New member here -

Last nite I had to authorize the euthanasia of a very special family member - 8 year Sadie, a brindle boxer.

Two nites ago, Sadie started to have issues sleeping and seemed to be up all nite and couldn't get comfortable. The next morning while I was walking her she seemed like it was the last thing in the world she wanted to do.

I asked my wife to make sure during the day that she kept on eye on her, thinking she might have the flu or something. However, just before I left Sadie urinated on the floor and it was dark brown in color and very pungent.

Naturally, I thought this was the onset of a UTI. My wife took Sadie to the vet. After many tests and a lot f confusion we determined Sadie was probably suffering from Autoimmune Hemlolytic Anemia - her body was attacking her red blood cells.

Sadie was transported to a critical care facility and over nite took a turn for the worse. The blood transfusion and immunosupressive therapy didn't stablize her. The vet said it could take up to a week of work to get her better and then there were no guarantees. She would only ever have a 50 50 chance of survival and then chances are we would be right back here again a month.

I am feeling pretty low that I authorized the death of someone very dear to me. I came home last nite and wanted to be greeted by a short snubby tail wagging and her contorted into a "bean".

I haven't thrown anything out. I am not sure I can as I don't want to say goodbye. All of us at home feel quite upset and wish there had been other alternatives, but neither us nor the doctors saw any.

I miss my Sweet Sadie Sunshine.

Thanks for listening.

I am so sorry to hear of your story. We are all with you. My husband and I had to put our 18 year old cat to sleep three weeks before Christmas. We totally understand your loss. My husband beat himself up for the first two months for the same reason as you--that we authorized the euthansia......he kept thinking maybe he would have made it till Christmas if we hadn't euthanized him, but he had cancer that had spread to his lungs.

Ultimately, you did the right thing, Sadie would not have wanted to suffer. IT is also normal to feel like looking for them everywhere in the house. That took about a month for us. You aren't alone and there are a lot of people here that lost their pets in the same way as you, so please check back here often for support.

I will definitely be thinking of you this week. Please update us on how you are doing.

Hugs, Misty's Mama

Sadie's Daddy

Welcome here, I'm glad you found this site. I'm sorry it was for such a sad reason.

I'm so sorry you lost your Sweet Sadie Sunshine. (What a great thing to call her). I know how much it hurt. She was really sick, you took on her pain so she didn't have to hurt anymore. You loved her enough to do that. Try not feel guilt for it.

When we lose someone close to us, our reality changes, things never 'go back to normal' we just learn to live in the new reality, without them.

It's hard to throw their things out. You are in shock now, give it some time and it will become clear what things to keep.

Thinking of you and Sadie

I miss her too, sweetie. It's agony being here alone without her. My arms ache to hold our fuzzy little girl again, and the horror of knowing I never will again is almost unbearable.

Thanks to Moose_Mom and radgirl for your condolences. Radgirl, I hope the pain of losing Misty is beginning to be dulled by the happy memories and love you felt. We cling to the fact that hopefully, someday, the happy memories will outweigh the shock and hurt we feel over losing our little furbaby.

Sadie's Mama

You are in the newest stage of grief. The shock and pain is so great. We lost our Moose kitty almost 6 months ago. For me the first 24 hours was almost too hard to do. Then the first week. I remember counting down the hours untill it had been a full week. Until it had been a week since I had seen him, held him....

Things got a tiny bit better after that, then after a month I could remember a few better memories. At six months I have good days and bad days, but I think the good memories finally do outweigh the shock. It will happen for you too. I'm so sorry for you both.

Is that Sadie as your avatar? She was so beautiful!

Thinking of you and Sadie.

So sorry about Sadie. Euthanasia is a very difficult decision no matter how logical it appears.

I've assisted in a few as my father was a veterinarian and have been brought up with a healthy view of it.

Just a week ago we had to say goodbye to our dear Moosh that way and all my experience didn't make that much of a difference. I still feel sad.

What the vet and my Dad both said did make a difference. They told me that it was the absolute kindest thing we could have done for her any more.

Watching her relax after months of pain reaffirmed what they said.

The painfully agonizing alternative for my dear girl is too horrendous to contemplate. I know we did the right thing and you saved Sadie that suffering too. You're wonderful parents for taking care of her. Your pain shows just how much you love her.

Take care of each other.

Thank you all so much for your kind words. Sadies_mama and I are very grateful. Its all so very raw and so recent. I still hear her paws on our floor. Her bed still has her indentation in it.

I was just looking at pictures of her from she was around 2 or 3 and I think this is exactly how I want to remember her - full of spirit, personality, playfulfulness and most of all - unconditional love.

