Anticipatory grief is the sadness we feel when we begin to grieve in anticipation or expectation of a loss. For those of us who share our lives with beloved pets, anticipatory grief is something we will likely experience as our pets age, if we receive a difficult medical diagnosis for a pet, or at the first sign of a greying muzzle.

Anticipatory grief can trigger all the normal feelings that accompany grief - shock and denial, sadness, anger, depression. But there is often an added layer of fear or anxiety for the future and for the unknown.

What is important to understand is than anticipatory grief is perfectly normal, you are not alone and support is available, and it doesn’t have to rob you of the precious time you have left.

To Read More:

• Anticipatory Grief Handout