How to Get Through the Holidays When Facing Pet Loss

Why do the holidays feel so much heavier when you’ve lost a pet, or when you know a goodbye is coming soon?
If you’re finding yourself dreading traditions, avoiding gatherings, or feeling pressure to “hold it together,” this episode is for you.

Holiday pet grief can show up in unexpected ways, especially during a first holiday without your pet or when you’re living in that anticipatory space of knowing time with your pet is limited. In this conversation, licensed clinical social worker and author Nancy Gordon helps make sense of why this season hurts more and how to move through it with compassion instead of pressure.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

If you’re grieving a pet you’ve already lost:
• Why holidays intensify pet grief, even when you think you’re coping just fine
• How to prepare emotionally for gatherings so you’re not blindsided by questions or comments
• Ways to honor your pet without forcing traditions or “last moments” to be perfect

If you’re anticipating the loss of a pet:
• What anticipatory grief looks like and why it can quietly take over the season
• How to stay present with your pet and yourself without burning out emotionally

This episode is dedicated to Rosy, Debbie’s beloved dog, and to every pet parent navigating the holidays with a missing piece of their heart.

CONNECT WITH NANCY GORDON
Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

Petworks.com to schedule a session with Nancy: Discounted first session.

Website: growbeyondgrief.com

Instagram devoted to pet loss and grief: @nancy.gordon.global 

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Listen to Nancy's first appearance on the show in 2023: "The Grief Before Goodbye: Preparing For Your Pet's Final Days"

Join us in The Pet Parent Hotline Insiders group on Facebook:

Support the show

Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Show the love by leaving a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet parenting gets crazy fast, especially with behavior issues, rising costs, and conflicting pet advice. This show gives you pet care solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use right away.

Each week you get pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We also tackle problems from puppy biting to cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, hidden hazards, and how to stay ahead of the issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet advice and tools to save money and help you enjoy a calmer home and life with pets.

Follow so you can stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: [e-mail]

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro