The loss of a pet due to sudden or traumatic death invites grief that can be more confusing to navigate
"We did everything we were supposed to. We did everything right..." This is a resonant refrain that I hear from my families after their pet dies unexpectedly, often as they glance over to the boxes of heartworm and flea preventative that they fetched just days before but will now go unused in their household. The emotions that begin sputtering out are understandable and expected: confusion, anger, 'it's not fair', a generous helping of 'WTF?', all often mixed with guilt. Death is a common companion in my work. Often working with senior and geriatric pets and their families, it's usually a time of life for them when I'm ushered in; there is a pet's age-related decline or life limiting diagnosis, or it could be that in-home care is just more fitting for their respective emotional needs. But in truth, I work with companion animals of all ages, and I can tell you that when a pet who has been deemed to be the picture of health receives...