In a recent Instagram post, British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton shared his grief after the death of his dog Roscoe who he says died in his arms.
In the post, Hamilton said he "had never been faced with putting a dog to sleep before [and] … It is one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection to a everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet."
Fiona Koenig was 22 when she made the "really difficult decision" to euthanase her treasured Burmese cat Artemis.
She says it was after investigations into Artemis's rapidly deteriorating health came to nothing.
Now a Newcastle/Awabakal-based counsellor specialising in the grief of pet loss, Ms Koenig says her grief was "really complicated" and made harder because she felt she wasn't allowed to mourn.
"I had to really feel rage and anger, but I just wouldn't let myself because I was like 'you're not supposed to be upset about this. It's just a cat.'"
Vets and counsellors say there are a few steps pet owners can take to prepare for and address the complicated grief that comes with choosing to say goodbye to a pet.
Pets provide unconditional love
Vanessa Rohlf is clinical counsellor in Naarm/Melbourne who specialises in animal bereavement and pet loss
"Companion animals are really special in that they provide unconditional love, and they really provide a space where we can truly be ourselves."
Dr Rohlf says pets also "ease loneliness" and "provide stability".
"Even just gazing into the eyes of our dog can release that cuddle hormone called oxytocin" and "patting a pet is linked with an increase in the 'feel-good hormones' of dopamine and serotonin," she says.
Ms Koenig says a pet is also often "the first time we've ever really cared for something outside of ourselves".
She says our pets share some of the most ordinary and intimate parts of the day with us and it's going to be hard when they are suddenly no longer there.
"They slept in your bed, walked with you to the bathroom, watched you while you had a shower and ate your breakfast with you."
How pet euthanasia works
Jackie Campbell is a vet who specialises in palliative care. She says palliative care is something more pet owners and families are looking for "as our pets are becoming more and more important to us".
Based on the Sunshine Coast on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara People, Dr Campbell says advances in veterinary medicine is also resulting in aging pets with more options.
"Owners are then faced with more complex decisions and more emotional decisions than the generation before."The chief veterinary officer at the Lort Smith animal hospital in Naarm/Melbourne, Jessica Wilde says euthanasia is a "really difficult experience for pet owners, especially if it's the first time".
Dr Wilde says during a typical procedure, a catheter would be used to gain intravenous access (often placed in a pet's leg).
The next step is often a "light sedation", helping them to "feel nice and calm during the procedure".
It can take 10 to 20 minutes for that to come into effect, Dr Wilde says, "which gives owners a really good time to sit with their pet".
She says the catheter is then used to administer the anaesthetic, which is "injected into the pet's veins directly and stops the heart very quickly".
There are also often twitches or some movements in those final moments, and she makes sure owners know beforehand that "they're not a sign your pet's struggling or feeling any discomfort".
Dr Wilde says some clinics have dedicated rooms to help things feel less clinical. There are also at-home pet euthanasia options.
Dr Campbell says the procedure can vary between clinics and veterinarians, and in some cases a pet may be sedated beforehand.
Knowing the right time
Dr Wilde says euthanasia is typically considered as a "treatment option" after a pet has aged and developed chronic conditions.
"We're normally working with those [owners], seeing them probably more regularly at that point and talking to them about the quality of life of the pet."
Dr Campbell says, "the most important thing is that we don't make that decision too early [and] equally that we don't make that decision too late".
She says there is lots of nuance involved and while quality of life assessment tools help, it's "best done in collaboration with the vet, who understands what's happening for you and for your pet".
Dr Campbell says pet owners often experience intense anticipatory grief when a pet is coming to the end of its life.
"That could be for a year or two, six months, depending on that's happening."
Dr Wilde says the harder decisions are sometimes those made necessary by an unexpected incident, such as a pet that has collapsed, been hit by a car or experiencing some other trauma.
This is when vets and owners would discuss the extent of the injuries or disease and whether treatment options are in the pets' best interests, she says.
Disenfranchised grief
Dr Rohlf says losing a pet can come with disenfranchised grief, which is "a loss that isn't typically acknowledged by society".
While people are getting better at recognising the significance of pets, phrases like "it's just a dog" or "when are you going to get another?" can come with good intentions but don't acknowledge how painful the loss can be.
Ms Koenig agrees that our culture doesn't see the death of a pet "as a real reason to grieve".
"People think that you're not supposed to be this sad about a dog or a cat."
She says people often struggle with coming home to a house without their pet and going to sleep and waking up.
Crying in the pet food aisle of the supermarket is also something she has heard a lot.
Dr Rohlf says for some clients, the intensity of grief and the loss of meaning and purpose really catches them by surprise.
Struggling with a pet's death
Dr Rohlf says it is important to validate your grief.
"Grief is a really natural and normal response to losing a loved one.
"If we think of grief a little bit like a wound which requires some care and attention but will heal over time, I think that can be really helpful."
Secondly, she says "seeking meaning" can also help.
When you're ready, she recommends reflecting on the ways you made their life a good one, how they enriched your life and what they taught you.
Thirdly, Dr Rohlf says seeking support by speaking to people who "get it" can be helpful. This might include understanding friends and family or a qualified therapist.
Ms Koenig says both Griefline and Lifeline are free services you can use if you don't have anyone to talk to.
She recommends people keep themselves safe and that the loss of a pet in any context can be "a real reason to feel real deep grief".
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