Loss of a Beloved Pet Dog

What Would Losing a Pet Feel Like?
Dogs have shorter lives than humans. If you decide to get a pet, you will most likely go through the painful experience of losing a pet. Although dogs are different from people, losing a beloved pet can cause similar amount of pain and grief as when you lose a loved one. Pet loss can be especially painful when you've had the dog ever since it was a pup. The grief caused by the loss of a pet can also vary in magnitude. Some dogs can die a natural death, which would be a less traumatic loss than losing a pet in an accident or the sudden death of a pet due to a fast-killing disease. Pet loss caused by diseases that act slow can also cause heavy feelings of distress in the pet owner who is forced to witness the dog's suffering and pain while struggling to help the pet get treated. In the case of diseases, sometimes, the dog owner is able to undergo a processing period, during which he begins to accept the loss of a pet as the disease progresses. There are also cases, however, when the dog undergoes a long stream of treatments with the hopes of getting cured of a particular disease, only to still die of the disease in the end. Such situations can also be very striking and painful for the pet owner who tried his best to get his pet treated. In this way, grief due to pet loss can vary in degree, but in general, the loss of a pet is not to be taken lightly.
Handling Your Grief Over Losing A Pet
Not everyone can understand the pain of losing a pet. People who do not own dogs will be especially unsympathetic. Grieving a pet is just like grieving over any form of a loved one. If possible, when you are grieving a pet, try to avoid people who won't understand the pain you are going through. This might just give you feelings that no one understands you at all. In some cases, you may also be driven to think that what you just went through is not a big deal, and this can make you feel worse. If you've suffered the loss of a pet, the best way to handle your grief is to give yourself time to take it in. Some routines in your life will definitely be changed, and the feeling inside your home may lose the life and cheerfulness provided by the dog. Don't force yourself to just accept the changes. Try to ease yourself into the unfamiliar situation of not having your dog with you. Also, it would be a good idea to have a good cry. That can help you release feelings of pain and grief, and will do you much good.
Getting a New Pet
Most importantly, don't go out and get a new pet immediately. Some grieving dog owners may feel tempted to get a new pet as soon as the old one dies to avoid feelings of loneliness and grief. If you do this, you are not really getting a new pet. You are simply looking for a replacement pet. You might then be frustrated when you find differences between your new dog and your old one. Wait some time before you go out to get a new dog. By then, you'll be ready to start anew, and this time, it will be with an entirely brand new dog.