Having a dog brings plenty of joy to one’s household. A dog can be a wonderful companion that can help make you feel happy and loved.

However, even if you wish to be with your pet forever, all good things must come to an end. Similar to humans, death is an inevitable aspect of your dog’s life. Unfortunately, a dog can only live for a short time. If you suspect that your dog is nearing its end because they’re old or experiencing a severe illness that they can no longer recover from, you need to prepare yourself emotionally on the day they die. 

If you want to know how to plan for your dog’s passing, this article specifically addresses that.

 

Decide Whether To Bury Or Cremate

As your dog passes, there are two ways you can choose to honor your pet. You can either bury or cremate them. But ultimately, you have to decide which option makes you feel the most comfortable. If you want to bury your dog, you can do so in a cemetery for pets. You can have a headstone customized so it’s easier to spot where the dog’s body was laid to rest. However, if you still want your dog to be close to home, you can bury the remains in the open space of your yard.

Alternatively, if you’d still like to keep your pet with you inside your home, cremating your dog would be a better choice. Knowing that your dog’s memory is still present will make it easier for you to deal with your loss. You can even have the ashes incorporated into a pendant for a necklace that you can take with you everywhere. You can begin hiring the pet cremation services of a company like Lawnswood or other similar companies when you’re done with the planning. It would help you to be familiar with the cost and procedure involved in the cremation before the whole process starts.

Find A Vet You’re Comfortable With 

When your dog passes, the simplest course of action is typically to take your dog’s body to the vet for assistance. Since your dog’s passing can be difficult to deal with, you need to find a veterinarian who will be sympathetic to your situation. A vet you feel at ease with may help you through the grieving process, especially if your dog was put to sleep. Additionally, a veterinarian can advise you on the next steps to take after your dog passes away so you’ll know what to expect.

When searching for the right vet, ensure that they can provide you with suggestions on how you can honor your dog and what your options are. They can give you the appropriate information because they have a lot of experience with situations such as this. 

Preserve Your Dog’s Paw Print 

As you anticipate your dog’s passing, you should consider preserving your dog’s paw print while they’re still alive. By doing so, you’ll have something to remember them by. This can also be a way to carry a piece of them with you. You could also display it in your room or in an area of your house where they usually hang around.  

There are plenty of DIY paw print kits which you can purchase online. You can stamp it on paper or cast it on cement to get the actual size and texture of your pet’s paw. It’ll be a wonderful way to remember them when they pass away. 

Explain The Situation To Everyone 

Your children may feel sad upon learning that their beloved pet has passed away, so it’s best to prepare them for this so that they will understand the situation. You should explain your dog’s condition to the members of your family and what they should expect from it. This will help in their emotional preparation as they anticipate losing their dog. 

Even though the loss of your dog may cause your family grief and pain, it still helps to keep them informed. By doing this, they will be able to focus on enjoying their dog’s remaining days.

Spend Plenty Of Time With Your Dog 

If you can, make your dog’s final days special as its life draws to a close. You can take your dog to a spot in your house where it usually spends time so that it feels at home. You can also leave its favorite chewing toy by its side to help it cope with any pain it may be experiencing. While it might be heartbreaking for you to do all those things, remember that you’re doing it for a pet that you regard as a member of your family. 

Spend as much time with your dog as possible. If your dog can still engage in some light physical activity, you can take it to the beach, on a camping trip, to the backyard, or in other special locations where you can play with it. You can also allow your dog to eat its favorite foods and rest close to you.  All of these things may make your dog happy, which also might make its passing easier for you to accept. 

Takeaway 

Preparing for your beloved dog’s death is not an easy task. While the emotions can be too overwhelming and the process can be challenging, allowing yourself to plan everything would help make things a bit easier for you and your pet. This way, as you mourn the loss, you can concentrate on the significance of the process. Ensure that you spend as much time with them as possible and as you prepare to say goodbye to your dog, make every moment count.

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About the author

Rodney Seibert is a crematory operator. He has been assisting families with their pet’s funeral process for more than 10 years now. He also writes guest posts to share his expertise in the field. In his free time, Rodney enjoys giving his time to pet shelters.

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