Losing your dog is an incredibly emotional experience, so it’s understandable if practical tasks are the last thing on your mind.
There is no need to rush. Most of these tasks can wait until you feel ready, and it’s perfectly okay to ask a family member or friend to help if you’re finding things overwhelming.
This page outlines some of the practical steps you may need to take after your dog’s death to help prevent unexpected reminders and ensure their records are updated.
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If your dog passed away at your regular veterinary practice, they will usually update their records for you.
However, if your dog died at an emergency or out-of-hours veterinary clinic or at home it’s a good idea to let your regular vet know. This will allow them to update your dog’s medical records and stop future reminders for vaccinations, health checks or preventative treatments.
Receiving these reminders after your dog has died can be deeply upsetting, especially if you’re not expecting them and you receive one out of the blue.
Remember to notify the relevant licensing office that your dog has passed away so their records can be updated so you won’t receive a reminder when it’s due for renewal.
In Ireland, it is a legal requirement to keep your dog’s microchip details up to date throughout their lifetime.
This includes notifying your microchip database provider when your dog has passed away so that their record can be updated and removed from the active database.
Depending on which database your dog is registered with, you may need to contact:
If you are unsure which database your dog’s microchip was registered with, you can find out via www.EuroPetNet.org
If you adopted your dog from an animal rescue or rehoming organisation, it can be helpful to let them know that your dog has passed away.
Updating their records means they won’t contact you in the future about your dog and also allows them to acknowledge the life your dog enjoyed after adoption, something many rescue organisations genuinely appreciate hearing.
If your dog was covered by pet insurance or enrolled in a preventative healthcare plan, contact the provider to let them know they have passed away.
They will explain whether there are any final claims to submit or any changes that need to be made to your policy.
You may also wish to cancel or update any other accounts linked to your dog, such as:
This can help prevent unexpected emails, appointment reminders or renewal notices in the future.
There is no checklist that needs to be completed immediately.
If opening emails or making phone calls feels too difficult, leave them for another day or ask someone you trust to help. Most organisations understand that this is a sensitive time and will deal with your request compassionately.
Remember, looking after yourself is just as important as looking after the practical details.
Be gentle with yourself. One small step at a time is enough.
