Coping with news of a terminal illness is extremely difficult. Even if your Schnauzer has enjoyed a long, happy life, coming to terms with his death is painful.
This guide to your Schnauzer’s end-of-life options can help you to prepare for the inevitable. Being as prepared as possible will ease some of the stress and angst, allowing you and your family to focus on your Schnauzer and his needs.
THIS GUIDE COVERS:
What to Do If Your Schnauzer Has a Terminal Illness
What to Expect from Terminally Ill Schnauzers
Signs Your Schnauzer is Dying
End of Life Options to Consider: Palliative Care and Euthanasia
After-Care Options to Consider: Cremation and Burial
What to Do if Your Schnauzer Dies at Home
How to Move Forward After Your Schnauzer’s Death
What to Do If Your Schnauzer Has a Terminal Illness
When your Schnauzer is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and you recognize the undeniable signs that he is dying, one of the best things you can do is try to make him comfortable in his final days.
Although it might be challenging and frustrating to deal with some symptoms like loss of bladder control or vomiting, being patient with your Schnauzer during this time will make the transition easier for both of you.
Below are some useful tips to help you cope with the situation and comfort your Schnauzer.
Talk to Your Veterinarian
If your Schnauzer is diagnosed with a terminal illness, some medications can assist in easing his pain or controlling his symptoms. Even terminally ill Schnauzers may live for a prolonged time with proper care and medication.
Your veterinarian can also be part of your support team when it comes to managing the dying process. If you’ve confirmed that your Schnauzer’s health is terminal, talk openly with your veterinarian about end of life options and plan ahead for the inevitable.
Give Your Schnauzer More Attention
Your Schnauzer will seek comfort when he is ailing and might desire more care and attention from you during this time. Talk to your Schnauzer in a calm voice and let him know that everything will be fine. Dogs are sensitive to emotions, and showing him your sadness can be quite distressing to your Schnauzer.
You should try to remain comforting and calm as much as possible when around your Schnauzer while showing him kindness and love. Even if he doesn’t respond to your affection, he will still feel and appreciate your comfort and love.
Maintain Your Daily Routine As Much As Possible
Even when your Schnauzer is ill, you should try to maintain normal activities such a short walk as long as he is able. As your Schnauzer’s health declines, he might not be able to enjoy some all activities, but he may still enjoy his daily routine.
Monitor your Schnauzer’s behavior and avoid pushing him to do more than he can handle. Instead, you can adapt regular habits to match his current abilities and remain caring and attentive.
Avoid Introducing Your Schnauzer to New Places or People
When your Schnauzer is very ill, you should avoid introducing her to new places and only keep her where she is comfortable.
New locations can lead to a lot of stimulation and can be distressing to a Schnauzer who is possibly already experiencing mental confusion. Also, avoid having too many unfamiliar people around your Schnauzer.
How to Prepare Emotionally for your Schnauzer’s Death
Death is one of the subjects most people find difficult to talk about because it can bring about sadness and anxiety. Preparing yourself in advance for your Schnauzer’s passing can be quite a challenge, but it might eventually help you and the members of your family cope well with the loss. By preparing yourself and your children, you might be in a better position to process the death of your Schnauzer when it occurs.
Prepare Yourself
You’ll never feel completely prepared to accept the end of loved one’s life, and that includes your Schnauzer. You can emotionally prepare yourself to feel the grief, but you might not understand the extent of the role your Schnauzer has played in your family’s life until she passes on, and you are left to move on without her.
Learning about the different stages of grief might help you understand what you’ll experience and prepare you to assist those around you as well. Understanding that the pain you feel are normal after the loss can be a great relief.
Talk to Your Kids About Your Schnauzer’s Inevitable Death
Talking to your kids about death is vital because they will also be affected by your Schnauzer’s death. It is good to talk to them ahead of time and gently explain that your Schnauzer is critically ill, and she will be passing soon.
Based on your children’s ages, you can provide with them as many details as you deem to be appropriate. In addition, be prepared to respond to their questions.
Encourage your children to honor her with by writing their own poetry, story, or memories. Suggest that they create some artwork or put together a photo collage of your Schnauzer. Expressing their memories and emotions in a creative way can help them to process the situation.
