Dr Anne Fawcett on supporting someone whose pet has died

THIS week Dr Anne Fawcett deals with the issue of coping with the death of a pet. And how you can help someone who had to say goodbye to their close animal friend.

Vet Anne Fawcett with Hero. She said cat’s kidney’s of fail before their other organs.

LOSING a pet is tough. Last week I helped a client farewell her 18-year-old cat, Pushka. Like many cats her age, Pushka was suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Cats have a way of outliving their kidneys.

When they develop kidney disease, cats tend to drink more, urinate more, and lose body condition.

We can treat them with prescription diets, medication, intravenous fluids and anti-nausea medication, but at some point those kidneys just won’t rally.

Pushka had reached that stage. Losing a companion of 18 years is distressing.

Sweetie is an old cat at 27 years of age. Daphne Lovelady has had Sweetie since she was a kitten. Picture: Fiona Harding

Many human relationships don’t last that long. We may take being greeted at the door for granted, but it is terribly painful when that no longer happens.

Fortunately, Pushka’s owner had friends who understood the enormity of her loss.

They accompanied her and Pushka to their last visit to the vet, held Pushka as she took her last breaths, and shared stories of this much-loved cat.

The owner’s GP clinic even called to let us know they were available to provide support because they knew this was a big deal.

If you have a friend or colleague who has to say goodbye to an animal, give them a hug, make them a cuppa, listen to their stories. It makes all the difference.

CUTE KITTEN DRINKS MILK AND WOBBLES EARS

Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a vet with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West.

You can read her blog at the Small Animal Talk page.