Pets can feel like part of the family no matter how old you are, and children are very likely to grow attached to their dogs and cats. If you’re looking into pet cremation for your lost dog or cat, be careful with the way you talk to your kids. Read on for tips on how you can explain pet cremation to your child.

What It Means

You have to be strong for your children, which sometimes means you have to explain difficult concepts. You may be mourning the loss of your pet as much as your kids, but do your best to explain pet cremation in a sensitive and careful way. This can be especially tricky if your kids are young enough that they don’t understand the concept of death at all. Try to explain what’s going on in a comforting way so your children can feel okay about the process.

Different Types of Cremation

Your kids will have questions about pet cremation no matter how old they are, but your older children will probably have more of a grasp on what’s going on. If they want to be part of the decision-making process, let them know that there are different types of cremation. Individual cremation means cremating one pet at a time, while communal cremation includes several animals. Be sensitive to your child’s needs, and take their opinions into consideration.

Sympathy and Encouragement

Death is a natural part of life, but it’s especially difficult to deal with when you’re young and not completely sure what’s happening. The time leading up to your pet’s cremation may be a difficult one for your whole family, so pay extra attention to your child’s needs during this stretch.

Are you in need of pet cremation services in Fort Worth, Texas? Call Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory at (682) 587-2324 and let us walk you through your options. It’s our mission to help you get through the loss of a pet with as little stress as possible, and we’re happy to help however we can.

Birds aren’t quite as common as cats or dogs when it comes to popular household pets, but they’re just as loved. You can prevent premature pet deaths by understanding the symptoms of sickness and talking to your veterinarian promptly if you notice them. Keep reading to get to know some of the common signs of illness in birds.

Appetite and Weight Change

Unexplained changes in weight can indicate sickness in humans, and the same goes for pets. Birds need a lot of nutrition because of how high their metabolisms are, and a change in weight is usually due to a change in appetite. This can be extremely dangerous for your bird’s health. Monitor your bird’s eating habits and weight, and be vigilant about the possibility of illness.

Unkempt Feathers

You know there’s a problem of some sort if your bird isn’t keeping him or herself clean. Birds are known for habitually preening their feathers to stay as hygienic as possible. If your bird is looking dirty or unkempt, schedule a vet checkup. This is not normal behavior for birds, and it could mean there’s a health issue to deal with. In addition, in the case of a respiratory problem, birds might ruffle their feathers for a longer period of time than usual.

Abnormal Droppings

If you’re worried that your bird might be sick, one way you can get a better idea is by looking at his or her droppings. Yellow or black droppings can indicate sickness. On the other hand, don’t forget that a bird’s diet will affect its droppings, so compare the droppings to what they had previously looked like. A change in color or consistency can indicate a problem, so set up an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice these issues.

Pet loss can be difficult for the whole family. Let Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory in Fort Worth, TX, help you make the necessary arrangements. We offer different kinds of pet burial boxes and animal cremation services. Call us at (682) 587-2324 to learn more about how we can help.

Having a pet is like having a furry or feathered family member, and you’ll want to keep your companion healthy. It can be tough to stay organized when you have so much else going on, however, so use this app to find useful first aid info for pets.

The Pet First Aid app by Red Cross is a dog or cat owner’s best friend. Whether your pet seems a little off or is going through an emergency, this app can tell you how to handle it. The app also offers preventative care advice, and you can even create different profiles for each of your four-legged friends.

The loss of a pet is difficult to deal with, but at Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory, we do everything we can to help. Give our pet cemetery in Dallas, TX, a call at (682) 587-2324 to find out more.

All dogs are intensely loyal, loving companions who deserve the best of care. Working dogs are in a league of their own, however, and at Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory, we honor K-9 and Seeing Eye dogs, and respect the valuable services they provide to the community. When a Seeing Eye or K-9 dog passes away, our pet cemetery provides them with a respectful dog cremation or burial.

