Grief & Bereavement of close held pets

Once there is acknowledgement and validity to knowing that pets are family, then it stands to reason that pet loss is comparable to the loss or death of a family member. Loss may be rehoming a pet, a pet running away, losing custodial care, or any other experience where the pet is alive, but no longer in the home. Death may be sudden or prolonged, chosen or an uncontrolled experience.

Veterinary Social Workers may be a resource when making decisions about a pet that will alter their quality of life (like an amputation), or decisions about euthanasia. Conversations may be about the pet, or considerations related to the pet, such as financial burden, time investment, or life style/quality of life. Additionally, Veterinary Social Workers may have conversations with pet owners, as well as the Veterinary Medicine Team. Often, the medical team manages high emotions from clients, faces reprimand for doing their job, and may bare witness to many tough cases.

Three common experiences of grief that are less discussed are  Anticipatory grief, Disenfranchised grief, and Ambiguous grief:

•  Anticipatory grief is the process of mourning, coping, and experiencing emotions in response to a future loss. Unlike typical grief, which occurs after a death or loss has occurred, anticipatory grief begins before the loss and involves a gradual adjustment to the impending loss of a loved one or significant aspect of one’s life. Key attributes may be: Awareness of Impending Loss, Emotional Response, Preparation and Adjustment, and identification of supports needed.

• Ambiguous Loss: closely associated with anticipatory grief,  the grief process can be complicated by the ambiguous nature of the loss, particularly in cases where the future is uncertain or the individual is experiencing a gradual decline in health. This ambiguity can make the grieving process more challenging and prolonged
• Disenfranchised grief: grief that is not openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly mourned. It occurs when an individual experiences a significant loss, but their grief is not recognized or supported by society, friends, family, or other social networks. This lack of validation can exacerbate the grieving process and make it more challenging for the individual to mourn and heal.