You think more about your pet’s life than you do about her/his death
Emotions are not as intense and you feel a sense of control over them
Energy level, sleep patterns, appetite, and other physiological changes brought about by the loss are returning to normal
You are regaining an interest in activities you enjoyed before your loss
Reminders of your pet and the circumstances surrounding her/his death are not as painful
You do not try to avoid reminders of you pet
You are better able to remember the good times you shared with your pet
“Triggers” or those memories that catch you off guard are not as overwhelming
You are beginning to focus more on the present and future and less on the past
You are able to talk about your pet without crying or feeling intense sadness
You can enjoy yourself, laugh, and have a good time without feeling guilty
You control your pain, it doesn’t control you
You do not feel guilty when realizing you no longer think about your pet all of the time
Letting go of your pain does not feel as though you are betraying your pet
You no longer wish the world would stop because of your loss
University of Florida
IFAS
As part of both the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and UF Health, Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to advancing animal, human and environmental health through teaching, research, extension and patient care.
Need animal care? Visit the UF Small Animal and Large Animal Hospitals. From dogs, cats, birds and exotics to horses, cattle, llamas, pigs and many other large farm or food animals, our experienced veterinary staff is ready to assist.
Animal Airwaves is a daily radio series that features one-minute segments relating to animal health, ranging from insights into animal behavior to veterinary patient care breakthroughs and trends.