Being honest with your kids and supporting them through the process can give them a chance to say their goodbyes in a heartfelt, meaningful way.
Ideas for Preparing to Make Your Schnauzer’s Death Meaningful
- Spend extra quality time with your Schnauzer
- Take extra photos
- Preserve your Schnauzer’s paw prints
- Create a memory book
- Prepare to save mementos, such as her collar, her favorite toy, or even a swatch of hair
What to Expect from Terminally Ill Schnauzers
As a loving and experienced dog owner, you know your Schnauzer better than anyone else and will easily notice when she is not acting like herself. While each Schnauzer’s experience is unique, a few common behavior patterns will mostly likely be part of what you need to be prepared for with a terminal illness.
Here is what you might expect from a terminally ill Schnauzer:
Loss of appetite
A dying Schnauzer will experience changes in appetite and might even lose his appetite entirely. Regardless of the treats or food you offer, a Schnauzer who has lost his appetite will generally refuse food and possibly water as well. The closer your Schnauzer is to passing away, the less appetite he will have.
Irritability
If your Schnauzer is in pain or is simply just deteriorating, he may become irritable at situations that normally would not bother him. He may or may not want to be touched or held. He may also be bothered by lights, noise, and other environmental realities.
Loss of Energy
Loss of energy is another common experience. Often, a very ill Schnauzer will lie down in one spot without moving much at all. If your Schnauzer has a terminal illness, she may show signs of fatigue even if she is not close to dying.
If your Schnauzer is no longer active but doesn’t show any other signs that she might be nearing the end, you should talk to your veterinarian to see if other factors are involved.
Loss of Bowel Control
As an illness progresses, he may lose control over his bowels and bladder as his organs start shutting down. This situation can cause your Schnauzer to urinate or experience bowel movements wherever he is lying. If your Schnauzer cannot control his bladder, you should adopt good nursing practices to keep your Schnauzer clean and as healthy and comfortable as possible.
Discomfort
Terminal illness in Schnauzers can cause reduced mobility, which can also lead to discomfort and soreness. However, you can assist in alleviating the discomfort by offering your Schnauzer enough soft and comfortable bedding such as a therapeutic bed. In addition, a heated mat for his bed may help ease soreness and also provide the added comfort your Schnauzer needs.
Pain
A Schnauzer with a terminal illness may show various signs of pain, including excessive panting, hiding, gasping, being selective about food, or foot-dragging.
If your Schnauzer is showing any signs of pain, you should talk to your veterinarian about possible pain management options. Only give your Schnauzer vet-prescribed medications to avoid making his condition worse.
13 Signs Your Schnauzer is Dying
If your Schnauzer has a terminal illness, you might need to care for her at home during her final days.
Knowing the signs inherent in the dying process will prepare you to handle the situation well and support your Schnauzer and your family through the emotional process.
Here are 13 of the most common signs that your Schnauzer is dying:
| 1. Extreme Fatigue | When a Schnauzer is dying, he’ll show signs of excessive fatigue. In most cases, he will probably lie in one place without trying to get up, and he may no longer have the strength even to lift his head. This might be a slow decline and can be caused by anemia, lack of energy, or poor circulation. |
| 2. Lack of Coordination | When a Schnauzer is dying, she may become unsteady on her feet and have difficulties moving from one place to another. It might be a result of impaired brain function, physical weakness, or the two combined. Weakness in a dying Schnauzer is likely to occur if she is not eating, has severe blood loss, or diarrhea. |
| 3. Lack of Interest | Most Schnauzers start withdrawing to themselves when they are nearing the end. Your Schnauzer might cease responding to what is going on around him, and he might even stop responding to his favorite people as his body begins shutting down. A lack of interest may also be the result of disorientation and confusion. |
| 4. Loss of Appetite | A dying Schnauzer will practically show no interest in food, in particular. As death draws near, she may refuse to eat anything at all. |
| 5. No Desire to Drink | As his condition deteriorates, he may also lose the desire to drink water. If he is able and willing, you can give him drops water with a dropper or even a turkey baster. If he won’t drink, there is not much you can do, and forcing him won’t help. |
| 6. Vomiting | If your Schnauzer has a terminal illness, his digestive system may start shutting down and the undigested food can make him feel nauseated. He might vomit to purge all the contents in his stomach. Beginning to vomit is a serious complication because he might also become dehydrated. |
