Если вы когда-нибудь плакали из-за смерти домашнего животного...

 

Cute Pet World

 

 

 

 

If you’ve ever cried harder over a pet than over a person, science says you’re not crazy for feeling that way.

 

For many of us, a dog, cat, or other animal is not “just a pet”. They are the one who waits at the door, sleeps by our feet, and sees us at our worst without judging. They are woven into our routine, our home, and our sense of safety.

 

So when they die, it can feel like the whole house goes quiet. The bowl on the floor, the empty bed, the missing sound of paws on the hallway tiles. It is not a small thing. It is a real loss.

 

Research has followed people who lost a pet and compared their feelings to people grieving a close family member. The emotions that show up are often the same. Deep sadness. Guilt. Anger. Numbness. Even the physical exhaustion and trouble sleeping.

 

Some people are shocked to find that losing a pet hits them just as hard, or even harder, than losing certain relatives. Not because they did not love those people, but because the pet was a constant presence. Their love felt simple and steady.

 

With humans, relationships can be complicated. There can be old hurts, arguments, and mixed feelings. With pets, the love is usually straightforward. They are happy to see us. They do not care how we look. They curl up next to us when we are sick or crying. That kind of bond leaves a big gap when it is gone.

 

What makes it even harder is that the world does not always “get it”. You might hear things like “It was just a dog” or “You can get another cat”. Comments like that can make people feel silly or ashamed for still hurting months later.

 

But feeling shattered after losing a pet is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that the relationship mattered. Studies and therapists are clear about this now: grief for a pet is real grief. It deserves the same respect and care as any other loss.

 

If you are grieving a pet, it is okay to treat it like losing a member of the family. It is okay to cry. It is okay to talk about them. It is okay to keep their photo up, save their collar, or light a candle for them.

 

It is also okay if your grief seems to last a long time. There is no deadline for “getting over it”. What usually happens is not that the love fades, but that the pain slowly softens. The memories start to feel a bit more warm than sharp.

 

You are not weird for feeling this deeply. You are someone who loved and was loved back. And that will always matter.

If you know someone who has lost a pet, try these simple words: “I’m so sorry. They were really special.” Just that. No fixing. No comparing. Just kindness. It can mean more than you know.

 

References:

Death of a Companion Cat or Dog and Human Bereavement: Psychosocial Variables - Society & Animals

The death of pet can hurt as much as the loss of a relative - The Washington Post

Getting Over Rover: Why the Loss of a Dog Can Be Devastating - Psychology Today

Grieving a Pet Can Hit Harder Than The Loss Of A Person, And That's Okay - ScienceAlert / The Conversation

Disclaimer: Images are generated using AI for illustration purposes only.

Salmon poisoning disease (SPD) is caused by a rickettsial organism, Neorickettsia helminthoeca, that is carried by the trematode Nanophyetus salmincola, which encysts in freshwater fish, most commonly salmonids. We reported two dogs from the United States West Coast that had similar clinical signs, hematologic and biochemistry findings. They were both diagnosed with salmon poisoning disease. Lymph node cytology showed morula formation, suggestive of N. helminthoeca organisms in macrophages, while the parasitological fecal test found ova of N. salmincola. The dogs were treated early and showed complete remission of clinical signs within a few days. Lymph node cytology and fecal parasitology are quick and low-cost tests that can be performed whenever SPD is suspected. SPD should be considered as a differential diagnosis for a canine patient with clinical signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and lymphadenomegaly; laboratory findings of thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia; and potential exposure to raw fish from the West Coast of the US or Southern Brazil. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the greater the chance of survival.

Ошейник лежит на полу, окруженный кругом тишины, тяжелее любого звука. Он больше не звенит, не возвещает о радости у двери, но говорит громче, чем когда-либо могли бы лаять собаки. Рядом с ним слабо светится дверной проем, и в этом свете плывет очертание друга, уже наполовину ушедшего. Его форма смягчается, растворяется, но воспоминание остается, острее, чем оставленные тени.