Guilty over death of dog

[user1468246318]

This is very hard to type. A couple of months ago my lovely boy died as a result of developing an infection following surgery to remove bones from his tummy that he had stolen from the bin while I was out. He was middle aged and in perfect health.

I’d walked him, given him lunch and popped out for the afternoon, ensuring I was back within 4 hours as I didn’t like to leave him all day. Took him straight to the vets who operated and all was looking well until he developed this infection and I had to say goodbye.

All I can think about is that an error that would have taken me just seconds to prevent if I had realised the danger caused his death, and that it’s all my fault, i just can’t bear it. I miss him so much and can’t believe my baby has actually gone, it’s all I can think about and I spend most of my days in tears thinking about him. I don’t know how I will ever get over losing him and be happy again.

Op I feel so sad for you. I think that “if only” feeling is a common part of grief, particularly with animals or people who we feel responsible for.
Dogs do eat all sorts of things, and accidents happen. My dog was extremely ill after eating a giant bird seed fatball, that I had left somewhere to take out for the birds. She lived, but she might not have done, and I felt terrible that I hadn’t thought she might eat it. I was at home at the time too, she just sneaked it and ate the lot. She has also snaffled raisin biscuits that the dcs had left on a low table.
A friend’s dog has been ill after eating dead crabs on the beach. It is impossible to police a dog at all times so that they never eat anything risky. Your dog was extremely unlucky. My old dog ate a child’s toy and needed surgery to remove it, I know so many stories like this, and all the dogs pulled through. It was a horrible accident. It wasn’t your fault.

Losing a dog suddenly is traumatic and does take longer to get over. Be kind to yourself, forgive yourself as your dog would forgive you.
On my old dog’s headstone it says “to err is human, to forgive canine” .