| 7. Odd or Irregular Breathing | Your Schnauzer may have difficulty breathing, have very shallow breath, or simply have a breathing pattern that does not seem normal. This can be due to many of the other symptoms he is dealing with at this stage. |
| 8. Incontinence | A dying Schnauzer gradually loses control over her bodily functions because she might be too weak to arise and have will accidents where she lies. Again, as her body weakens, she loses control of her sphincter muscle and the muscles that normally control her bladder as well. You should practice good nursing to ensure that your Schnauzer does not develop sores that are secondary to feces or urine being in contact with her skin for a prolonged period. |
| 9. Twitching | A dying Schnauzer may shake or twitch at times. It’s usually an involuntary response, and your Schnauzer might also become chilled as her body temperature starts to drop. You can help keep her more comfortable by providing extra warmth with blankets or by placing her on a heating mat for dogs. |
| 10. Deteriorating Skin and Hair | Your Schnauzer’s skin and hair give clear indications of her health. You may notice the quality, color, and overall condition of her skin and hair becoming noticeably worse. She may even begin shedding and losing clumps of hair. Schnauzer skin is normally slightly oily, but you may notice her skin becoming very dry. |
| 11. Deteriorating Dental Health | Dental health is also a clear sign of overall health or disease. If her gums turn white, that can be a sign of anemia, which can be severe. If she has pink gums, but they remain white for a few seconds when pressed with fingers, it indicates circulatory collapse. |
| 12. Decreased Heart Rate | A healthy Schnauzer’s heart rate is generally between 100-130 bpm. As your Schnauzer deteriorates, her heart rate will decrease to 60-80 bpm and continue falling lower as she passes. |
| 13. Coma or Loss of Consciousness | Your Schnauzer may lose consciousness or slip into a full state of coma before she actually passes. This is a clear sign that she is near the end of her life. However, she may linger for several hours in this condition. |
What End of Life Options Can I Consider?
Coping with the looming loss of a Schnauzer is one of the hardest experiences a pet owner can face. When your Schnauzer has been diagnosed with a chronic illness, it’s essential to make some decisions about what is best for her. That can be quite difficult, but it assists in knowing your options.
You should calmly direct the end-of-life experience to minimize your distress or discomfort. As your Schnauzer’s health declines, you can decide to give palliative care for your Schnauzer at home with the regular supervision of an experienced veterinarian, or you might decide to end her suffering with euthanasia.
The next two sections will consider palliative care and euthanasia.
Palliative Care as an End of Life Option
Let’s cover what palliative care entails as well as specifics, such as cost and how to offer palliative care at home.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care refers to the efficient management of pain and giving comfort care to dying or ill patients. Most people are familiar with palliative care for human beings, but palliative care is also available for our animals as well.
Pet hospice a choice and philosophy that’s based on the principle that animal death is an inevitable part of our lives and can easily be dignified. Palliative and hospice care do not only focus on keeping your Schnauzer alive, but also on boosting the quality of his final days by making sure that he is as comfortable as possible and also experiences more fun, love, and attention, than pain.
Palliative care or pet hospice care is an option if your Schnauzer is suffering from a chronic disease, and a cure isn’t possible. The objective is to make a Schnauzer’s final days more pleasant and comfortable with the right use of dietary strategies, pain medications, and human interaction. When you are considering hospice care, you should be careful not to extend the suffering of a Schnauzer that’s in pain or even experiencing low quality of life.
Palliative care is mainly combined with hospice care, allowing you to offer comfort care for your dying Schnauzer in your home and with the help of a veterinary nurse or veterinarian.
Who Supports You in Offering Palliative Care?
Effective palliative care or hospice care requires the skills of a veterinarian professional with special interest and training in palliative and hospice care. Also, there are some specialists in massage, acupuncture, canine rehabilitation, and many other complementary therapies, and all these practitioners can assist you in managing your Schnauzer’s pain effectively. Veterinarian technicians and veterinary nurses are also specially trained in palliative care and can be an important part of your Schnauzer’s care team.
