Archive for the ‘Personalized Pet Memorials’ Category
Is Hospice for Me?
Pet Hospice can be a wonderful, caring option for terminally ill pets. However, pet owners should keep in mind that it is not for everyone. Some owners may not be ready or be able to take on the often painful, emotional and time-consuming day-to-day care for their sick pet. Hospice may not be a good choice for people who live alone, have a heavy work schedule, or are not in good health themselves. Pet owners need to carefully consider whether they have the right resources necessary to care for their pets at home.
Pet Hospice is a intermediate stage between treatment and death and can be a very hard decision for caretakers to make. After months or more of caring for a progressively worsening pet, it becomes difficult for owners to choose a final ending point. Don’t hesitate to talk to your Veterinarian about what is right for you and your situation and what is best for your pet. Create a one-of-a-kind personalized pet memorial on a Pet Headstone to bid your loved one “Good-bye”.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a household term, heard and repeated frequently especially if you have an aging pet or family member. But what is it exactly? Arthritis is a deterioration or structural change in a joint in a body caused by age or injury to a human or animal. It can also be caused by calcium deposits, scar tissue, cartilage tears and dissolution, or contour changes to the bones at the joint surfaces from long term abnormal forces being applied.
As pet owners it is imparative to be aware of any changes in your pet’s behavior that he/she may be in pain. Onces these abnormalities are present in your pet, and he/she has been diagnosed with arthritis, the structural changes will remain present and will continue to affect your loved one no matter what supplements you provide or what changes you make in the nutritional intake. Arthritis supplements like Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Omega Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Selenium, and MSM all assist in decreasing inflammation and the body’s ability to repair and strengthen tissues, but they cannot reverse the structural changes that have already occurred. The best you can expect in arthritis supplements is a decrease in pain sensation and improved resistance to further joint tissue breakdown. Some can rejuvenate or improve some soft tissues. If you suspect your pet may be in pain, don’t wait to consult a professional – it could save a lot of further joint or structural damage. You can help your pet to have a healthy, active, productive life. A perfect way to memorialize your companion is to have a Personalized Pet Memorial made in his/her honor.
Pets and Acupuncture
Many people have reported great success using acupuncture as an alternative therapy or treatment for arthritis in their pets. However, in smaller communities it may not be very cost effective – over $100 a visit. In larger cities, you may be able to find it at a more reasonable rate. You may also consider gold bead implants which are a form of permanent acupuncture. These treatments of course are just suggestions and are to be used for an arthritic pet when other treatment have not worked. Other natural therapies you could try would be Pet Chiropractors or Iridologists. There are natural, homeopathic options available to pet owners who are seeking althernative arthritis therapies.
Arthritis in dog’s is the most common health problem diagnosed by veterinarians today. As a pet owner, you need to be looking for the warning signs of pain and soreness long before arthritis has made significant changes in your pet’s joints. It can affect even young pets, earlier than you might think. My brother’s medium-sized dog was diagnosed as young as 4 yrs old. He has successfully managed it and given his dog a very quality life-style for many years. For those who have pet’s in their twilight years, enjoy every second you have together. Memorialize your loved one with a beautiful Absolute Black Granite laser-etched headstone with a personal tribute and photo. It will provide memories of your furry family member for generations.
Children Understanding Euthanasia
Children don’t always understand Euthanasia and why it may be necessary. They need to be offered age-appropriate explanations and as a parent you need to be available to answer their questions. They need to know that is it NORMAL to feel sad when someone we love dies, and that the pet’s illness is not something the child caused.
For young children you may need to explain death, especially if they have not lost a loved one, whether human or companion animal before. You need to let them know that death and sleeping are not the same, since “put to sleep” is a common term for Euthanasia. It is much better to say that the pet will be helped to die peacefully and without anymore pain. Explain that either the pet is very, very old and it’s body has worn out and will stop working. Or, that your pet is very, very sick and may be suffering. You need to prepare ahead of time as to what to expect, and talk about your Veterinarian’s diagnosis and the pet’s prognosis. You may want to talk about the cost of the teatments and the care, and also the side-effects and your pet’s quality of life. You may even want to schedule an appointment with your Vet so he/she can explain the euthanasia proceedure to your child, and answer any questions they may have. Never Euthanize the family pet when the children are away, they need to be a part of the decision and also need an opportunity to say good-bye and make the most of whatever time they have left with your pet. You may also want to include your children in choosing from a variety of Pet Memorials of which would be the most appropriate and fitting for your family pet.
Telling Young Children
As a parent, one of the most challenging things you will ever do is try to explain to a young child that his/her pet has or is going to die. Here are some helpful suggestions:
1. Offer age-appropriate honest explanations. Don’t try to distort or hide the truth to protect them from grief. It will make it worse, and they need to trust you right now.
2. Make sure they know it was not something that they did or or failed to do that caused the pet to die.
3. Help them understand that death is not the same as sleeping. It can trigger sleep problems and intense anxiety over surgery and anesthesia.
4. Don’t use the terms “Passed away”, “left us” or “gone on”. This can leave children feeling abondoned and rejected, waiting for the pet’s return and may even encourage them to go looking for their lost pet.
5. Explain “Old Age” and what happens when a pet gets old. That his body wears out and stops working.
6. With especially young children, avoid telling them that God wanted their pet in Heaven because it was so special. This could make the child angry with God and fear that he or you may be chosen next.
Let the children in your family be a part in making decisions about how you will intern your lost loved one, and in choosing a proper Pet Memorial to celebrate the life you spent together.
