after death

POST-MORTEM CHANGES: KEEPING YOUR PET AT HOME

I’m a huge proponent of DIY deathcare—I find it incredibly meaningful and transcendent to care for the dead. There is something profoundly healing about tending to a beloved pet’s body yourself, rather than immediately handing them over to a professional. I want everyone to feel empowered and prepared to keep their pet at home for a vigil, shrouding, or personal ceremony, should you want to. Understanding post-mortem changes can help you feel more prepared and approach the process with confidence.

Within the first hour: muscle relaxation

• Know that the eyes usually remain open
• Pee and poop might happen. An absorbent pad or towel beneath the hind quarters is a smart move. Use a damp cloth or baby wipe for clean-up.

After the first hour: muscle stiffening

• It can start as early as one hour and you’ll notice it first in the jaw muscles. It will soon impact all the body’s muscles, which can make repositioning more difficult. If your pet isn’t already in a comfortable-looking position, get them tucked in early.
• If this muscle stiffening (rigor mortis) is preventing you from being able to shroud or transport, it can be manually manipulated away. This is known as “breaking” the rigor. Slowly “working” joints back and forth, working up to a fuller range of motion, is how this is accomplished. Don’t force it – especially in smaller animals, the strength of rigor mortis can easily surpass the strength of fragile, little bones.

Other odors and fluids

• Other odors and fluids don’t usually appear until beyond 24 hours but every animal is different. Different disease processes can impact this too.
• Fluids coming from the nose and mouth are also normal, this is called purge. Propping the head up with a rolled-up towel or small pillow is usually sufficient to keep fluids from leaking out.
• Be prepared for new fluids and odors when moving your deceased pet after they’ve been resting for some time.
• Ventilation and other scents – turning on a fan, cracking a window, and introducing other scents will keep other odors in check. Any of these would work: essential oils, candles, diffusers, incense, sachets of dried petals and herbs, fresh flowers. Anointing a body with essential oils or decorating with fresh flowers are common elements that can be incorporated into rituals.

The importance of cooling cannot be understated here. If you’re planning on keeping an animal at home for longer than 12 hours, I would strongly suggest having a plan for cooling. In Alaska, our cool temperatures might be all the cooling you need. Setting up on a back porch or next to a drafty door or slightly cracked window may be sufficient to keep decomposition changes at bay. Other options include:

• Reusable ice packs – swap them out as needed
• “Wet” ice (just regular ice)
• Dry ice – you can pick up dry ice from grocery stores, or (in Anchorage) 10th & M Seafoods. Handle dry ice carefully (wear gloves) and never use it in a tightly enclosed space. 

Most of the aftercare you will provide for your beloved animal companion will feel intuitive, I promise. It's not at all strange to want extra time with them, to pet and talk to them, and maintain vigil in the minutes and hours after their death. ​No matter what you choose, what matters most is honoring the bond you shared in a way that feels right for you. 

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