If the owner chooses to inter the remains with us, we waive the charge for the burial space. It’s one way we choose to give back to the local communities that have trusted us with their beloved companions for so many years. Our pet cemetery is a beautiful final resting place for hardworking dogs. We always welcome visitors who wish to visit the graves and spend time in quiet reflection.

It’s our mission to extend every courtesy to our neighbors who are mourning a pet death in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Call Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory at (682) 587-2324 to request pickup from any local veterinarian.

After the loss of a pet, you’ll have to decide how you want to proceed with end-of-life services. Pet cremation gives you a way to say goodbye to your pet while still keeping a memento, and there are different kinds of cremation services available. Continue reading to find out what a communal pet cremation entails.

The two main types of pet cremation are individual and communal. With individual pet cremation, your pet’s remains are cremated on their own, and you can receive the cremains afterwards. In the case of a communal cremation, the remains of multiple pets are cremated at the same time, and then are buried in a specific section of the cemetery. There will be markers in the cemetery that make it easy to locate the site of your pet’s final resting place, so you can visit whenever you’d like.

If you want to know more about your pet cremation options, call Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory at (682) 587-2324. Whether you’ve just lost a pet or you’re thinking toward the future, our website can offer helpful information about animal cremation near Arlington, Texas.

Some individuals choose to adopt a new companion shortly after a pet burial, while others prefer to wait and work through their grief. There’s no right or wrong approach. It’s true that adopting a new pet can help distract you from your grief, but don’t feel as though you need to rush the process. Your grief is real, and you need to take care of your emotional needs after the pet funeral.

Make sure you’re ready for a new pet.

Grief is complicated, and some mourners are given to impulsive decisions in the midst of their feelings of loss. Talk with your family to find out if they are receptive to the idea of a new furry family member. Remember that it isn’t possible to “replace” your beloved companion. Rather, you’re building a new relationship with another animal who needs a loving family.

Decide what type of pet to adopt.

You might not necessarily want the same type of pet. Sometimes, change can be a good thing. Consider adopting a new species of animal, or a different breed of dog or cat. If you do choose the same type of pet as before, look for one with different coloring and markings. Remember that if you decide to adopt an animal other than a cat or dog, you’ll need to make sure there is a veterinarian nearby who is qualified to care for that type of animal.

Prepare your home for a new pet.

If you do choose a new species, your family should spend some time researching the new pet’s needs, likes, and dislikes. Purchase the things your new pet will need, and have new food on hand. If you’ll be reusing food bowls and pet beds, clean these items thoroughly before heading out to the animal shelter.

At Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory, we firmly believe that deceased pets never truly leave us, as their memory will live on. We’d like to help you with your grief by offering respectful pet burial and cremation services, as well as pet memorials available in Dallas. Call us at (682) 587-2324.

If you’re a parent or the family caregiver of an aging loved one, you probably already keep important medical information readily available in case of emergencies. Why not do the same for your beloved pet? Download the VitusVet: Pet Health Care App to easily store all of your pet’s medical records in your phone.

With this helpful app, you can share login access with your entire family, as well as pet caregivers and veterinarians. You can even share vaccination records with the groomer or kennel staff. This app also features reminder alerts for feeding, grooming, medications, and vaccinations.

Here at Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory, we provide compassionate services every day to individuals who have suffered the loss of a pet in the Dallas, Texas area. Call our pet cemetery at (682) 587-2324, and let us know how we can support your family.

Cats have complex emotions. Just like people, they feel grief and loss. During the difficult time after a pet’s death, families can find comfort in supporting each other and sharing their favorite memories of the pet. But cats can’t tell their humans how they feel, and they may have trouble understanding why their best friend has suddenly gone away. There are ways of comforting a surviving feline, and doing so may help you cope with your own grief.

Look for behavioral changes in your cat.

Although your cat can’t talk to you about his or her feelings, you might notice behavioral changes that are indicative of grief. Some cats cry often, and spend their time looking through the house for their lost companion. Grief can make cats display different personalities. Typically shy cats can become clingy, and may follow their human parents around the house. Active cats might become socially withdrawn. They may be too depressed to play or go outdoors to hunt.

