Your six-month-old puppy will eat anything that isn’t tied down. Like many dog owners, you know chocolate can be dangerous to your pooch. But you may not know that if he sticks his nose in your handbag and eats a pack of sugarless chewing gum, the consequences could be deadly. Sugarless gum may contain xylitol, a class of sweetener known as sugar alcohol. Xylitol is present in many products and foods for human use, but can have devastating effects on your pet. Over the past several years, the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has […]
We’ve all been there before, you wondrous pet is looking at your with those droopy eyes as you select a piece of candy you’ve had your eyes on all night from the Halloween candy basket. We’ve compiled, from several sources the things to keep your mind on while enjoying some scary times with your Pet! #1 – Don’t give your pets chocolate As much as your wondrous pet wants that piece of candy, make sure you check to see if it is Chocolate. According to the ASPCA, chocolate in ANY FORM, especially dark chocolate can be extremely harmful for Dogs […]
Losing any family member, even a beloved pet, is a very traumatic experience. Feelings of sadness and grief, or even depression and despair are common. Take heart that you are not alone in these feelings. And that there are organizations, as well as individuals, who empathize with these feelings and have special training to help you in this time of need. These people and places are called grief counselors and grief support services and they offer psychological and/or spiritual services from different therapeutic and cultural perspectives. Grief and support counseling aims to help people deal with the heartache and mourning […]
Grief can be the most overwhelming of all emotions. It can leave us feeling completely lost and helpless regardless of whether we grieve for the loss of a person or a pet. Unfortunately, there remains some stigma over getting help for grief and other emotional distress, particularly as it pertains to the loss of a pet. It is easy today to find a variety of resources on grieving in general and grieving over the loss of a pet specifically (see the end of the article for links to many resources). A variety of people and professions say that they are […]
We all love our pets and want them to be with us forever. We sometimes forget that we will live much longer than most of our pets. It’s important that we know what to do and how to handle the death of a pet. This article will divide the subject into two parts, mental/emotional preparation and practical preparation. Mental and emotional preparation Mental and emotional preparation involves helping everyone in the family understand that death is a part of life.That everyone dies and that it’s okay to be confused, scared and sad or to feel any other emotion about the […]
When faced with the loss of a pet, family members must deal with a variety of emotions and choices. The disposition of your precious pet’s remains is one of the difficult decisions to make at this time of loss. Pet owners often choose to bury their pet and must consider a variety of factors to determine which option works best for their family. Providing a dignified funeral and burial for your pet can be a comforting farewell for your family. Gathering the right information is important. Speak to your vet, local funeral homes or pet cemeteries about option on where and […]
The death of a pet is the loss of a beloved family member and dealing with the loss is as difficult as with any member of the family. In families with children, often the children have known the pet their entire life. It’s very important that every surviving member of the family have a way to “say goodbye” while remembering the all the good experiences with the pet as a family over the years. Remembering and celebrating your pet is an important part of the grieving process. Keeping your pet’s remains “close by” can be a special way to memorialize […]
After my 16-year-old Labrador mix, Shiloh, died in 2009, I searched the internet, shopping malls and local dog groups looking for a suitable way to keep the memories of my beloved friend alive a little longer. I found a massive range of products, services, charities, activities and other ideas to memorialize the best friend I’ve ever had or ever will have. After my 16-year-old Labrador mix, Shiloh, died in 2009, I searched the internet, shopping malls and local dog groups looking for a suitable way to keep the memories of my beloved friend alive a little longer. I found a […]
After losing a pet, it’s quite common to feel sadness, guilt, anger or disconnected from family, friends and other favorite things. Whether you have lost your pet to death, it is missing or stolen, or you have had to surrender your pet, a permanent separation has occurred and that sense of loss can be felt for days or years to come. Many things can help alleviate the emotional pain we feel as we cope with the separation from our family pet; this article will focus on creating an online tribute for your best friend. An internet search for “online pet […]
The sad days after the loss of the family pet is difficult enough without the challenge of deciding how best to care for the deceased; it’s easy to become daunted by all the choices and decisions to make. This article will try to sift through the myriad of options with information on available alternatives. By the time you’ve finished reading it, it is my hope that you will feel confident in your ability to choose the method that is best for you and your family. Assuming you will want your pet’s remains returned to you, before you begin, check with […]
