]

I can't put into words how much i miss my dog.

[jeankeats]

I see all these posts and yes, I KNOW how it feels. We had a cat that just walked into our lives and we had her almost 20 years BUT cats don't live as long as people. She was so old, I could see it in her last year with us. Her eyes said..."Advanced age". She began to be senile. She stopped eating. She could barely walk. We put her down. I cried so hard I felt like my insides would turn inside out. That was EIGHT months ago. I was DESTROYED. Take heart EVERYONE. Now, I'm okay. The intense pain has lessened considerably. I can go on. I caught my husband looking at her image and smiling. I cried my head off. That was yesterday. Yes, you will still cry here and there but like I said, the severe pain WILL get better. I promise. You need time. My DEEPEST sympathy to all on here. I know you all are in severe pain. XXOO

[michellelee]

The grief is heavy and the pain is unbearable. A lot of people just don’t understand. We lost our sweet Owen Bear this past Monday and my heart is so broken. The doubts, questioning what we could’ve done differently, wondering if we missed something even though I saw the signs he was nearing the end for months. He fought as long and hard as he could until he just couldn’t do it another day. We will always love you sweet bear. You were the very best boy and are sorely missed.

[siat]

Thank you for this. We had to put down our dog Woody of 14 years down last week. The emotional toll it has taken on us is unbearable! My heart goes out to everyone who is experiencing or has gone through this.

[aliciakay]

My sweet sweet boy Hemi, I don’t know how to be here without you, I keep getting shocks of pain over my body and gasp trying to get air over the constant thoughts of you being gone. It’s just as hard as it was Monday. You are the love of my life and I’m not ok. You weren’t just a dog to me and I don’t know how to be here without you. I’ve been through a lot and have never experienced pain like this.