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The doghouse

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Original poster

Said goodbye to my old boy tonight.

33 replies

PermanentlyDizzy · 16/03/2022 19:00

He would have been 16 and a half on the first of May.

We had been working with the vet and monitoring him closely for a while and saw a clear decline starting on Monday. This morning he was much more off his legs than usual and just not happy. He has had cuddles and loves off everyone all day, been fed gluten free hobnobs by ds1 and had an afternoon tea of his favourite steamed salmon steak.

He was able to walk into the vets himself, no distress or panic, just a calm, quiet goodbye. I’m relieved we could give him that, rather than it being an emergency situation where he was distressed.

It feels like he’s been with us forever, the ds’s can’t remember life without him, dd has never known life without him and now our home doesn’t have a dog for the first time in 33 years.

OP posts:
ilovesushi · 16/03/2022 19:03

So sorry. Sounds like he was a lovely boy and had a wonderful life.

Stuckandinamess · 16/03/2022 19:04

So so sorry to hear of your lossFlowers. That is such a good age and clearly loved by you , it is heart wrenching and I'm sending you a big hug.
We had to say goodbye to our old boy in November and the house seemed so empty without him .x

Yiayoula · 16/03/2022 19:08

So sorry for your loss, what you did today was kind and brave . Thinking of you and your dear old boy. 💐 xx

FMSucks · 16/03/2022 19:09

I am so sorry for your loss OP. It is so, so tough. I’ve had to say goodbye 3 times now and my most recent boy’s passing broke me. Be kind to yourself and know that you gave him a great life and he was a very lucky boy x

Poorlyplants · 16/03/2022 19:11

I’m so very sorry, I hope you can take comfort that he had a lovely life with a peaceful and calm ending with the people he loved.

IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble · 16/03/2022 19:12

I'm so sorry for your loss. How loved he obviously was. Flowers

Raindancer411 · 16/03/2022 19:13

Made me cry :( So sorry OP, it's so so hard to say goodbye to them. We had to have a dog who was 16 put to sleep a good few years ago and it was sad to see how they were towards the end. It's a hard choice to make :(

dollymuchymuchness · 16/03/2022 19:16

So sorry to read this @PermanentlyDizzy. It’s a really upsetting time when we lose a much loved dog. Sorry for your loss. 🐾

Nnique · 16/03/2022 19:20

Go well, doggy.

@PermanentlyDizzy Flowers

You all gave him everything he loved and needed - all through his life with you, and in his last steps too - and sent him on his way with dignity. Wishing you and your family peace amidst the grief.

I’m so sorry for the loss of your old boy. ((Hugs))

dillydallydollydaydream7 · 16/03/2022 19:21

So sorry for your loss OP, what a lovely day full of treats he has had to end his time on earth with you all Thanks

lolly07766 · 16/03/2022 19:24

So sorry. Sending Hugs Thanks

DoWhatYouLike · 16/03/2022 19:33

So sorry about your boy. You loved him, gave him a lovely life, and a special last day. Of course you'll miss him, but in time you'll remember just the good times you had with him. Flowers x

WhiteXmas21 · 16/03/2022 19:46

So sorry OP. It’s never long enough. 💐

Skyellaskerry · 16/03/2022 22:41

Really sorry for the loss of your dear old boy Flowers

itbemay1 · 16/03/2022 22:43

I'm so sorry @PermanentlyDizzy sounds like a wonderful end for a special boy x

LoveFall · 16/03/2022 22:48

I'm sorry you had to say goodbye. We love them so much, don't we? Such a hard but loving thing to do. Remember him with ears flying running at his favourite beach or field.

Justmuddlingalong · 16/03/2022 22:52

He loved you all and you all loved him. That's love shines through in your post. I'm so glad you were able to give him the calm, quiet send off he deserved. A paw print left on your hearts.

Kanaloa · 16/03/2022 22:55

I’m so sorry. To be fair for an old man (of 16.5!!) to scoff down biscuits and salmon then walk into the vets himself is (if this isn’t too insensitive) the absolute best way to go. No pain, distress, or upset for him - although sadly lots for you and your family. Although it doesn’t feel like it in the moment there will be a day soon when you talk about him happily and not sadly xx

BunnyRuddington · 16/03/2022 23:10

So sorry for your loss. It does sound like you gave him a lovely last day ❤️

LondonQueen · 16/03/2022 23:32

Sorry for your loss, it sounds like you gave him a wonderful life❤️

Original poster
PermanentlyDizzy · 17/03/2022 11:07

Thank you for all your kind words. Yes, he was a very old man, especially for a large breed and we were blessed to have had him for so long.

The house seems very empty this morning. When I’ve lost dogs before I’ve moved furniture around and put their beds away fairly quickly because I can’t bear to see them empty, but ds1 can’t cope with that idea (he has ASD with severe anxiety and issues around death). So it will have to be a gradual process over the next few days.

It was very odd not needing one of us to take him out in the night or get up at 5.30 to take him out and sort his first meds. Last night it really hit dh when it was bedtime and not only was there no last toilet trip, meds and bedtime cuddle, but he also had no need to sleep in the living room. My bedtime routine for the last. 18 months has consisted of settling him on his bed in the living room and tucking him in with a blanket, while dh got ready for bed, as he didn’t like being left on his own while dh was in the bathroom and would only settle if I was there. Even on days when I was poorly I always got out of bed myself to do it, so bedtime was hard on both of us last night.

Dh has had to go away for work today and won’t be back until late tomorrow night and it’s really hit me this morning that, while obviously I have things I could be doing, my whole day (and night) revolved around caring for my old boy. I feel all at sea with no routine. I used to have to get up really early when dh was working away, so that I could be downstairs with our old boy, today I got up, but hated how quiet and empty downstairs was, so took my breakfast back up to the bedroom instead of staying down there.

It’s daft I know, but last week we finally bought a sofa bed to make sleeping downstairs more comfortable. The new sofa is a completely different style and colour to the old one (which we’d had for 19 years), so between that and the empty space where our boy used to be, the living room really doesn’t feel like home - and of course, now we don’t need a sofa bed anyway.

Said goodbye to my old boy tonight.
Said goodbye to my old boy tonight.
OP posts:
crimblecrumbles · 17/03/2022 14:19

Just said goodbye to my best friend this afternoon. Totally heartbroken. She was always there for me. Feel so lost. You're not alone 💕

Original poster
PermanentlyDizzy · 17/03/2022 15:12

@crimblecrumbles, I am so sorry for your loss. The leave such a huge hole in our hearts and lives don’t they?

I’m all over the place without my routine of caring for him today, can’t sit still, so a lot of jobs I have been putting off have been getting done.

Sending you lots of love and light and a big very unmnetty hug. x

OP posts:
boniobiscuit · 17/03/2022 15:16

What a lovely last day. Sleep tight big fella and a gentle hug for your mum x

TyrannysaurusXXrightshoarder · 17/03/2022 15:36

Flowers I lost my old boy last May, he was 15 and a half and then my old girl in September on her 14th birthday. I still don’t quite know what to do with myself some days, they are so much of your life, so much of your purpose. What a lovely last day your boy had. This always reminds me of my best friends and brings a smile and tear tbh (I’ve got something in my eye now). Apparently Barry Gibb wrote it for his dog Barnaby whose birthday was 1st of May. Thought you might like this.