VIP Advice
VIP Advice
Euthanasia Guilt: Feelings of Regret or Remorse
2 Minute Read
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Healthcare | Jan 2019
Euthanasia Guilt: Feelings of Regret or Remorse
2 Minute Read
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Healthcare | Jan 2019
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Jan 2019
EUTHANASIA GUILT
Guilt after euthanizing a pet can be traumatic for any pet owner. You may feel responsible even if there was nothing you could do to control the situation. This can keep you in a never ending cycle of guilt and grief.
QUESTIONING YOURSELF
You may feel responsible for your pet’s death even if there was nothing you could have done. You may feel like you could have noticed symptoms earlier, but it’s normal for pet owners to not notice small changes right away.
You may feel like your decisions or actions contributed to your pet’s death, but you did what you thought was best at the time. You may feel this guilt because you had to make certain decisions based off of financial or other personal circumstances. It is okay to take those things into consideration because they do matter. You, your feelings, your needs – they matter too.
THIS IS NORMAL
It is NORMAL to wish you did more or to wish you made a different decision. Please know that you did what was right at the time and you did it out of love for your pet. All of these things are NORMAL to feel because you love your pet and you still continue to only want the best for them.
Guilt has no place after euthanasias. You had the best intentions for your pet. You wanted to put a peaceful end to their suffering. You decided to make an unselfish decision and put their needs over your own. You are suffering now so that they didn’t have to.
LET GUILT GO
Let go of the guilt, so you can feel the love you had between you and your pet. Once guilt is put behind you, you can begin to truly heal and grieve your beloved companion.
If you are still questioning yourself, please call one of the helplines located on our Pet Loss Resources page or attend a local support group. Talking through your feelings of guilt with people who are understanding can truly help you begin the healing process.
You can also think of ways to honor your pet’s memory by reading my article, Remembering Your Companion.
Author: Dr. Karie Johnson, Co-Founder of VIP Vet Visit
Dr Karie is a companion animal & equine veterinarian in the Chicagoland area. Her desire to strengthen the human-animal bond while providing enhanced preventative care led her to start VIP Vet Visit – an at-home veterinary care option that provides less stress, more convenience and better care.
EUTHANASIA GUILT
Guilt after euthanizing a pet can be traumatic for any pet owner. You may feel responsible even if there was nothing you could do to control the situation. This can keep you in a never ending cycle of guilt and grief.
QUESTIONING YOURSELF
You may feel responsible for your pet’s death even if there was nothing you could have done. You may feel like you could have noticed symptoms earlier, but it’s normal for pet owners to not notice small changes right away.
You may feel like your decisions or actions contributed to your pet’s death, but you did what you thought was best at the time. You may feel this guilt because you had to make certain decisions based off of financial or other personal circumstances. It is okay to take those things into consideration because they do matter. You, your feelings, your needs – they matter too.
THIS IS NORMAL
It is NORMAL to wish you did more or to wish you made a different decision. Please know that you did what was right at the time and you did it out of love for your pet. All of these things are NORMAL to feel because you love your pet and you still continue to only want the best for them.
Guilt has no place after euthanasias. You had the best intentions for your pet. You wanted to put a peaceful end to their suffering. You decided to make an unselfish decision and put their needs over your own. You are suffering now so that they didn’t have to.
LET GUILT GO
Let go of the guilt, so you can feel the love you had between you and your pet. Once guilt is put behind you, you can begin to truly heal and grieve your beloved companion.
If you are still questioning yourself, please call one of the helplines located on our Pet Loss Resources page or attend a local support group. Talking through your feelings of guilt with people who are understanding can truly help you begin the healing process.
You can also think of ways to honor your pet’s memory by reading my article, Remembering Your Companion.
Author: Dr. Karie Johnson, Co-Founder of VIP Vet Visit
Dr Karie is a companion animal & equine veterinarian in the Chicagoland area. Her desire to strengthen the human-animal bond while providing enhanced preventative care led her to start VIP Vet Visit – an at-home veterinary care option that provides less stress, more convenience and better care.
