<p>Our old lady ( almost 11 yr old ) golden retriever passed away today. She has had dysplasia all of her life and the last 7 mos have been hard on her. We have known for weeks now that she was not doing well and I really wanted to put her down because she was clearly suffering…the vet told us that " we would know " when the time was right. My husband really just couldn’t admit what needed to be done and istead, she died at home, while we worked and our 13 yr old was the one who found her.
I feel just awful , not because it was a shock but I feel that we didn’t let her die in peace. She wasn’t crying with pain or anything that blatant, but she refused to eat for the last couple of weeks and I think that was her way of telling us she was done.
I have some guilt issues going on here , though I know she is in a better place now.</p>
<p>So sorry. Losing a pet is so heart wrenching. Don’t feel guilty. Had you taken her to the vet, you probably would have felt a little guilty about that too. Just because we love our dogs. When DH and I had to put down our first dog, one of my students brought in a story called “The Rainbow Bridge.” You can do a Google search and it pops right up.</p>
<p>I am sorry. We lost our dog this time last year. He lived to be almost 16, a full four years past his life expectancy. Once we did finally put him down we felt guilt for a while that we left it too long. I think you’re going to feel all around bad in every way you can no matter what the circumstances. She may not have had the most comfortable death imaginable, but I am sure she died feeling safe in her home knowing she was surrounded by love. My dog used much of what little life was left in him to be clearly terrified when we brought him into the car to take him to the vet to be put to sleep, which was heartbreaking. I wish we could have had it done at home. There is really no way to totally avoid feeling guilt about something when the time comes.</p>
<p>I am very sorry for you and your family. When my dog died, I went to a relative’s house and cuddled with their dog for a while. I thought it would make it worse but it actually helped ease the pain somewhat. Take care of yourself.</p>
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<p>[I</a> Stood By Your Bed Last Night](<a href=“http://www.rainbowrockcanines.com/poems/i_stood_by_your_bed_last_night.htm]I”>http://www.rainbowrockcanines.com/poems/i_stood_by_your_bed_last_night.htm)</p>
<p>I’m sorry. There’s no choice you could have made that wouldn’t have brought its own set of doubts. It’s an inherently sad and wrenching situation, and your family did the best you could.</p>
<p>I am so sorry. It is so heartbreaking to lose our beloved animal friends.</p>
<p>It still feels a little raw, I had to put my dog down in April. He was 14 yrs old. Grew up with my daughter and I knew the day would come while she was away at college. He had been slowly declining and we just never knew when the time would be right, but he developed bloat one eve and it was so sudden, that we had no choice.
Just another sad chapter along the journey. But I sometimes get the sense that he is still looking out for us. So sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry.</p>
<p>OP: You gave your old lady a good life. She loved you, and you were perfect in her eyes. The end was no exception as far as she was concerned. Allow yourself a good cry tonight, and for as many nights as you need.</p>
<p>Here is the Rainbow Bridge poem that MD Mom referred to. The night that my Bobby Bingo died, it comforted me to know that his long illness was over and, I liked to think, he was reunited with his furry best friend who had preceded him.</p>
<p><a href=“http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm[/url]”>http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm</a></p>
<p>I am so sorry. The two poems above (one referenced) make me sob remembering the dogs we loved and lost, and the two old goldens that are sleeping peacefully by my side.</p>
<p>lje - I’m so sorry. I do know what you’re feeling. I had my S2’s cat put down on Wednesday. He was 19 - almost 20. He’s been failing, but it was still hard. I feel guilty. I did wish he would die at home, so I wouldn’t have to make that decision.</p>
<p>My S2 was home for 2 weeks (left a week ago). While he was home, “Frank” was sooo happy. He’s always been a really shy, timid cat, and very close to S2. Most of the time when S2 is gone, Frank just sits on the bed. I would check on him periodically to make sure he was still breathing. He’s gotten thinner and thinner, dehydrated, constipated, weepy eyes, and very arthritic. Just existing, really.</p>
<p>Vet told me that she looks for these signs when making a decision: Is he eating? Drinking? Pooping and peeing? And does he have something that makes him happy, even if it’s a sunny spot on a window sill. Frank was borderline on everything. Down to 4.5 pounds. Living for the few weeks per year that S2 is home.</p>
<p>What made it harder was that S2 only saw Frank when he was happy. Trailing S2, curled up with him, just content to be with him. So S2 was less convinced that it was time. He sent me an email, agreeing that Frank needed to be looked at, but might not be ready to go. But S2 did admit afterward that he probably would never have been able to decide that it was time, so it’s probably better that I did it.</p>
<p>Frank was so dehydrated, that the vet didn’t want to inject into a vein - said it would be difficult and painful. So she injected into his stomach. Brought him back to me and let me hold him while he went to sleep. (My choice to be there.)</p>
<p>But it has been a rough week. I think it’s not just the passing of Frank, it’s the passing of an era. We got Frank the year S turned 5, just before he started kindergarten. And Frank made it all the way through S’s grad school! We’ve said good-bye to a member of the family, but also good-bye to a way of life. Just made the nest that much emptier.</p>
<p>My previous German shepherd, Heidi, died rather unexpectedly at home. She had been unwell, had been to the vet twice, but was still eating and able to go outside. Early one morning, after my H had left, she was having trouble breathing. I sat with her waiting till 7 when the vet would be in, and she died rather peacefully. </p>
<p>Our vet was very nice to me about her dying at home. She said that way the decision was made for me and there was no doubt it was her time to go. My college age D had to help me take the dog’s body to the vet to be picked up for cremation. Even those these are hard experiences, I think it is good for young people to be exposed to death in this way, preparing them for other difficult experiences later in life.</p>
<p>It’s so hard to lose a beloved pet. I’m sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>So sorry to hear of your loss. I had to make the decision to put my beloved Casey down in April and I still miss her everyday. Just remember the good times and that will put a smile on your face, even if just for a little while.</p>
<p>You gave your dog the greatest gifts of all.: Love, attention, food, water, shelter and medical care. The most awesome life a dog can live thanks to you. He paid you back daily with unconditional love.</p>
<p>There never is a right answer at the end of anyones life, lge62. We all just do our best. That’s all we can do. I’m sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>Our 13 1/2 yr old retrievers are struggling along. We understand your pain.</p>
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<p>So true! Our Bobby’s time with us coincided almost exactly with D’s 15-year dance career. He came to us 2 months after she started dance at age 3, and left us a month after her final recital. We’ve had, and will always have, our share of cats, but HE was the dance cat. </p>
<p>This thread puts into beautiful words something that we all know: Our pets are family. They bring us such joy, and their loss leaves a hole that nothing can fill. But we also know that time softens the grief, and there does come a day when we can begin to smile, with misty eyes, as we remember the sweet and funny things that they did. In that way, they live on.</p>
<p>I am so sorry for the loss of your dear friend.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry. Our beloved pets are part of our families, aren’t they? Our sweet poodle died last November, and I still feel his presence.</p>
<p>In the last 15 years, we have as a family collected pets that have become part of the fabric of our household. When our oldest was about to graduate high school , her favorite kitty became ill and had to be put down. It coincided with the opening of her last play , which she had the lead role…she was upset with the timing because she felt distracted , but he was in a lot of pain.
It seems that with each milestone with the kids, along comes a passing. It is so hard, as many of us understand, but I do try to focus on the happiness they have brought to us and find comfort with knowing we gave them the best we could and in return, we had unconditional love</p>
<p>Sympathies on the passing of your four-legged family member.</p>
<p>Condolences. Our dog died last August and we still have “----” moments- most recently it was not needing to console a dog during the fireworks and remembering him.</p>