How Much Does Palliative Care Cost?
Veterinarian-supervised palliative care programs are usually available for animals in some areas. If your state does not offer such programs, you can provide your Schnauzer with in-home palliative care.
Veterinarian-supervised palliative care (which is care at the very end of a Schnauzer’s life) will vary based on the area you live in and the services offered. However, in general, costs can between $200 and $450 per visit.
In addition to consulting with your own veterinarian about care services, there are many organizations that offer palliative care. They can assist you with hospice care visits, end-of-life options, and memorials.
How to Offer Palliative Care at Home
If you decide offering palliative care yourself is the best course for you and your Schnauzer, you will automatically become your Schnauzer’s primary caregiver and nurse, as well as the direct link between the veterinary team and your Schnauzer.
Here are general tips on how to offer palliative care at home.
Contact a Veterinary Hospice Professional
To offer in-home palliative care, you should start by contacting a veterinary hospice professional. Your veterinarian clinic can assign you a caring and hospice-focused veterinarian to work with. They will help you create a supplement, diet, pharmaceutical, and symptom-response plan to keep your Schnauzer comfortable. They will also teach you how to identify levels of discomfort and the actions to take in case a crisis occurs.
Boost Your Schnauzer’s Diet
As your Schnauzer deals with her terminal illness, she should be able to digest and ingest all the nutrients her food provides. Therefore, you should make highly nutritional and more palatable meals for her.
Increase Support and Safety in Your Schnauzer’s Environment
Since your Schnauzer’s needs will change as her disease progresses, you might also need to change the home environment as well. You can make your staircases safer for your Schnauzer and also cover her sleeping areas and bed with disposable covers in the event of incontinence or bleeding.
Consider Alternate Pain-Relief Options
In addition to the medications that lower the levels of pain, your Schnauzer may also receive comfort from other methods such as acupuncture or massage. You can learn basic and gentle pet massage methods and use them with your Schnauzer to ease his pain and make him more comfortable.
Fill His Days with Love And Fun
As your Schnauzer progresses through terminal illness, you should know that positive emotions can only be achieved through enjoyable activities and spending more time with you. You could engage more regularly in the things your Schnauzer loves and can still do in an effort boost his quality of life.
Be Fully Prepared for Death with Essential Supplies
Anticipating the inevitable will be easier if you know that you are fully prepared with the correct supplies. We will cover this in detail below, but know that you will want to have your veterinarian’s phone number, plastic bags and towels or blankets, and a list of steps to take when your Schnauzer passes at home.
Euthanasia as an End of Life Option
Next, let’s cover what euthanasia entails as well as specifics, such as cost and the specific process you can expect.
What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia refers to the act of ending a living being’s life in a humane way to end pain and suffering caused by an irreversible medical condition or chronic illness. In animals, euthanasia is usually referred to as “putting down” or “putting to sleep.” It is generally an overdose of some barbiturates that stops an animal’s heart.
These fluids are usually administered through an injection or an intravenous catheter, and it’s painless when done the right way. Most pet owners opt for euthanasia when their Schnauzer’s suffering becomes too much.
It can be difficult to determine when or if the time is right to end your Schnauzer’s suffering and pain. A beloved Schnauzer’s euthanasia is a difficult and challenging time for everybody involved. Nevertheless, it might be less of a strain if you’ve prepared well in advance for the euthanizing process and also know what to expect.
Who Offers Euthanasia?
Euthanasia offers a painless and peaceful end for a Schnauzer who would otherwise continue suffering.
Your veterinarian professional has special training to offer your Schnauzer with a gentle and humane death. He is the best individual to advise you on whether the timing is right for the euthanizing procedure. During this procedure, your veterinarian will inject your Schnauzer with a sedative, which is then followed by another medication. Your Schnauzer will not experience any awareness of the end of his life, and it will only take 10 to 20 seconds.
Some city pounds or animal shelters may euthanize pets, but others have moved to the no-kill models and will only euthanize in specific circumstances.
How Much Does Euthanasia Cost?
