There are few losses that cut as deeply as the death of a beloved pet. 

We lost our beloved dog Maple of 11 years last Monday. I finally feel like I am ready to write this a week later. 

For many women in midlife, our pets have been constant companions through career changes, children leaving home, divorce, caregiving responsibilities, health challenges, and life's countless transitions. They greet us every morning, comfort us when we cry, and love us without conditions. 

When they are gone, the silence and the void can feel overwhelming.

If you are grieving the loss of a pet, please know that your pain is real. Pet loss is not "just losing an animal." It is losing a family member, a source of unconditional love, and often a daily source of purpose and routine.

As a health coach, I need to encourage myself, my husband, and our other puppy, Heidi, who was Maple's companion, to honor our grief while also caring for our physical and emotional health during this difficult time.

Grief Affects The Entire Body

I felt exhausted, especially after making that extremely hard decision to let go of Maple, overwhelming sadness when going to sleep as if I couldn’t breathe, a bit of brain fog, and definitely loss of motivation.  I listened to my favorite piece of music to put myself to sleep - it’s Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, played by Vladimir Spivakov. There is something about this dramatic piece that has soothed me since I first encountered it as a college student.

I know these reactions are normal. The bond between Maple and me felt special. I felt like her eyes looked into my soul every day, and I had to do my best. 

Even though I knew her life was limited, especially after the diagnosis of an enlarged heart 4 years ago and taking numerous daily medications, I still wanted her to keep going, so I wasn't acknowledging how frail she was in the end.  

We must listen to our own bodies, especially through grief. Grief is overwhelming, and it can consume you.

So I am trying to follow the steps to stay healthy while grieving.

5 Ways to Stay Healthy While Grieving

1. Keep a Gentle Daily Routine
2. Move Your Body, Even When You Don't Feel Like It
3. Nourish Yourself With Real Food
4. Talk About Your Loss
5. Create a Meaningful Tribute

Rituals help us process loss.

1. Routine: We take our morning walks with our other puppy Heidi, to acknowledge that a new day has started.
2. Move: We took a super long hike through the woods on Mackinaw Island in Michigan on Tuesday. Throughout the hike, we talked about Maple, our decision to let her go, the happy times we had with her, and all her quirky traits. We’ve been walking through Maple tree trails in Canada since everyday, talking about her while we walk.
3. Nourish: I start my day with homemade granola made with oats, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, and almonds, tossed in rapeseed oil and seasoned with maple syrup and cacao. Mix it with Greek yoghurt, soaked chia seeds, and blueberries. I find nourishing myself in the morning sets the tone of the day.
4. Talk: I talk extensively with my husband about Maple every day and speak with Heidi while giving her ear rubs. I spoke with friends and texted others. 
5. Tribute: It took me a week to even want to write a tribute. I wanted to memorialize her in my mind and feel her still, not through photos or words. On Thursday night, I saw her on my eyelids before I fell asleep. I knew she was with me, and then I was able to write a tribute.  Putting thoughts into words always soothes me, as does listening to Classical music. This action calms my mind, my emotions…only then I was able to write a tribute. I felt the healing as I typed words onto my screen, remembering every detail of Maple and the happy times we spent together. I process grief through writing, and writing has always helped me heal. 

A tribute doesn't erase the pain, but it can transform grief into a continuing bond of love and remembrance.

Watch for Signs You Need Additional Support

While grief is normal, prolonged stress can affect your health.

Reach out for professional support if you experience:

• Persistent depression
• Severe anxiety
• Inability to function in daily life
• Significant sleep disruption
• Changes in eating patterns that affect health
• Feelings of hopelessness

There is strength in asking for help.

A Final Thought

The grief you feel reflects the love you shared.

Maple may no longer be physically beside me, but the comfort, companionship, and joy she brought into my life remain part of who I am.

As I move through this season of loss, I am being gentle with myself. I am prioritizing rest, nourishing food, movement, connection, and self-compassion.

Healing does not mean forgetting.

It means learning to carry the love forward while caring for yourself along the way.

And that is one of the healthiest things you can do.