My beautiful loyal loving dog was pts yesterday and I'm heartbroken

[hogu]

When does it get easier?
I feel full of hurt and guilt for letting her go, it all seems surreal and I'm heartbroken.

She was an old girl and had stage 4 kidney failure diagnosed a few months ago. She was doing really well up until the past 2 weeks then she just stopped eating. I was syringing food into her but I couldn't get her to take much. She wouldn't even take anything to have her tablets in so I've been forcing them in her throat which has been awful. I could see she must have been suffering but I still feel racked with guilt and pain at her going.

Oh! You poor thing. You must feel broken. I’m so sorry for what’s happened. Do iou hsve a photo? If love to see her.

She knew how much you loved her. If I can tell it, just from reading your post, then she DEFINITELY knew.

I’m so sorry. It’s hard losing them. I sobbed for weeks when we lost ours. She was an old girl too. It took me a while as I grew up with her but it does get easier. Just allow yourself to grieve. They are like family.

@hogu I'm so sorry. I lost my beautiful girl 2 weeks ago and am heartbroken. There is a long running thread in The Doghouse that I am going to link if I can. I haven't read much of it as I am too sad but there is some good help and support there.

Link

I'm so sorry for your loss, there are no words that can make it better.

You did the right thing letting her go, I'm sure she knew and felt she was very loved.

So sorry to read this. They really are family aren't they. I think you sound like the most loving owner and its good your doggy lived to a good old age. I think anyone would feel a sense of guilt but i hope you can see that it was the kindest thing to do in that situation so she wasn't suffering. You will have lovely memories and pictures always xx

I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you and your family. Sending you a virtual hug.

So sorry. My heart goes out to you, and I dread the day I have to say goodbye to my girl. If you can bear to, tell us about her, her funny ways, her personality. Then she will be here forever in the minds of total strangers who all understand your pain x

I can't stop feeling guilty. I've been over things a million times and still wonder what else I could have done.
She was just the best dog and truly my best friend. I feel so lost without her.

I am so sorry, I've mentioned before that I sobbed and felt more guilty when I put my dog to sleep than I did when my much loved father died. I think it was because I made the decision and the guilt that went with it was such a weight. However I know, as do you, that the greatest thing we can ever do for the animals we love is to help them on their final journey, there is no greater love than doing something that hurts you to save another.

*from pain.

We lost our girl nearly 3 weeks ago and it’s still hard but at least I’m not crying all the time. The thing that helped me was our vets and the emergency vets telling us they would have done exactly the same if it were their pet. I’m sure your vet would agree. Ours was only 6 and it was a sudden but I too recognise the guilt you feel but the vets assured me there was nothing that could have been done. It sounds like your dog was very unwell and we can’t make them go on when they can’t even eat etc, you did the kindest but hardest thing. So sorry for your loss.

I’m so sorry for your loss. We’re 11 weeks on from losing our darling westie, Olly, and for the first few weeks in particular the pain was relentless. But the guilt and pain do start to ease with time. Go at your own pace, let yourself grieve and cry when you need to. It’s like a cycle at first where you need to dwell on the end to make sense of them no longer being here, but it sounds like the time was right for your girl.

Big hugs, and take things day by day xx

The vets did say that it was the right thing to do, it still feels so surreal and I keep looking for her and thinking I can hear her. I can't bear to put her beds or bowls away. I'm not sure I ever will be able to 💔

Better a week too soon than a day too late. You did what was right and best for her. The guilt at thinking you might have left it too late would have been even worse. You didn’t fail her, you let her go when she needed to. I’ve been there too and I know how you feel. 💕

So sorry for your loss but it's the last kind thing we can do for our pets. Hugs to you.

Oh my, what a gorgeous old girl. She looks truly noble and kind. I’m so sorry for your loss, take good care of yourself, you did the right thing.

It was the right time and you did the right thing. You loved her and did the best for her. You are grieving because the love doesn't stop, but you need to learn to love her memory and that can take a long time and cannot be rushed

I am so very sorry, it’s heartbreaking, they are family. We had to say goodbye to our lovely boy in November, it was sudden and the kindest thing for him. I know that, but I still feel guilty because I made that call. The vet agreed it was the right thing to do. 8 months on, I reflect,did I miss something etc was there anything else I should have done. I don’t know, but he was loved for all the time that we had him, as was your gorgeous girl.
You don’t have to pack her things away yet, I didn’t,it took me a few days, do it when you can, it doesn’t matter. Allow yourself to grieve, I can talk about him now without crying and remember the funny things he did. It does get easier. Sending you a virtual hug x

Oh OP what a beautiful girl.
Don’t even think about putting things away. You are grieving a much loved member of the family. That’s a difficult time. You do whatever you need to.
Just know you loved her so much that you put her first. I’m so sorry you’re suffering. She isn’t.

I’m so so sorry to hear this. Our dogs are such wonderful creatures and when they leave us the world is a bleaker place. But it will get better and she will always be with you.

Ahhh what a lovely dog. The pain must be unbearable and perfectly natural to go through in your head as to what you could have done.

Why are you feeling guilty? You have given your dog a wonderful life, full of activity, love, kindness, good food, treats, days out, exciting nose thrilling walks, evenings curled up in a warm sitting room, nights in a cosy bed, stroking, snuggling ,cuddling, brushing, silly names. I expect there were the odd bad days, smelly dog bath days, reluctant walks in the rain, accidents, misunderstandings with people’s slippers, but I imagine that all the rest of the days started with her joy at seeing you and knowing it was breakfast time , and ended with perfect doggy dreams of biscuits and bunny rabbits after a final walk with her favourite human.

What beautiful eyes! We lost our rotty Feb 2020... Still feels raw.. Can't put photos up yet but we did have some printed off. Scattered some ashes in different places that held good ddog walking memories...
Sorry for your loss op...

From Wolfiefan:

Just know you loved her so much that you put her first. I’m so sorry you’re suffering. She isn’t.

This ^^
OP you’ve done the most lovely thing for her that any loving dog owner can do. I love her photo, so stoic and noble. Beautiful girl ❤️

What a beautiful girl, OP. What was her name? Although you’re feeling wretched just now, keep in mind you did the most selfless thing you could for her. It sounds like she was sore, and ready to go, and you gave her a safe and loving home until the very end.