What to Do if Your Pet Dies at Home

Unexpected pet death at home is undoubtedly a tough circumstance. It is never easy to lose a cherished pet, but if they pass away suddenly at home, you will need to act quickly and make some decisions, including taking them to a cemetery or Crematory. Most of us do our research before deciding to welcome a pet into our homes. Housebreaking, cage training, socializing, and general behavior are discussed and planned for. Unless you get an elderly pet or a pet with a condition, the subject of a pet’s death is seldom ever brought up. We will go over the steps to take if a pet unexpectedly passes away at home in a few minutes.

What to do When a Pet Dies

Follow these simple instructions to help you deal with your pet’s abrupt loss, since we know it cannot be easy to do so when your emotions run high.

• Examine the situation- Are you certain that your pet is dead? You should take your pet to the closest available veterinarian for assistance if you are unsure. To determine whether your pet has a pulse or whether a cardiac arrest has happened, try to feel his heartbeat. If you believe your pet could still be alive, you might want to try CPR or another sort of first assistance. The simplest option is to take your pet’s body to the vet for assistance if you are confident that your pet has died away.
• Inquire with your veterinarian- Your veterinarian’s office can help walk you through the process during regular business hours. Additionally, they could know how to connect you with a person who can collect your pet’s caucus (like a mobile vet care or pet crematory service). A full-time, fully staffed taxidermy studio, Animal Family Pet Preservation specializes in the preservation and lifelike reconstruction of domestic pets. In some circumstances, your veterinarian’s clinic might be able to keep your pet’s remains in storage for a day or two. At the same time, you decide whether to make preparations for cremation or burial as aftercare. Additionally, your veterinarian’s office ought to be able to connect you with a nearby business that can handle cremation or burial. Fortunately, most veterinarians have a connection to at least one regional company that provides these services.
• Call for Help– It could be preferable if you are not alone at this tough moment. Call a close friend or relative who can support you emotionally and assist you in handling your pet’s remains in a responsible yet kind way, if at all feasible. Choose someone you know can handle your pet’s body if you don’t think you’ll be able to do it yourself due to physical or emotional limitations.
• Take Care of the Pet’s Body- You might have to handle your pet’s body, which is not particularly attractive. The body must be carefully kept if you want to bury your pet yourself but can’t do so immediately anyway. You will also need to appropriately keep the remains if you want to have your pet cremated or have the burial handled by a business that can’t immediately collect the pet’s remains. This may be the case if your pet passes away in the middle of the night or is on holiday. In these circumstances, some pet cemeteries nevertheless offer a 24/7 phone service. The most crucial thing to remember is that the deceased pet’s remains should be treated as quickly as possible.

The cruel reality is that an animal’s body starts to rot as soon as it dies. The corpse will quickly start to smell bad and draw insects. The rate of decomposition increases with increasing temperature. The stiffening of the joints, known as rigor mortis, normally starts 10 minutes to 3 hours after death and can persist for up to 72 hours. Again, the weather will have an impact on this procedure. Sufficient care should be taken with the remains before rigor mortis develops.

Handling and Preparing Pet Remains

• While handling the body, put on gloves. Bodily fluids are frequently expelled after death. You might want to clean your dog’s mouth, genitalia, and anus if you see fluid or waste. More bodily fluid and/or waste may be expelled when the body moves.
• Obtain a large enough blanket, towel, or bed sheet to drape over the body. Obtain a sturdy plastic garbage bag as well (double them up if the body is very large or if the bags are thin).
• Place the body on a sheet, blanket, or towel. Curl up on its side with the body in a sleeping position. This can bring about a calm sensation and make managing the body simpler.
• Wrap the body firmly in a sheet, towel, or blanket. Place the corpse in the plastic bag after that (s). If the dog is big, this will require two people to complete it.
• If feasible, tape the bag’s closure or fasten it with a firm knot. You might want to use two bags. Put your and your dog’s names on a label or tag if the remains are placed elsewhere.
• The remains should be stored in a refrigerator or freezer until cremation, burial, or another arrangement. If you cannot do so and cannot deliver the carcass to your veterinarian or a nearby animal care facility, a garage or basement may have to do. This should not last for more than 4 to 6 hours; else, your home will start to smell strong. It is advised to use additional plastic bags without freezer or refrigerator storage.

Burying the Body of Your Pet

Check with your neighborhood ordinances to determine if you are allowed to bury your pet on your property. Pet burial is not always permitted, especially in urban areas. Remove non-biodegradable items (such as plastic) from the body before burial. If desired, the body might be encased in a wooden or cardboard coffin. At least three feet should be dug into the grave. Pick a spot that won’t deteriorate or get unintentionally dug up again. To honor your cherished pet, you might choose to erect a headstone or other memorial in their grave.

In conclusion, losing a pet is never simple. In the event of sudden disaster or sickness, it can be hard to relax and decide what to do. You’ll feel better about your choice to preserve your pet once you’ve given Animal Family Pet Preservation a call. Contact us, and we can assist you.

Categorised in: Pet Passes Away at Home

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