Thank you all again. I think Sadies_Mama and I are glad we can share here because sometimes the people in the real world just don't understand.

Dear Sadie's Dad and Momma,

Oh my heart breaks for you, you are both in such a painful place, I understand, we had to do the same for our buddy on Christmas morning, even as sick as my boy was I still had questions after the fact, even though there was no other solution, his suffering was terrible...just take care of yourselves, and take it easy with all the "things" I still have my boy's christmas present and unopened shampoo and conditioner...its crazy, you will take care of them all in time, when you are ready, the happy memories do help alot, but it is a long process. This is a great place to come, everyone here is so helpful and kind, they helped me so much.

Take Care of yourself, and I will be thinking of you, peace to you both and blessings to Sadie girl, she is very cute. All the best, Tory, Hrudey's Momma

Sadies Daddy & Mama,
I am so sorry about your loss of Sadie, at such a young age and so suddenly. It broke my heart to read "Her bed still has her indentation in it." But as everybody here says you did the right thing to save her from unnecessary suffering and we are glad you found this site. I found this site probably about 10 days ago, which was 5 days after I lost my Hani, and it is very comforting to share stories of our beloved babies.
BTW, to Moose Mom -- As always, I find great solace and hope from your words. Thank you!

Sadies Mama and Daddy,

Thanks for offering your support to me on my post about receiving my boy's ashes. I'm so glad you've come to this site because the "family" I have found here has offered unbelievable support and encouragement. I had to make the same decision on January 25th and it was the hardest thing I've ever done.

I am so, so sorry for your loss of Sadie. As someone who was raised with Boxers, I can completely related to missing the nub tail wag and the fanny-first wiggle. Such characters, and such emptiness when they're gone. I became a mom to American Bulldogs years ago because my lifestyle couldn't keep a Boxer entertained enough! I miss them dearly, though.

I wish you strength and peace as you deal with this awful pain, and my thoughts and prayers are with you and Sadie.

Hello Sadie's Mama and Daddy, I also want to say how very sorry I am about the loss of your dear girl.It is so hard to go thur what you are going thur.I know just how you feel.We had to make that same decision back on Oct. 13th and it was the heardest decision we've ever had to make.I know it was the right thing to do because I couldn't see my boy suffer anymore.He was 16 yrs. old and suffered from feline diabetes and kidney failure.The first few weeks are the toughest to get thur but it does get easier to manage.It's been almost 6 months since we lost our Sox and we do have more good days than bad.This site has been a godsend for me and for so many others. Whoever said that Moose Mom is a godsend was exactly right, she is so very special.Her words have helped so many people and she always knows just the right thing to say to give you comfort.I hope you will both come here whenever you need a friend and we'll be here for you both.We all understand the pain your feeling even if the rest of the world sometimes doesn't.You guys will be in my thoughts and prayers tonight.Sincerely,Renee (Sox's mom)

Thanks to everyone for your kind words. We are coping -- not great, not horrible -- just coping. Still crying a lot today (Friday), not quite 48 hours later.

We were frantic this morning as we realized that there was an issue with our home PC and precious recent photos of our girl may be gone. We are more hopeful now that the drive can be resurrected and the photos saved.

The house is just so quiet. And I miss her the most during the day, when I work from home and no one else is here. Even if it was just an absent-minded scratch or pat as I typed during the workday, I didn't realize how much I relied on her for companionship until it was gone. Isn't that always the way?

Gentle hugs and prayers to those facing the same loneliness that Sadies_Daddy and I are dealing with.

Hi Sadies Mama & Daddy,

I'm so sorry for the loss of your beautiful girl. I noticed she has Ch. too. I understand the special kind of bond that brings too. You'll have those very extra special time to always hold on to. I bet she was so proud of herself!

I had to put my vizsla boy Copper down on New Year's Eve. He had an incurable form of cancer. Since then my other vizsla Penny, who was a severely abused rescue dog, hasn't been able to cope. Now she's waiting to be put down for attacking me. I'm still calling her when I call my other dog. For that matter, I still call Copper sometimes. I truly understand your agony.

It is horrible to lose a friend you love so much. When they're young and it's unexpected, it's almost like an extra kick in the stomach. And it may be very little comfort to hear that you did the best you could for her, but you did.

Copper has a stone where he's buried that says, "If love could have saved you, You would have lived forever..." I'm sure that applies to Sadie too.

Take care of yourselves.
Peace&Love
V

We are so sorry to hear about your viszlas. I can only fathom what you must be going through.

Sadie's Mama and I were just reminiscing - with tears and just a little laughter. The tears are still more than any thing else.

Again we are so sorry for your loss and thank you for your kind words.