My pup was a very loyal, spunky, adorable girl. I had her for about 15 years. She was such a joy and happy dog. She recently passed and I am still very heartbroken over it. I just wasn't expecting it. I think even if I was, it wouldn't make it any easier. I know she had heart and kidney issues. But she was acting fine, up until the night when she got sick. I woke up to her coughing and she could not catch her breath. We got her to calm down eventually and rest a bit. We got her in the vet first appt. they had open. I took her in and he gave her a shot of lasix and antibiotic. He told me come back in a couple weeks. So I left thinking my puppy was going to be just fine. I kept an eye on her and she seemed fine, just tired. Then I left a little while because I had an important class to go to. When I got back she was acting a little disoriented and I thought it was just the medicine. By the end of the night she couldn't walk. I didn't know what to think. I thought there was no concern earlier because he said see ya in 2 weeks. Now she couldn't walk. She ended up passing away before morning : ( I was just feeling so many things. Like I wanted to know why this happened. I also felt like I should have taken her back to vet when she was acting disoriented. Or tried going to a vet when she couldn't walk. I could have tried a different one since mine was closed. I really thought it was the medicine when she was acting whooozy. I wish I would have not thought just because they say 2 weeks doesn't mean it will be just fine. I feel really heartbroken and sad over this. I feel dumb I didn't do more. I also miss her so much. I just hope she didn't suffer and knows how much we all loved her. It is so hard coming to terms with things and being able to stop questioning things. Click to view attachment

Dear doggydog23,

I'm so sorry for the physical loss of your gorgeous little girl.



Doggydog, I can say with all honesty, that it is obvious from the picture alone, that she knows how much you love her. Her little face just shines with love. Trust me, she knows. She'll always know. And I just know that she loves you just as much

I know you're so very heartbroken right now. You feel as though your heart, and the very life of you, has died alongside with her. I promise you that through time and tears the pain will eventually become a little less raw. We will always have that 'nagging ache' of losing someone so precious, but the pain will not be so intense. You will eventually be able to think of your girl and smile at all the wonderful memories. We never truly get over this, but as our most valued member moon_beam always says, it's not about getting over it, it's just about adjusting to a new way of life. Your little girl is still with you, and always will be - just in a different way.

For now just take it one day at a time. One moment at a time. We're here for you.
Big hugs -- Cheryl x

Hi, doggydog, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved companion. Losing a companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we are blessed with the privilege of their company.

Doggydog, please let me try to reassure you that you always did the very best for your beloved companion with the information you had at the time. We are mere mortals - - we are not gifted with x-ray eyes that can scan our companions' bodies to try to detect illness and injury so that they can receive prompt medical attention. The only way to obtain "wisdom" is through experience, and each experience is filled with a myriad of attempts of "trial and error" - - trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. When the outcome is favorable we know we did the "right" things. When the outcome is not favorable we look back and see all the "what if's" and "why didn't I's" and "I should have's" and on and on and on. It is the looking back that is the source of the guilt we go through, and it is one of the hardest emotions to reconcile.

If you had taken your companion to an emergency vet she would have undergone tests, and perhaps invasive procedures, to try to stabilize her - - which would have added stress to her already frail medical situation and may not have been able to provide her a good quality of life. Instead she transitioned homeward to the angels in the place she loved the most - - her home - - surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of everything - - and everyone - - she loves. I hope someday as your deep grief eases that you will be able to hear your beloved companion's soft whisper in your heart say, "thank you for not putting me through that - - thank you for letting me transition from my earthly body in the peacefulness of our home."

Doggydog, as our wonderful forum friend Cheryl has shared with you, so I wish to affirm her words of comfort: This grief journey is "not about getting over it, it's just about adjusting to a new way of life." This grief journey is a one day at a time journey, sometimes one moment at a time. We are bombarded with so many different emotions sometimes overwhelming us all at once and we can begin to wonder if we are going insane. I promise you, doggydog, that what you are feeling is very normal - - very painful both emotionally and physically, yes - - yet very normal. One of the many things you need to remember is that you are not alone in your grief journey. Each of us are here for you for as long and as often as you need us.

Thank you so much for sharing your beloved little girl with us, doggydog, and this beautiful picture of her. Hopefully in time as your deep grief eases you will be able to feel your little girl's sweet Living Spirit with you, for she is forever a part of you, doggydog - - she is always and forever a heartbeat close to you.

Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, doggydog, and that I look forward to knowing how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear doggie-dog's mom

My heart goes out to you on the passing of precious doggie-dog into the Perfect World. Moon Beam said it all (as she always does). Like people, we could put our animals through all kinds of treatment and tests and medical intervententions ... but they won't do any good. Doggie-dog's life was a long and happy one. And when he was ready to go back to the Perfect World from which he (and all of us) come, he crashed fast, so as not to put you (and himself) through a prolonged suffering. He left this world on the perfect "bus" - the arms of his mommie - the person with whom he was the safet and whom he loved - and loved hin - more than anyone eles on earth.

Last year my Gretta did almost the same thing. She crashed in one day (of course she was sick long before that but never did I imagine she would up and leave me that day!). She, too, passed in my arms surroundeed by the person who loves (not loved) her most in this universe. You gave you doggie-dog this gift, too.

Rest assured that Doggie-Dog is, in the words of my vet, the ultimate man of science, "in a safe place now." There she continued to watch over you, guide your steps and, most important, loves and is loved by you. We've all heard the expression, Love never dies." And when a parting happens, one that so kills our hearts, we realize that this is not just a trivial word in a song or on a valentine's day cards. It's absoultely true. You WILL see your doggie-dog again - not a shred of doubt agout that. meanwhile, try to take care of your heart. It's like hades for a while, then it's like the "robot-walk". But each grief is different, just as each love is different.

We''re here for you, Doggie-Dog's mom - always. Our hearts are good because they have all been tried in the horrible fire of loss. We're brother and sisters banded together to love and support those who are suffering like us - any time, anywhere.

Hug a blanket or a pillow of your precious Doggie-Dog's and rest and cry the tears of love that seem so endless. You'll be OK, Doggie'Dog's mom - but you will always have been changed by the love you and Doggie-Dog shared.

Peace and blessings,

Gretta and Rufus's mom

Dear DoggyDog,

I am so sorry for your loss of your precious doggy. She reminds me of my little Mickey who passed away 13 months ago. He was 14 1/2 yrs. old.........I don't think anything else could have been done for your doggy, because it sounds like her heart was failing, because of heart and kidney problems........Mickey had heart problems and the meds helped for awhile, then he started going down hill. He had good days and bad days for several days. His little back legs would get wobbly sometimes and at times it looked like he might be passing out or maybe getting dizzy from lack of oxygen. We kept in touch with the vets, but we weren't about to take him back to be stuck with needles and be scared. We gave him gentle loving care here at home and one afternoon he passed out and passed away. He had had a pretty good day that day until the end.

DoggyDog, please don't feel guilty, you did all you could with what the vet told you......Again I'm so sorry for your loss, I still cry for my Mickey, but now I do think more of the good things we all did together.

God Bless You....

LoveMyMickey