Molesey Vets’ team share helpful advice on preparing for pet loss
August 21, 2022
Owning a pet is one of the best privileges as humans we have. The relationship we build over the years of them being in our lives is incredible and the bond we have is forever life changing. Sadly, there comes a point in every pet’s life where we as owners may need to consider what is best for them to ensure they have the best possible quality of life.
With Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day being at the end of August, the team at Molesey Vets are helping pet owners in Surrey prepare for this difficult topic.
Talk to us about your pet’s needs
When is it time to say goodbye?
The decision to euthanise a beloved pet is one of the hardest decisions you will ever need to consider as a pet owner. However, it is also one of the kindest and most respectful things you can do for your best friend to ensure they have a dignified and pain free end to their life.
Making the decision can bring on a lot of emotions and it can be difficult to separate emotions and facts. The Vets and Nurses at our East Molesey practice have some practical advice below to help you:
Some of the signs that your pet may be struggling include things such as:
- Struggling to eat and drink
- Unable to get up/move around
- Difficulty breathing
- Avoiding physical contact
- Behaviour changes that are concerning
- Changes in toileting habits
Whilst some of these signs are not explicit reasons for euthanasia, you may want to speak to one of our Vets about them so they can explain what may be happening.
According to our East Molesey Nurses, another useful tool to help you come to any decision is a good day/bad day diary. By monitoring how many good days vs bad days your pet is having will help you see if the bad days are outweighing the good.
Talk to us, we’re here for you too
When the time is getting near, speak to our caring and compassionate team about the process and what will happen. Having a better understanding of pet euthanasia can help to give you comfort. It will also help your pet if you are better informed about what will happen and more able to help them relax.
It can also be wise to consider before the times comes what you would like to do after they have passed, whilst you are thinking more clearly.
Perhaps you would like to take some hair clippings or a paw print to help you remember them, or a memorial of some type. Having something to help bring you peace that they are no longer suffering or in pain and are at rest can be a great comfort.
We can support you will all these considerations, so do get in touch.
What is the ‘Rainbow Bridge’?
Thinking about your pet passing over the ‘Rainbow bridge’ can also bring you comfort. The Rainbow bridge is a poem that gives hope and peace that pets are in a much better, kinder place, in a spring meadow running and playing. This notion was originally attached to pets and described in a poem by Paul C. Dahm in 1981, who was a grief counsellor in Oregon, USA. An updated version of the poem was written by Steve and Diane Bodofsky in 1998 – just search for ‘Rainbow Bridge Poem’ or ‘New Rainbow Bridge Poem’ online.
Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day on August 28th is a day set aside to remember and commemorate pets in a special way. Setting time aside to think about and share fond memories of our pets can help the healing process – to remember what wonderful lives our pets shared with us.
If your pet is struggling, or you just want to be as prepared as you can be, talk to our team about the end-of-life care and support we offer at Molesey Vets.
