What Your Vet Wishes You Knew About Guilt and Goodbyes | Ask a Vet Q&A

In this live Q&A, Jasper founder Britta Mulderrig sits down with Dr. Sarah Hoggan, emergency veterinarian, two-time TEDx speaker, and Jasper’s Chief Veterinary Officer, to talk through the questions people carrying pet loss grief often ask quietly, if they ask them out loud at all. Together, they discuss why losing a pet can hurt so deeply, why the world often minimizes this kind of grief, whether other animals in the home understand what happened, and how to live with the guilt that can follow end-of-life decisions. They also talk about the guilt of moving forward: laughing again, going back to places you shared, and opening your heart to another pet without feeling like you are leaving the one you lost behind. This is a compassionate, honest conversation about love, mercy, guilt, memory, and the kind of support we need when a beloved animal dies. In this conversation: • 0:00 Welcome and introductions • 3:20 Why does losing a pet hit so hard? • 14:20 Do pets grieve? What animals may understand about loss • 28:06 The guilt of wondering if you did the right thing • 38:00 Did I wait too long or not long enough? • 44:56 Will my pet think I forgot them? • 59:40 Is it too soon to get a new pet? • 1:16:30 How grief and joy can exist together • 1:20:46 Why community matters in pet loss grief • 1:25:35 Closing thoughts and how to find support ABOUT BRITTA MULDERRIG Britta Mulderrig is the founder of Jasper Grief, a community and resource platform dedicated to pet loss grief support. She created Jasper after losing her own beloved pet, Jasper, and now leads a community of thousands of grieving pet parents through every stage of loss. ABOUT DR. SARAH HOGGAN Dr. Sarah Hoggan is an emergency veterinarian, Jasper’s Chief Veterinary Officer, and a two-time TEDx speaker on pet loss grief. JASPER COMMUNITY If you're in the season of preparing for loss, you don't have to navigate this alone. Join our free community: jaspergrief.com/join-community Connect with others in Preparing for Loss and find resources, support, and people who truly understand. EXPLORE MORE RESOURCES Browse guides, tools, and conversations about preparing for loss: jaspergrief.com/resources BOOK A 1:1 GRIEF COACHING SESSION Work with a trained anticipatory grief coach for personalized support through this season: jaspergrief.com/coaches #petloss #petlossgrief #anticipatorygrief #endoflifedecisions #griefsupport #veterinarian #bereavement #bereavementsupport #petlosssupport #euthanasiaguilt #animalgrief