To focus on the technicalities and offering a proper goodbye to your Schnauzer, you should be prepared for euthanasia costs. On average, euthanasia costs can range between $50 and $300, but it can also go over that range. The price is usually affected by other factors, such as whether you’re doing cremation along with euthanasia, whether you’re going to the veterinarian who knows your Schnauzer or not, and whether the veterinarian is coming to your home.
The cost of a veterinary professional coming to your home to do the euthanasia procedure can cost between $85 and $300. However, you can also take your Schnauzer to the veterinarian’s office, which will reduce the cost somewhat.
As your Schnauzer’s illness progresses, you will want to decide whether or not you prefer euthanasia and be prepared for the entire process and the cost.
What to Expect with Euthanasia
When your Schnauzer is being euthanized, you are allowed to choose whether you would like to be present or not. Some veterinarians will come to your house to administer the euthanasia process to your Schnauzer. This may be an option to consider if your Schnauzer is difficult to move or is highly anxious.
Before the procedure, your veterinarian will invite you to go into the examination room and later leave you alone for a couple of minutes to say goodbye, or even hold your Schnauzer close. When your veterinarian and the veterinary technician come in, you should let them know if you would like your Schnauzer’s collar or a snippet of her fur to keep.
Who Can Attend?
Family members can be present during the euthanasia procedure, but small children might not understand what’s happening. If a child isn’t old enough to answer the main question of whether they would like to be present or not, it is probably advisable not to have her or him there.
If the children are old enough to have a constructive conversation and also understand what’s happening with your Schnauzer, you should let them know that your Schnauzer will be euthanized in advance and give them a chance to say their goodbyes, too.
What are the Steps to Euthanize My Schnauzer?
Once you’ve made the difficult decision to euthanize your Schnauzer, it’s essential to know what you should expect before, during, and even after your Schnauzer is put to sleep.
Preparing for Euthanasia
1. Make the appointment
Once you’ve decided to euthanize your Schnauzer, make an appointment with your veterinarian. It’s important to consider the day of the week and the time of day. You should then decide if you want to be present during the euthanizing procedure or not. Although it’s difficult to watch your Schnauzer pass away, your presence will be a great comfort in your Schnauzer’s final moments.
2. Settle the bill in advance
You should try to settle your bill before the procedure. This allows you to be free of any additional responsibilities to manage in light of the grief you will be experiencing.
3. Make your aftercare decision before the euthanasia date and notify the veterinarian
Most pet hospitals work with companies that can help arrange for cremation or burial. You can also take your Schnauzer home with you if you are prepared to bury her somewhere on your home’s property.
At the Euthanasia Procedure
1. Take some time to say your goodbye
You can talk to your Schnauzer, hug him, and express your love and goodbyes, allowing your family members and friends to do the same.
2. The euthanizing process
The veterinarian will give your Schnauzer a sedative followed by an injection of a solution made of pharmaceutical agents. This combination will quickly stop his heart.
3. Confirm the death
Once the solution is administered, your veterinarian will listen your Schnauzer’s heart to confirm his death. Your veterinarian will let you know that your Schnauzer has passed and will give you a few minutes alone with him.
What Are My After-Care Options?
There are various aftercare options for your Schnauzer’s body, and your personal and financial considerations always influence these choices. When you call your veterinarian to report your Schnauzer’s passing, or if your Schnauzer was euthanized, all the available options may be explained to you.
The two common choices are cremation and burial.
You also have the option of burying your Schnauzer at your home, if it is legal in your area. Please read at-home burial details below. You will want to have already identified any city laws you will need to abide by.
Cremation Options
Cremation allows you to turn the remains of your Schnauzer into ashes that you can store the ashes in your house in an urn or other unique containers, or an eco-friendly urn for burial. You can decide whether you would like the body cremated and ashes returned or disposed of by the cremation center.
The cremation center will make the necessary arrangements and notify you when you should expect to have the remains returned. Having your Schnauzer cremated without returning the remains is an affordable and convenient option for people who don’t have a place in their backyard to bury their Schnauzer at home.
Burial Options
Burying your Schnauzer is the other common after-care option. The veterinary hospital you choose will prepare your Schnauzer for you to bury in a pet cemetery or at home if it’s allowed.
However, if you decide to bury the Schnauzer in your yard, remember that one day you might relocate to another home or state. Burying pets at home is usually preferred by many, although it might not be permitted or practical in your area. Before you make your decision, remember to check the restrictions of your local zone.