Let your cat know what has happened.

If the deceased cat died at home, it might be a little easier for the surviving feline to work toward acceptance of the loss. Bring your cat over to the body of his or her companion, and allow your cat to sniff as much as he or she wants. This is a normal way for animals to understand that a death has occurred. Your cat will still grieve, but he or she might not display drastic behavior changes.

Give your cat lots of love and support.

Spend lots of time cuddling and stroking your cat. Talk to your cat too. Even though he or she won’t understand the words, the emotion and intent behind the words will be clear.

Ask a vet about antidepressants.

Medications are a last resort for cats who can’t seem to recover from the loss of their companion. Veterinarians generally only prescribe them after all other options have failed because of the risk of side effects. If your grieving cat is displaying severe psychological problems and behavioral issues, a short-term course of antidepressants might help.

The pet funeral providers at Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory would like to extend our sincerest condolences for the loss of your pet. We’d like to help your family grieve in any way that we can. Call (682) 587-2324 to inquire about our respectful pet burials and animal cremations near Arlington, Texas.

Losing a loved one can prevent you from thinking clearly and making sound decisions, and this extends to losing a pet. Pets are a part of the family, so you may wish for them to have the same care as they are put into their final resting place as any other member of the family would have. To be sure that you are comfortable with the decisions you make for your pet’s end of life care, you might consider working with a pet cemetery in Dallas to arrange your pet’s burial well before this service is needed. Though it can be difficult to think about the eventual loss of your pet, you may gain some peace of mind knowing that you’ve created a fitting final tribute to your beloved furry friend.

Explore Your Burial Options

Burial is just one option for your pet. You may choose cremation, which will allow you to keep your pet’s remains in an urn to display in your home or scatter the remains in nature. If you do select burial services, you should explore your options for burial plots, caskets, and other essential details.

Determine Your Budget

Pre-planning burial services can fit into any budget, as there are options ranging from modest to ornate. You should determine a budget that you are comfortable with, and you can work with a funeral planner to design a burial that fits your vision within this budget.

Tour the Cemetery Facilities

It is important to take a tour of the cemetery facilities before making a final decision about your pet’s burial. You want to select a plot that is in an area where you can peacefully reflect when you visit your pet’s burial site, and you should tour the grounds to see all amenities available.

At Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory, we understand that the loss of a pet is incredibly difficult, so we will provide the compassionate and helpful services you need, whether you are planning ahead or making last-minute arrangements. To learn more about us, visit our website or give us a call at (682) 587-2324.

Choosing to euthanize a pet is not a decision that is easy to make, and it can be even more painful when you must tell your children that the family pet is going to be euthanized. It is, however, likely the most compassionate choice you can make for your pet, and there are some ways to help your child cope as you deal with the loss yourself. Keep reading for some tips on talking to your child before your pet is put to sleep so that he or she is better prepared for the loss.

Help Your Child Understand that Your Pet Is Ill and Suffering
Using age-appropriate language for your child, you should explain that the family pet is ill and in pain, and euthanasia is a way to end that. Your pet may be less active or more frail in appearance, so your child may be able to easily see how it is time to let the family pet go as you explain what’s going on.

Discuss Your Feelings Openly
Your child will naturally be sad or upset when you break the news, and it’s important to encourage healthy ways of coping with those feelings. Let your child see that you are also sad and discuss the ways that are appropriate for handling that grief. Allowing more time to grieve openly as a family can make it easier to say goodbye to your pet.

Reflect on Positive Memories of Your Family Pet
As your pet’s life comes to an end, it can be helpful for you and your child to spend time looking at photos and telling stories about the family pet. You might even have one last photo shoot with your four-legged friend to create one more positive memory.

Not only can Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery & Crematory provide you with the services you need to say goodbye to your pet, but we also offer support for loss of a pet in Dallas. For more information about pet burial and cremation, call us anytime at (682) 587-2324.