How To Prepare For Your Dog’s Journey Across The Rainbow Bridge

by Lori Ennis

Published: December 6th, 2016

how to prepare for your dogs journey across the rainbow bridge

Our pets are family, there’s no doubt about that. It’s tough when our special, furry family members are sick, and tougher when we know they will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge soon. Here are five ways you can make the most of that time.

Today, I have been a hot mess.

No, really.

My beloved, almost-11-year-old Golden Retriever, Dixie, was diagnosed with bone cancer, and the treatment plan is basically to keep her as pain-free and happy as possible. Our veterinarian is wonderful and humane and doesn’t want to subject Dixie to the trauma that would come with leg amputation and chemotherapy (if she recovered well from the amputation). When you add in the fact that she’d just been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease a few months ago? The loving solution is to do just what he said.

But how hard is that? I’ve had two other dogs die from cancer in the last 10 years. Both retrievers; one Flat-Coated and one Golden, but in both, the cancer diagnoses were fast and their deaths came on suddenly. The ‘decision’ was not even really a decision for either as they were clearly in distress. Our veterinarian believes that we will know when it’s time for our sweet Dixie Belle to cross the bridge as well, guess-timating we’ll have no more than five months at best, most likely one to three, depending on how well she responds to the pain medicine.

So now, we wait.

Now, I spend wondering when her time will be and what we can do as we wait. It’s not like there’s a handbook titled “What To Do When You’re Expecting Your Dog To Die,” and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of guidance for the waiting. There’s much to look for in your pet–signs to know when it’s time and so on, but not much for me to do to prepare myself and my family as we prepare to let her go. Nothing can make her leaving us any easier, but I think that there are some things every pet parent can do as they wait for that day that will give comfort to hearts on the journey.

1. Love on her shamelessly.

Our Dixie was a gift to me from my first-grade class almost 11 years ago. She has been our spoiled-rotten baby since she was just six-weeks-old. But now, in her last days, we plan to give her just about whatever attention and affection she wants, whenever she wants it. We’ve always joked she’s a pet-whore because she can’t get enough pets from people and in these last days? We’ll happily oblige and soak it in.

2. Take pictures/videos and make memories.

Yes, the vet will send us her paw print and a little poem when we receive her ashes once she’s passed, but I want to ensure that we have just what we want while he still have the time to do so. We’ve not taken a family picture with her in it in a while; I am grateful for the opportunity to make that a priority now. I have a five-year-old son who will be heartbroken when she passes and including him on things we can do together with Dixie will hopefully help him feel like he has some control in a sad and uncontrollable situation.

3. Gather pictures and memories from days past.

Typically, when a pet passes, parents go looking back through old pictures to remember the good days and to share with friends and family. I want to do that too, but I don’t want to be frustrated at the same time I’m devastated about her loss, looking through countless pictures of God-only-knows what trying to find her in her Halloween costume from eight years ago (She was hilarious!). I am taking the time to do that now and have them accessible so that my family can have them exactly when we need them.

4. Crying.

Yes, I said crying. I am allowing myself to cry and to grieve and to mourn what I know is to come. Losing a pet is so hard on the heart, and their love and loyalty to you through the years is worthy of your tears. I will not be ashamed of crying about how much we’ll miss her because the truth is, we will. Terribly. And that hurts.

5. Honoring

When she passes, our house will be much more quiet and empty. This, we know. There are so many animal welfare organizations that need help and/or donations and helping and donating in her name will help her live on in our hearts. Today alone, I randomly received an email about these bracelets sold by I Heart Dogs. They are designed specifically for dogs who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and every purchase of one feeds seven shelter animals. When Dixie is gone, we will probably get another dog, eventually, but we will rescue a shelter dog, as they need our help so much. When you’ve loved a pet, the acts of service and kindness you do in their memory is what keeps them alive with us, and there’s no better way to honor your love than to serve and help other dogs.