How To Bury Your Schnauzer
If your Schnauzer has suddenly passed at home, or his death was expected due to illness, you have the after-care options described above, one of which is to bury him.
You can either arrange to have him buried in a cemetery of your choice or bury him at home, depending on your local laws and restrictions.
Burying Your Schnauzer at Home
If you would like to bury your Schnauzer at home, you will need to check your local state and city laws to ensure it is legal.
If your Schnauzer has been euthanized, you should not bury him in your yard. The euthanasia drugs are highly toxic to other animals and will remain readily available from your Schnauzer’s body for at least one year.
If burying your Schnauzer is legal where you live, and you have not euthanized him, here are the steps to follow:
- Select a burial location that is away from water, gardens, and other highly used parts of your yard.
- Once you’ve selected a safe location, place your Schnauzer (wrapped in his blankets and heavy-duty bags) in a container of your choice, such as a meaningful box or casket.
- Ensure that the grave site is at least 3 feet (deeper for Standard and Giant Schnauzers) and cover the site completely with 2-3 feet of dirt.
- You can memorialize the location with a meaningful marker of your choice. You can turn the burial of your Schnauzer into a beautiful memorial by creating a headstone, or placing a medium-sized rock at the spot. If you have children, you can create a memorial stone together with them, along with a meaningful service.
Choosing a Pet Cemetery
If you plan to bury your beloved Schnauzer in a pet cemetery and have various options, you should consider the price and maybe a location close to your home. Just like a human cemetery, you’ll probably have the choice of selecting a place if you want an individual site. The cemetery manager will work with you to find the spot you want.
Some states also allow pets to be buried in a family plot alongside their human family. Check with your state and local cemeteries as you consider your options.
What to Do If your Schnauzer Dies At Home
If your Schnauzer dies at the vet’s office, the staff will handle his remains for you. You will have previously made arrangements for either cremation or burial.
However, if your Schnauzer dies at home, then you should follow these steps right away.
1. Evaluate the situation
While this may sound like an obvious step, knowing that your Schnauzer is gravely ill and believing that he has passed is a stressful experience. It is possible that his pulse is simply so weak as to be undetectable.
The first step is to assess the situation and confirm his death, if possible. If you are not completely sure your Schnauzer has passed away, take him to the nearest veterinarian for assistance. The veterinarian will be able to confirm your Schnauzer’s condition.
2. Contact your veterinarian or a crematory service
If your Schnauzer as passed during normal working hours, your veterinarian’s office can take you through the necessary steps. They might also have a way of connecting you with a mobile vet or a pet crematory service that can pick up your Schnauzer’s body, if that is what you want.
3. Call for assistance and support
Losing your beloved Schnauzer is not an easy thing, so it will be best if you avoid being alone. If possible, you can call a family member or close friend who can provide you with emotional support and also assist you in handling the remains of your Schnauzer compassionately.
4. Say Goodbye
Although your Schnauzer’s passing at home will be a painful and potentially stressful situation, take a few minutes to say your goodbye’s and pay your last meaningful respects.
5. Take care of your Schnauzer’s body
If your Schnauzer dies over a holiday or during the night, you will need to handle the body. If you want to bury your Schnauzer yourself, but you cannot do it immediately for some reason, then his body should be stored properly to prevent decomposition.
It is a hard fact to face, but your Schnauzer’s body will begin decomposing within 10 minutes of his death. If you plan to handle your Schnauzer’s death at home, you will need to be prepared for the realities.
Here is what you should be prepared to do:
- Wear gloves and possibly a face mask as you handle his body. You may also want to change into clothing that is easily washable.
- Be prepared for bodily fluids and have towels, cleanser, and plastic bags nearby. As you arrange and move your Schnauzer’s body, additional bodily fluids may be released. Be prepared to clean him and his surroundings.
- Have a sheet, blanket, or towel ready to wrap his body. In addition, have one or more heavy-duty trash bags available. If the bags are thin, be sure to double or triple them.
- Arrange his body on the sheet, blanket, or towel. Be sure to place him on his side and arrange him in a fetal, curled-up position with his front and hind legs against his body, as if he is sleeping peacefully. This will ensure that as rigor mortis quickly sets in, he is in a comforting and easily transportable position.
