How to Cope with Losing a Pet

Anyone who owns a pet will tell you how important they are in their lives. Whether it’s a dog, cat, rabbit or horse, pets can provide a great amount of comfort and love to their owners. It’s this kind of unconditional love that has a positive impact on our mental wellbeing as they help us to live happier and more fulfilled lives. 

Studies have shown that interacting with animals increases our levels of oxytocin (OT), which can reduce stress, anxiety and loneliness. In a study published by HABRI, it states that “research has demonstrated participants’ OT levels increased after interacting with or petting a dog, suggesting OT is at least partially responsible for the calm, relaxing feeling that participants experienced during this intervention.” So, it should come as no surprise that losing a pet can be extremely difficult to deal with and in some instances equally as distressing as losing a close friend or family member.

Ways to cope with losing a pet

Unlike losing a person in your life, we don’t usually have formal funerals for animals, and it can be difficult for someone that doesn’t own a pet to understand that you will need time to grieve. But it’s important that you do allow yourself time to deal with the bereavement and there are a few ways that can help you to cope.

1. Allow yourself time

Not everyone will understand that you need to grieve for your pet, but it’s vital that you allow yourself time for the grieving process. Perhaps take some time off work, look through photos of you and your pet and remember the times you had together, or scatter their ashes on your favourite walk. It’s okay to cry and show your emotions but try not to let feelings of sadness linger for too long.

2. Speak with a friend or family member

Anyone who cares for you and your feelings will want to help you through the grieving process by offering love and support or just a shoulder to cry on, even more so if they own or have owned a pet themselves. Simply chatting about your thoughts and feelings with someone close to you can help you to overcome the sadness in time.

3. Take up a new hobby

One of the most difficult things to deal with when you lose a pet is breaking the routine that you’d formed together, whether that’s going for walks, play time or just cuddling up on the sofa together. By investing your time into a hobby or interest, you will create new routines and gradually spend less time mourning your pet.

4. Spend time with another pet

While it’s not always a good idea to replace your pet with another one right away, it can be therapeutic spending time with someone else’s pet. Perhaps you have a friend that has an animal you could spend time with or take for walks to ease any feelings of loneliness.

Further information

• Find out more about the benefits of having a pet in our blog article: 'Why having a pet is good for your mental health'
• You can read more about the grieving process in our booklet: 'Understanding Grief'. Download a FREE copy >