There’s never, ever a good time to lose your furry family member. But, knowing that we do, and knowing that’s the hardest part about being a pet parent, I am grateful for the time to be able to make her last days the best days we can. Her love for us has been a gift in our lives, and we’ll do our best to return the favor before she joins our other dogs on the other side.

Lori Ennis

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Death Of A Pet May Trigger Long Term Grief In Children

The hardest part of being a pet parent is that they don’t live long enough. For children, though, losing a pet may be especially hard, and may trigger longterm and profound grief. The death of a family pet is hard on the whole family. Losing a furry family member is losing a family member, and each person deals with that grief uniquely. Research supports, however, that the grief in children that’s triggered by the loss of a pet can be significant and profound, and can even lead to mental health issues even years after the death. Related: Losing A Pet; Dealing With The Death Of Your Dog Researchers with the Massachusetts General Hospital published a report in Eurpean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry that is one of the first to look at the mental health responses in children when a pet dies. Looking at survey data from 6,260 children participating gin the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in Bristol, England, the researchers found pet death brought about significant and often prolonged grief in children. The research team found that the association between exposure to a pet’s death and the grief and trauma children felt as a result occurred despite a child’s socio-economic status or prior traumas they may have already endured in their lives. Katherine Crawford is a Certified Genetic Counselor and the lead author of the study. She said that one of the first major losses a child will probably have in their life is the death of a pet, and that impact can be traumatic, particularly if the pet feels like a member of the family. Crawford says it’s imperative that clinicians and parents recognize the symptoms of their child’s grief, and take it seriously –not to brush it off as ‘just a dog.’ Related: How To Prepare For Your Dog’s Journey Across The Rainbow Bridge The data showed that 63% of children with pets were exposed to the death of a pet by the time they were 7-years-old. Dr. Erin Dunn is a senior author of the study and said that that a child’s stage in life and even prior trauma didn’t diminish the association between the death of a pet and psychological symptoms occurring in the children. The research team found that male children seemed to have more pronounced mental health distress after the loss of their pet, and that mental health impact and loss didn’t lessen based on when the pet died during childhood, how recently the pet had died or how many times the child experienced the death of a pet. Dr. Dunn says this highlights the strength and durability of the bond children form with pets even at very early ages, and how the loss can affect them even years later. Crawford says that adults need to really pay attention to the feelings and emotions of their children after the death of a pet, and note if the feelings and emotions seem deeper or last longer than they might expect. This might represent complicated grief, and a child may benefit greatly in talking to someone either in a sympathetic or therapeutic way. Though more research is needed to look at specifics of child grief and pet loss, parents, pediatricians and caregivers should take note and take the grief and any other psychological manifestations their children show seriously. Because as we all know, it’s not ‘just a dog,’ or ‘just a cat.’ It’s a family member, and losing a family member hurts.

