Why does the death of your pet hurt so much?

The loss of a pet is one of the most painful episodes a person can experience, the death of a cat, dog, parrot or any other animal you have shared with years of living together is a strong emotional blow.

For people who don’t share the love of caring for a pet, seeing someone else mourn the loss of their furry friend can be “overkill.” However, science has shown that the death of your “best friend” becomes the same or more difficult than the death of a family member..

Having a pet and spending most of the time with it generates strong sentimental bonds, where unconditional love is the protagonist of this relationship and which is rarely found in human interactions.

According to psychologist Julie Axelrod in an interview for the scientific journal The conversationthe loss of a dog “is so painful because Owners don’t just lose a pet, it can mean the loss of unconditional love.a partner who brings them security and comfort.

The specialist in human behavior considers that a person is capable of defending his “best friend” as if he were a son; In addition, the death of the latter can cause great damage in the routine of the owner.

“For owners, their daily schedules, even on vacation, can revolve around their pet’s needs,” Julie Axelrod explained of the primary role a pet plays in people’s lives.

A pet is irreplaceable and incomparable, it is such a personal relationship that the animal becomes unique for its owners, commented Nadja Geiperts, therapist of LA Family Therapy, for the specialized magazine in psychology PsychCentral What only the owners live this duel with force.

“Your relationship is very unique and your pet is irreplaceable,” Geiperts emphasized.

These bonds are just as strong or stronger than those with a friend and family member, according to John Archer of Central Lancashire University’s psychology department, the satisfaction that humans feel with their life partners is the root through which a sentimental relationship flourishes so strong.

Archer explained in his article “Why do people love their pets?”, published in the magazine Evolution of human behavior from the Dutch publisher Elsevier, which it’s all due to submission animals present to their owners.

In other words, the fact that animals follow commands without asking questions causes a high level of satisfaction in their owners, an action that is not regularly recorded in human interactions.

When the animal has lived many years, health problems arise and with them the care and attention it must receive is more specific, so a death at this age generates a feeling of guilt among the owners.

Rena Goldman, author of the article “How to cope with the loss of a pet?” published in the journal PsychCentral stressed that if euthanasia is necessary, it must be seen as an act of compassion and not guilt.

Questions such as “Did I make the right decision?”, “What if I had more time?” or “What could have been done differently?” invade the thoughts of the owners, thinking that the death could have been avoided, according to Rena Goldman.

It is important, in these cases, to consult a veterinarian on the state of health and if he recommends practicing euthanasia, the animal is likely to be in severe pain and not improve.

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