Devastated at the sudden loss of our dog

[Poochieboy]

We lost our dog suddenly just over a month ago.
Our almost 12 boy took a turn for the worse and so we rushed him to the vets. Little did we know that he would never come home again and that we would have to say goodbye to him forever within 5hrs.
We are all beyond devastated. But I am beating myself up on a daily basis wishing I’d taken him on more walks the days leading up to his death and spent more time having cuddles and making sure he knew I loved him.
I haven’t got any recent pictures of the kids with him and they didn’t even get to say goodbye to him before we left for the vets.
Previously I always made sure they said goodbye to him before he went anywhere. But this day I didn’t! They have never known a time without him in their lives and I feel so guilty!!
💔💔💔

I'm so very sorry about the loss of your boy. I'm sure you did everything you could for him and you were a great dog mum. They really do take a piece of our heart when they leave.

Hey op, I'm feeling exactly the same! We lost our boy on 17th Dec and for a few months before he passed I had been suffering with MH and often took him on quick 10 min walks and didn't let him sniff everything and didn't her round to bathing him and cleaning his ears etc before he passed and the guilt of not doing these things for him is absolutely torturing me. I feel I don't deserve to be happy again. It's left such a hole I'm my heart. Sorry I can't offer advice but you're not alone. Sending hugs

Our lab was unwell for a few weeks waiting for the vet hospital appointment. We then had to give permission over the phone let him go while under GA as it was kinder than bringing him out of GA to say bye to then PTS. In the morning before the GA/tests the vet told us he had a very unsettled night, scared of the other dogs in the hospital. It is heart breaking to think that was his last day.

In time you will remember the good times and the memory of the last day(s) will fade a bit.

Sorry for your loss

In the morning before the GA/tests the vet told us he had a very unsettled night, scared of the other dogs in the hospital. It is heart breaking to think that was his last day

Oh why on Earth would they tell you that ? If they had an idea that your lovely dog might not be coming home then an embelishment like "Oh he sulked a bit that he was pre-op and not allowed dinner" .would be bad enough for you to bear than to be told that he was understandly scared and there's nothing you can do !

You have nothing at all to feel guilty about OP. Your dog was obviously adored and right up to the last he had wonderful days surrounded by you all, being loved and having that normal, happy, busy family life that is all our dogs want really.

You are seeing his last day through the lens of losing him, but in reality those days were just as lovely for your dog as all the others. If you'd known how things would go that day they would have been different, unusual, filled with sadness, but they weren't and that's a good thing.

I cope with these feelings about the loss of my dog by repeating to myself 'Everything that was done for my darling girl was done with love and the best of intentions'. It's absolutely true and it's a comfort to me. I hope it is to you.

The shock of sudden loss is a peculiarly horrible form of bereavement but I can assure you that it does get easier in time...not gone, but easier. You sound a very caring and loving person - aim some of that care and love at you now when you need it most.

I too lost my dear very much loved dog just before Christmas.
I can't describe how grief stricken I was as she went quickly at the overnight vets when I wasn't there, she was a terribly nervous little dog and I have gone over it so many times in my mind and miss her terribly but the only small conciliation was that she was sedated when she had a cardiac arrest so likely she wouldn't have known much about it.
Grief is such a personal thing and you will cope with it in your own way in your own time
Be kind to yourself and remember the good happy times not the sad end

IDK if you are on it @Poochieboy but there is a thread in The Doghouse section for people grieving their lost pets and you may be able to get some more help from that . Sorry for your loss , it’s hard because it’s really no different to losing any family member 💐