Boo, World’s Cutest Dog, Dies Of Broken Heart After Best Buddy Passe

Boo, the adorable little Pomeranian who stole everyone’s heart as the ‘world’s cutest dog’ has passed away, and his humans believe it was his broken heart over his best furry friend Buddy. They say the only fault of dogs is that they don’t live long enough, and in this dog lovers all agree. The adorable little social media hit Pomeranian ‘Boo’ has died, and in social media posts sharing the news of his death, his humans say they believe that it was a broken heart over losing his furry brother Buddy in 2017. Related: Top 10 Cutest Dog Breeds In the post, his pet parents say that Boo’s heart issues first began after his adorable sidekick Buddy passed in September of 2017. Buddy and Boo shared 11 years together–thick as thieves and as close as dog brothers could be. After Buddy died, Boo’s heart showed signs of troubles, and he was able to live for a little over another year. View this post on Instagram Dearest friends of Boo, With deepest sadness I wanted to share that Boo passed away in his sleep early this morning and has left us to join his best friend, Buddy. Our family is heartbroken, but we find comfort knowing that he is no longer in any pain or discomfort. We know that Buddy was the first to greet him on the other side of that rainbow bridge, and this is likely the most excited either of them have been in a long time. Since starting Boo’s FB page, I’ve received so many notes over the years from people sharing stories of how Boo brightened their days and helped bring a little light to their lives during difficult times. And that was really the purpose of all this…Boo brought joy to people all over the world. Boo is the happiest dog I’ve ever met. He was so easy going that we never had to bother with training. He made the manliest of men squeal with delight over his cuteness and made everyone laugh with his quirky, tail wagging personality. Over the years Boo met some super cool people, a lot of crazy talented people, but most of all so many kind people…friends who gave him endless love, people who prioritized his comfort over getting that perfect picture, partners who understood that Buddy ALWAYS had to be included, and last but definitely not least, the amazing doctors, therapists, and staff at Adobe Animal Hospital and Sage Veterinary Centers for the countless hours of care and dedication they poured into Buddy and Boo. I brought Boo home in the spring of 2006 and so started the greatest, most heartwarming friendship of all time. Shortly after Buddy died, Boo showed signs of heart issues. We think his heart literally broke when Buddy left us. He hung on and gave us over a year. But it looks like it was his time, and I’m sure it was a most joyous moment for them when they saw each other in heaven. Boo, we love you with all our hearts and will miss you until the day we meet again. Have fun running around with Buddy and creating adorable mischief wherever you guys go. Thank you to all of you for following along on their silly adventures over the past 10 years. They sure had a LOT of fun. With love and our deepest gratitude, Boo’s humans A post shared by Buddy Boo Blue Benny (@buddyboowaggytails) on Jan 18, 2019 at 6:29pm PST In their Instagram post, his humans said, “We think his heart literally broke when Buddy left us.” I am heartbroken to tell you that I said good-bye to my best friend, Buddy, yesterday. He had 14 full years, 11 of them… Posted by Boo on Thursday, September 7, 2017 In humans, there is a phenomenon that occurs sometimes after traumatic grief and loss. It’s called Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, or ‘Broken-Heart Syndrome,’ and while often temporary, can lead to death. Boo’s family says they are sure that when Boo passed in his sleep, he immediately went to Heaven and had a joyous reunion with his best pal Buddy. 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A post shared by Buddy Boo Blue Benny (@buddyboowaggytails) on Mar 26, 2018 at 12:29pm PDT Related: How To Prepare For Your Dog’s Journey Across The Rainbow Bridge They also thanked the staffs at Adobe Animal Hospital and Sage Veterinary Centers for their efforts with both Buddy and Boo. Since Buddy passed, Boo’s been sharing his days with his other fur-siblings, and from their social media pictures, one can see that they will surely miss Boo too. 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Science Says Grieving For Our Pets is Human

To others, the loss of a beloved pet is simply not understood. Research proves that the pet/owner relationship is similar to those with human family members, and we feel the losses similarly. If you have ever had and loved a pet… you know. You know that they are not simply pets, but family members. Brian Hare, an anthropologist with Duke University, developed the “Domestication Hypothesis,” which explains the evolution of dogs from their wolf ancestors to the cuddly and friendly pooches we know and love today. Dogs have evolved specifically to have relationships with us – they provide unconditional love and affection, and want little in return. Related: How To Prepare For Your Dog’s Journey Across The Rainbow Bridge Studies show that just looking at a dog can make us smile, and that dog owners are happier on average than those who own cats (don’t tell your crazy cat lady neighbor!) or those who don’t have any pets (the horror!), and studies also show that dogs seem to love us just as much. Dogs brains respond to praise from us just as they respond to food and treats, and some studies show that praise is even more effective than food or treats in training. Dogs try to help us, and work for and with us, and research shows that they can sense and avoid people who mean us harm or malintent. They recognize our faces and our feelings and they communicate with us in action and even in voice. They interact with us in ways that no other animal does, and so it stands to reason that when they die, we are greatly affected. Psychologist Julie Axelrod recently published a paper detailing why the loss of our pet is so raw and intense. According to her, when our dog dies, we don’t just lose that dog, but we lose a companion, a source of love, a creature we sometimes treat and love in a childlike way, and a life-witness, among other roles dogs play in our lives. Dogs, as integral members of our families, are part of our daily routines and life, and when they pass, their loss profoundly changes that routine and life in a way the loss of friends and even relatives may not. Related: Don’t Worry Human, Science Says Your Dog Loves You… Lots Sadly, we also often have to play part in the loss of our pets, which complicates our grief. When forced to make humane decisions about life quality for our furry friends, there is a level of guilt associated in doing so that lingers long after the decision has been made. This guilt intensifies our already broken hearts, and changes our brainwave patterns and ways cognition, and sometimes permanently. So, though losing one’s pet is certainly not like losing one’s child… the pain we feel is real and the loss heavy to our hearts. The loss requires grieving and healing as any other traumatic loss would, and there should be no shame in going through that process. As author Irving Townsend said, “We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.” We’d still live no other way.

