Grieving before a loss can be one of the hardest emotional journeys, especially when it comes to a beloved dog. You’re watching your best friend slow down, maybe deal with illness and your heart already feels the weight of what’s coming. It’s completely normal, and you’re not alone.
Known as anticipatory grief, here’s a gentle guide on how to cope when you’re facing the loss of a dog (or any pet you share your heart with):
💔 What Is Anticipatory Grief?
Anticipatory grief happens when you begin to mourn a loved one before they’re gone. It often begins when you notice serious health issues, hear a tough diagnosis, or just realize time is short.
This kind of grief can feel just as intense as grief after a loss. It might manifest as:
- Anxiety about the future
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Crying more often
- Guilt (wondering if you’re doing enough/did you miss something/should you have gone to the vet sooner)
🐾 6 Tips for Coping with Anticipatory Grief
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Be Present
This is #1 for a reason! Of course you’re worried, and it’s understandable you’re feeling sad, scared and lost. Please, don’t spend all your time thinking about what will happen one day, and miss now.
Your dog is still here, and every second matters. Simple things such as sitting together, petting them and taking a slow walk are all deeply meaningful.
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Create a Joy List or Bucket List
Make a list of your dog’s favorite things, and try to check off as many as you can:
- Favorite treat he’ll always get up for
- Park he loves to go to
- Friends he enjoys visiting or playing with
- People he has fun with
- Cafes he loves hanging out in
Enjoy every moment together as you build beautiful memories. Don’t miss out on that precious time.
Read this for some ideas ⇒ Bucket List Ideas for Your Senior Dog
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Talk About It
Grief can feel isolating, and it’s even harder when no one around understands how you’re feeling.
Find a therapist or coach specialising in pet loss, or join a pet loss support group. Your feelings are valid, and sharing them with people who “get it” can help so much.
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Capture the Moments
Take pictures-lots and lots of pictures, and don’t forget videos! Also, be sure to include yourself in both. Even if you hate the way you look in pictures, take them anyway. Trust me when I tell you this because I speak from personal experience. When all you have left are the pictures and videos, you’ll wish you had some of your beloved fur baby.
Another great idea is to keep a journal. Every day write something you love about them, and you’ll have something precious to take comfort in later on.
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Practice Self Care
It takes a lot to care for an ailing pet, and we can easily become overwhelmed both physically and mentally. Known as caregiver burnout, self-care is more important than ever because we need to show up for our pups every day.
Read this for ideas ⇒ Recognizing and Overcoming Caregiver Burnout
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Prepare, Gently
If your dog is nearing end-of-life, talking to your vet about options can actually give you peace of mind. Knowing what to expect doesn’t take away the pain, but it helps you feel more in control and less afraid.
Read this for tips to help you prepare ⇒ The Final Goodbye: Preparing for the Death of Your Dog
🌈 A Final Thought
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, but by embracing the time you have left, you can make their final days meaningful and peaceful. Anticipatory grief is a challenging journey, but you are not alone. Surround yourself with support, cherish the present, and know that your love for your dog will always remain, even when they are no longer physically by your side.
Pet Loss Grief Support Service
I’m a certified Pet Loss Bereavement Specialist, here to support you through the heartache of losing a beloved companion.
Having experienced the loss of my own cherished fur babies, I deeply understand the range of emotions that come with grief. I also know that no two journeys are the same — that’s why each session is thoughtfully tailored to your individual needs.
👉 Book Your Support Call https://calendly.com/hpearson141/pet_loss_support?month=2025-12 or reach out at hindy@greypawsandall.com if you’d like to ask a question first.
There’s no rush, no pressure, and no “right” timeline. Support can meet you exactly where you are — whether you’re early in the senior years or facing difficult changes right now.
Watch supportive videos on my YouTube channel
I’ve been rescuing and caring for senior dogs since 2009. From vision and hearing loss to obesity, dementia, kidney disease, liver issues, cardiac problems, Cushing’s, mobility challenges and more, you could say I’ve dealt with and learned a lot! In addition to my hands on experience, I’ve taken many courses and earned several qualifications to keep learning how to help senior dogs and they include: Senior Dog Enrichment, Understanding Canine Anxiety, Care of the Senior Pet and I’m a Certified Pet Loss Specialist.
Super information, Hindy! It’s so important and rarely discussed. You truly are doing a great service for pet parents. I’m sharing with my dog parents, and I know you will help many of them as well. Excellent info!
Hindy fantastic post and it is so hard to prepare but we mentally do also without really thinking about it, I am so grateful to you for the past months I had with Layla as your guidance made it easier for me. Thank you
I think it’s perfectly normal. At the same time, it is a terrible idea–to ruin the time you have left. Embracing every moment is the solution. Of course, that’s easier said than done. But so important.
I agree it’s normal, but being human we can’t help but let our minds wander to the worst case scenario. I’m a fan of mindfulness to help us live in the moment, and not miss precious time with our pets.
Capture the moment is vital. I urge photographers to capture their cat or dog and keep their favourite images, actually printing some out if they can, because we live for them NOW as well as need their pictures after they are gone. We need to prepare not not at the expense of the here and now.
Capturing the moment is so important, something I never did enough of. I remember thinking when my heart dog Red died, I would never be able to take another picture of her and it made me so sad. I have pictures but just a couple with us together. Broke my heart.
I felt this way when we lost our 2 senior dogs. It was so hard sometimes to stay present. These are some great tips and will help others when they are dealing with these feelings someday.