Had to say goodbye to my furry best friend

[HappyGirl86]

Yesterday we had to have our 13 year old King Charles cavalier put to sleep.
I'm absolutely devastated and heartbroken.
He had several issues going on at the end, it had all happened fairly quickly over 2 weeks and although he was old it was still a shock. He was suffering so much we couldn't keep him going for our own selfish reasons.
Yesterday I felt physically sick, shaking, crying hard. Today I am trying my hardest to keep it together for the kids (aged 5 and nearly 1) but I just keep expecting to hear his pitter patter feet coming and I just burst into tears.
I know it was the right thing to do but I just keep saying to myself that he should be here with me where I love him the most. Where he belongs.
I know it will get easier in time and I will never ever forget him, but it's just so hard. I knew it would be hard to lose him but I really feel like a piece of me has been taken away.
I don't know why I'm posting....I'm sorry for rambling. I just wanted to speak to people who would understand and maybe had been through this and could tell me this is all normal feelings at this point.
Thank you for reading.

Oh I’m so very sorry for your loss OP. You’re grieving. I would say that was completely normal.

I am so sorry to read this . It's just the most heartbreaking thing to lose your wonderful dog even when it's the best and kindest thing you can do for him. It does feel like a piece of you is missing. It turns your world upside down and I recognise everything you said. Please allow yourself time to grieve for him. I promise that the pain will ease in time when the shock of it all subsides.

I'm so sorry

The hardest part of having a dog. Very normal feelings, they are a huge part of the family (even if they are only little, fellow Cavalier owner here)

I'm so so sorry. It's the hardest thing to bug also the last piece of love we can give them . Sending big hugs 🤗

I'm so sorry

Oh I am so very sorry for your loss.

It doesn't matter what age he was, he was your boy.

I'm so sorry for your huge loss. It's devastating to have to say goodbye to a much loved dog, I've been there and does get easier to accept it.
You done what was best for your beloved dog and that's the most important thing to hold on to.

I’m so sorry for your loss I hope that the happy memories will soon replace your sadness

Totally normal OP. Big hugs

I'm so sorry you've lost your beloved dog. I had to reply as I know exactly how you feel. We had two much loved Cavs. One had to be pts as she had lots of tumours and it was starting to get painful for her.

Then a few months later, we lost our lovely Cav boy to a sudden lung infection. He was my boy and I was utterly devastated. It sounds awful, but I was more upset than when I lost a family member a few months earlier who had a long term illness. Probably as it was so sudden & I wasn't prepared to lose my little pal. Grief affects you so unexpectedly.

I couldn't speak for days without crying and was shocked by how deeply I grieved.

He was your family. I bet he had a wonderful life with you.

It is always such a shock, even if you knew the time was coming. I lost my miniature schnauzer last month and it has taken me a good few weeks to stop bursting into tears whenever I think of him. I keep his collar tag on my set of keys so he's always with me when I'm out. Take your time, grief isn't a race. Much love to you.

I’m really so very sorry. It’s really hard, most of us here know how devastating it is. They are so close to you, closer than many human family members. It hurts like mad but it does ease eventually. You never really get over it & there will always be triggers that can bring the tears again but it does get easier to remember the good times & the joy you shared eventually. I’ve been through this so very many times over all the years I’ve had dogs & each one always stays in a special place in your heart.

Really sorry to read this @HappyGirl86

When we had our last dog put to sleep, at age 13, I cried for three weeks. I had to take annual leave from work, so I could grieve. The pain is acute and I really understand.

For you @HappyGirl86

Thank you all so so so much for the replies. Every one of them has touched me.
It's good to talk to others who understand the feelings.

I'm definitely at the 'cry every time I try to talk about him' stage.
We have so many wonderful memories to think about, and I hope eventually I can think of them with happiness rather than crying.

I didn't have a dog growing up, so this has been my first pet and he brought me far more than I ever imagined. Right now I can't imagine ever having another dog, I wouldn't want to try and replace him and I don't think I could go through this pain again, but at the same time I can't imagine not being a dog owner and not having my girls grow up around a furry friend. They really do enrich your life.

I'm rambling again!

You’re not rambling at all! I think anyone who has ever lost a much loved pet will understand. We had to have our old cat PTS at aged 19. The house felt so empty.

I'm sad that so many of us have had to lose our beloved pets but we've all had some lovely memories with them.

It does feel like the house is empty. I keep listening for his movement or seeing him coming looking for me out of the corner of my eye.

My heart goes out to you, allow yourself to feel however you feel without judgement and it will get better 💐

@HappyGirl86

I'm sad that so many of us have had to lose our beloved pets but we've all had some lovely memories with them.

It does feel like the house is empty. I keep listening for his movement or seeing him coming looking for me out of the corner of my eye.

Yes, I know that feeling. The house is awfully quiet and there's a disconcerting feeling that something is missing.

We did get another dog 6 months after we'd lost our boy. Although Luckydog hasn't replaced the others as nothing could, he has brought a new doggy energy to the house.

I still think of them every time we walk in the local woods where they raced about & we spread their ashes.

What was your boy's name? Mine was a tri and had big, soppy eyes. D was a Blenheim and very pretty (she knew it too)

So sorry

It's nearly sixteen years since I had my previous Labrador PTS. My current boy is fifteen and a half, so we will be facing the utter grief and devastation again soon. But I still well up when I talk about my old boy, especially the last few weeks before he went. A very wise friend said the tears are a way to honour them.

@theluckiest his name was Cooper. We always called him "Cooper dog" and he was a tri. He had the softest ears, he always comforted me when I was worried or sad.

@Spanielsarepainless

It's nearly sixteen years since I had my previous Labrador PTS. My current boy is fifteen and a half, so we will be facing the utter grief and devastation again soon. But I still well up when I talk about my old boy, especially the last few weeks before he went. A very wise friend said the tears are a way to honour them.

I'm sorry that you will have to face that awful situation again....I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I wish they could live forever. Just have to keep thinking how lucky we are to have all this time with them.

I like your friends advice, I will remember that about my tears.

[quote HappyGirl86]@theluckiest his name was Cooper. We always called him "Cooper dog" and he was a tri. He had the softest ears, he always comforted me when I was worried or sad. [/quote]
He sounds gorgeous. My tri was called Cosmo and I utterly adored him.

When I was pg, Cosmo would snuggle up to me and put his head on my stomach so he could hear the baby. They really are so much more than just a pet.

When we got him as a puppy, he was the last of the litter as he had a bump on his nose. He looked like he'd been in a boxing ring! I bloody loved that dog. He left his pawprint on my heart forever.

He sounds wonderful @theluckiest they really are wonderful dogs. Gentle and kind.
I think that's what I'll miss the most. Those moments when they know you want a cuddle or they come and rest their little head on your knee.
It's so hard to just forget about all that.