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These Dog Breeds Are at the Most Risk of Overheating

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Microchip Helps Reunite Owners With a Lost Cat 5 Years Later

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A Month of TLC Transforms a Practically Feral Dog Into a Loving Pet

A two-year-old Great Pyrenees, named Wesley, arrived at Austin Pets Alive with a nasty-looking neck wound. One look at the fluffy pooch would surely melt your heart, but a month ago Wesley desperately hoped no one would look his way. According to a post from Austin Pets Alive, rescuers found a practically feral Wesley running with a pack of stray dogs. A concerned citizen called Austin Animal Center after they spotted a fluffy dog with a serious-looking neck wound. After receiving the call, Austin Animal Center picked up the injured Great Pyrenees and removed a piece of old rope that was embedded in the dog’s neck. Since Wesley still required medical assistance after the rope was removed, Austin Animal Center transferred him to Austin Pets Alive.   Wesley arrived at the rescue frightened and in pain. “He needed lots of medical care, attention, and his favorite snack, cheese, which he prefers to enjoy when no one’s watching,” said Clare Callison, the director of national programs at Austin Pets Alive. Thanks to donations, the rescue was able to cover the cost of Wesley’s wound care, which totaled hundreds of dollars. “Our community’s love for pets is immense and generous donations help cover Wesley’s medical expenses and ensure he receives the best care possible.”While donations helped heal Wesley’s flesh wounds, Alex, an Austin Pets Alive staff member helped mend the dog’s broken heart. “The fluffy boy was in need of our Medical Triage & Wellness Clinic due to a large wound around his neck, but he was practically feral, so giving him medical attention required some added patience,” wrote Austin Pets Alive in a Facebook post. Over the next several weeks, “Alex showed up for Wesley day in and day out, patiently showing this injured soul that people can be good and offer love. Gradually trust was gained and these two formed a friendship that will last a lifetime,” the rescue wrote in a post. When Wesley first arrived at the rescue, he was shut down and scared. The poor pooch didn’t want to be seen or touched, shying from any physical affection. Over time and thanks to Alex’s continued efforts, Wesley started to open up. Gradually, the pup began to acclimate to love and affection, starting with gentle touches and petting and working up to real play sessions. At first, Wesley was terrified of wearing a harness and walking on a leash. But thanks to Alex’s patience and a lot of delicious treats the fluffy pup is no longer scared of being leashed and enjoys going on long walks. Only a month after he arrived at the rescue in a horrifying condition, Wesley has blossomed into a trusting and loving dog. Soon after, Wesley was deemed healthy and placed in a foster-to-adopt home, handpicked by Alex. The pup’s new family has spent weeks getting to know him and learning about his routine and the things he likes and dislikes. According to Austin Pets Alive, Wesley has settled nicely into his new home and has adjusted to his new family.This pooch made a 180 transforming from a practically feral stray dog to a loving and affectionate companion to his new family. This goes to show that a little patience, love, and determination can make a huge difference in the life of a stray dog.  Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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A Cat With a First-Person Camera Shows World Through Feline Eyes