Pets – a Healthier Lifestyle
Beyond companionship, pets add so much more to our lives than we realize. Medical researchers are finding that people who own a pet are healthier and happier. Touching, holding, stroking and caring for a companion animal – even just watching an animal in their natural habitat has many health benefits. It can lower your blood pressure, decrease your heart rate, alleviate stress and loneliness, and encourage regular exercise. There are many other too, none of which are trivial or without value.
For shy or awkward people, pets act as a conversation tool and help them adjust to social situations. Patients in rehab units who are comatose or autistic have responded to visiting animals even though humans were not been able to reach them. Companion animals lift the spirits of the ill, the elderly, and those in hospitals and nursing homes. They also serve as the eyes and ears for the handicapped.
A pet lover has well coined the phrase: “Pets are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.” As you bid farewell to your companion animal that has greatly enhanced your life and health, consider a personal Cat Urn as a proper way to say “Good-bye”.
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Why am I so Attached?
With their constant presence, availibility and devotion, pets become to us the best source of unconditional love. They are to many our ideal mate, child or friend. Animal companions weave themselves into the fabric of our daily lives. We live and relax in each other’s company. They are always there when we awake in the morning, at our side in every room, and they greet us joyfully when we return home at night. We pet them, stroke them, hug them and kiss them, and many even sleep in our beds at night. We tell them our deepest secrets and share with them our wildest dreams. They listen without judgement and never give advice. The forgive us readily and never hold a grudge. They don’t care what we wear, what our hair looks like, or even how we feel or behave. They depend on us for food, water, shelter, and exercise and in return give us unfailing devotion.
Studies prove that we are even more attached to our furry friends if we have nursed them through a chronic illness, or rescued them from certain death. As your time gets small together, consider a personal farewell to your beloved companion by purchasing a special Dog Urn that will remind you of the happy days you spent together.
Planning a Pet Funeral
If you have decided you would like to have a Pet Funeral or Remembrance Ceremony, here are some things you wish to consider:
1. Take some time to plan what you’d like to do. Involve all family members including the children. Invite others who loved the pet to help you.
2. Decide if you want to hold a funeral, a memorial service, a graveside service, or all of them.
3. Given your religious beliefs, ask yourself if you want to include religious aspects in the service.
4. Try to make the service very personal. Ask family members and friends to reminisce and recall what was special about your pet.
5. Decide where to hold the service, whether graveside or other. Consider the time, who will speak and who you will invite.
6. If you are burying your beloved pet in a pet cemetery or crematory, decide if you want a pet viewing beforehand, and if you can hold the service there.
7. Ask other pet lovers what they may have done to honor their pet’s memories and ways you may want to adapt their ideas into your own.
Remember that it is normal and healthy to use a pet funeral or memorial service to express your sorrow, proclaim your love and bid a final farewell to such a cherished friend. Use Personalized Pet Memorials to add a special touch to your funeral and to say good-bye to your lost loved one.
Pet Loss Support Group Meetings
What can you expect when you go to a Pet Loss Support Group meeting?
Everyone sits in a circle, all facing each other. The leader or the group facilitator, usually starts by stating the group’s purpose and laying the “ground rules” – ie the group begins and ends on time, all information shared by the group stays there, members are free to exchange phone numbers if they choose etc.
Going around the circle, members may choose to share as much or as little as they wish, or may choose to “pass”. One person speaks at a time, and everyone gets an equal share of time – no one is allowed to monopolize the session. Suggestions may be offered, but unsolicited advice is not given. One by one people are invited to introduce themselves and to tell as much or as little about their pet as they wish. Experiences, thoughts, feelings, are openly expressed, and painful as well as pleasant memories are recalled. Often members are asked to pass around photographs of their pets. Some members may choose to read Eulogies they have written to their pet, others choose to share personal tributes they have penned. Many choose to share their Personalized Pet Memorials they have created to celebrate the life of their pet with others. Whatever is read, whatever is shared is always held in the strictest confidence by everyone there. When outside the group, members aren’t free to talk about another member without that member’s permission. Whatever is shared by the group stays confidential within the group. Many friendships are made and burdens lifted because they are shared.
Can a Pet Loss Support Group Help?
When we lose a beloved companion animal, we need to acknowledge our loss, express our grief and work through our pain. Friends, family members and even co-workers may not fully understand our grief. A Pet Loss Support Group may be the only place where we can feel safe to freely express our feelings, to those who are experiencing the same feelings of pain. We need to talk about our loss, and this may outlast the willingness of those immediately around us to listen. Often we have a Personalized Pet Memorial, photos, and stories or tributes to our pet we need to share with someone. So, a Pet Loss Support group may be the only place we can go to be among others who undertand, and where we can still talk about the pets we have loved and lost.
Pet Loss Support Groups provide structure and make certain that everyone in the group feels safe to express their feelings, no matter how tender. Many of us feel awkward or self-conscious about expressing our grief when an animal we love is terminally ill, has gone missing, or has died. Some people aren’t even sure if they have the legitimate right to grieve the loss of their pets. Our culture doesn’t help much with this kind of loss either. There is no automatic time off from work, and there aren’t any formal, public or socially accepted rituals where sorrow can be shared and support obtained from others when it comes to our pets. But studies show that the more support and understanding we get from others around us, the sooner we’ll come to terms with our loss and the better we’ll cope with our grief.
You can find a Pet Loss Support Group in the yellow pages or local newspaper. You may also ask your veterinarian, a local radio or television station, a pet cemetery, a Humane Society agent or even pet groomer if they know of any groups in your area. Many organizations maintain directories of such organizations specializing in pet loss. Once you have found a group, make sure it is made up of grievers with whom you can identify and is run by someone knowlegeable about the human-animal bond and the grieving process.