- Wrap his body tightly in the sheet, blanket, or towel and then place him inside of the plastic bag. Miniature Schnauzers will be the easiest to arrange and move, but if you have a Standard or Giant Schnauzer, you will most likely need some help.
- Secure the plastic bag. It is probably best to wrap it tightly around your Schnauzer once he is inside and secure with tape. If his body is being transported to another location, add a tag that includes his name, along with your name and phone number.
- Your Schnauzer’s body will need to be refrigerated if you are not able to either bury him or transport his body to your veterinarian or pet aftercare organization immediately. If you cannot bury or transport him immediately, and refrigeration is not an option, you could consider placing him in a basement or garage inside of extra bags temporarily, but it’s not ideal. In as little as 3-6 hours, the odor will become severe.
Moving Forward: How to Handle the Grief
Grief has no boundaries or timeline. Everyone grieves in a different way and for different lengths of time. Generally, your grief level may significantly depend on your personality and age, your Schnauzer’s personality and age, the circumstances of your Schnauzer’s death, the relationship between you and your Schnauzer.
In this section, let’s consider how you can care both for yourself and those around you.
Ways to Take Care Of Yourself
Losing a pet can cause a significant amount of pain and grief. Being patient with yourself and others after your Schnauzer’s death will be an essential part of the healing process.
Be Kind and Patient with Yourself
The first key to coping with grief effectively is to be kind and patient with yourself. Your loss is real and painful and can evoke a flood of memories and feelings. It’s okay to find some moments of joy, to laugh, and to cry.
Reach Out To Other People Who Have Lost Their Pets
You can reach out to friends and family members, online message boards, and support groups. Another individual who has also gone through the loss of a pet will better understand what you are experiencing.
Perform Meaningful Rituals
Rituals can help in the healing process. A funeral or other service for your Schnauzer can assist you and the members of your family members in openly expressing feelings. Other rituals such as celebrating your Schnauzer’s birthday each year, or taking a walk along his favorite path can help to acknowledge and process your emotions.
Create a Memorial
Having a memorial such as planting a special tree in memory of your Schnauzer, compiling a scrapbook or photo album, or sharing the good memories you enjoyed with your Schnauzer, can create a good legacy to celebrate your Schnauzer’s life and eventually help you move on.
Seeking Professional Assistance
Schnauzers quickly and permanently become a member of your family. The loss and grief is very real. If you realize that your grief is becoming persistent and interfering with your capacity to function, your mental health professional or doctor can offer options. Therapy is an honorable thing to do for yourself.
Ways to Help your Kids
The loss of your Schnauzer or any other pet might your child’s first experience with death. While it presents some challenges, it’s also a chance to teach her how to cope with the pain and grief that accompanies loving other living creatures.
Losing a Schnauzer can be traumatic for any child, but the following ways may help your kids cope with the loss:
- Respect your kids’ grief and allow them to openly express their feelings without making them feel guilty or ashamed.
- Reassure your kids that they were not responsible for the Schnauzer’s death and carefully address their concerns and feelings.
- Involve your kids in the dying process and also give them a chance to spend some time with your Schnauzer. Support them in saying their goodbyes in their own unique way.
- Give the children a chance to create a memorial of the Schnauzer, if possible.
- Involve the children in the memorial service. It will help them express their feeling, which will, in turn, aid in the healing process.
Should You Consider Another Schnauzer or Pet?
There are many good reasons to consider sharing your life once again with another Schnauzer or pet, but the decision about when to do it is a personal one.
It might be tempting to fill the empty void left by your Schnauzer’s passing by immediately getting another Schnauzer or pet. However, it’s okay to mourn your Schnauzer first, and let some time pass until you are emotionally ready to open your home and heart to a new pet.
You can start by volunteering your time at a rescue group or shelter. Spending your time caring for some pets in need will not only be good for the animals, but it can assist you in determining if you are ready to get a new Schnauzer or pet.
Alternatively, adding a new Schnauzer or other pet very soon can also help you to heal.
The choice and timeline is very personal, and only you will know what seems right for you and your family.