I always say, that if I could live one day as one of my cats, I’d jump at the opportunity – and get some much-deserved beauty sleep. But while we can’t switch places with our pets, thanks to new technologies, we can get a glimpse into their world. With the help of the  Insta360 Go  camera, one innovative cat owner got to see what his four-legged bestie sees – and he’s sharing it with the world on TikTok, where the videos quickly went viral.The little cat cameraman is named Mr. Kitters, and the footage he made was uploaded to the TikTok channel Mr. Kitters the Cat  (@mr.kitters.the.cat). All the videos feature a “cat’s-eye” view of the world explored by little Mr. Kitters. This POV experience will really show you how it is to be a cat and adventure the wide expanse of the yard on a daily.One video, titled “Places to go and people to meet”, garnered more than 110 million views on TikTok, an incredible number in itself! The scenario of this video is pure feline fun: Mr.Kitters explores his environment, meeting critters on the way – including a squirrel, whom he seemingly has a conversation with.  

Do Dogs Need Fiber in Their Diet?

Fiber is an integral part of a balanced diet for your dog, just like it is for humans. It helps ensure their digestive system runs smoothly and can also play an essential role in weight management (or weight loss if that’s what you’re working toward).But how much fiber does a dog actually need, and what is the best way to add fiber to their diet?In this guide, I’ll discuss why fiber is important for your dog's health and well-being, the different types of fiber, and the best options to boost fiber content in their diet. Let’s get started…How Much Fiber Does a Dog Need?While I would love to say the answer to this question is easy, it’s not as simple as giving a specific amount that will work for every dog’s ideal diet. Instead, the amount of fiber needed will vary considerably based on several factors, including your dog’s age, weight, digestive health, or any conditions they currently live with relating to their digestive system.For example, a senior dog usually needs more fiber than a young, healthy adult dog as their bodies in these later years have a more challenging time with different stages of the digestive process. Our golden oldies often suffer from conditions like constipation that, while not life-threatening, do have an impact on their overall quality of life. Making changes to the fiber they are consuming can offer relief.That being said, experts use some general guidelines to create a foundation for these decisions. Depending on who you ask, fiber recommendations for a healthy adult dog range from 1.5% to 4% of a complete diet.How Can Fiber Help My Dog?As already mentioned, fiber can help support a healthy digestive system. But what exactly does this nutrient do to help keep your dog happy and healthy? Let’s look at some of the benefits of fiber for dogs:Encourage Healthy Bowel MovementsIf you have a dog that suffers occasionally (or regularly) from constipation, you may be searching for a solution to help regulate their system, soften waste, and make doing their business easier. After all, no one wants to live with that discomfort, including our dog! Including the right amount of fiber in your dog’s diet can help move waste through the intestines more quickly, softening stool and allowing it to pass on a more frequent schedule.But be careful – too much fiber can also be hazardous. You don’t want your dog to deal with constipation, but diarrhea can also be upsetting and uncomfortable. The goal is to find a happy medium for healthy bowel movements.Prevent Anal Gland ProblemsThe anal glands are an element of a dog’s health that is sometimes overlooked simply because we don’t understand their function or don’t want to discuss that general area. However, ignoring your dog’s anal gland health can lead to severe complications.These little pouches serve an essential role in communication. When your dog does their business, they release a strongly scented fluid that will share key information with other dogs that discover it, including their age, sex, and overall health. However, if that fluid isn’t released with your dog’s bowel movements, it can lead to pain, swelling, infection, and abscesses.One way to promote better anal gland release is to ensure your dog is passing healthy stools, which can be accomplished with the help of fiber.Regulate Blood Sugar Levels If your dog is a diabetic and has been prescribed a medical approach to manage their blood sugar levels, don’t consider this a reliable alternative. However, for healthy dogs, having their blood sugar suddenly spike can actually lead to diabetes and other health problems. Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent these conditions is by keeping their blood sugar balanced and regular. Fiber works by slowing some stages of the digestive process, which also slows the amount of sugar released into your dog’s bloodstream. This isn’t to say it magically eliminates sugars from your dog’s diet, but it spreads out when they are absorbed into the bloodstream, preventing a sudden sugar spike.

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