sudden loss of our chunky chocolate boy

[pinklemonade84]

Our 11 year old choccy lab has been ill for a few months with a cough. We tried antibiotics and anti inflammatories, which helped for a while. But, the cough came back and following a blood test, the vet said he’d got pancreatitis

We altered his food to brown rice, chicken and veg, which was definitely helping his tummy. And we could tell the difference when he still had his meat and biscuits at lunchtime (stinky Labrador trumps)

yesterday, he was lying by the front door and he just suddenly jumped up and started veering to the right with his head tilted too and looked terrified. Dh phoned the vet who said to fetch him in asap. The vets was only a 5 minute drive away but when we got there, it was like he’d gone like a rag doll and he almost flopped out of the car when dh opened the door.

the vet we saw tried to offer him a biscuit and he took it, but it just flopped out of his mouth. myself and dh had already agreed previously when he was younger and after seeing relatives dogs go through prolonged painful treatment, that if he went off his food it would be kinder to let him go. She kept suggesting different types of treatment, almost as if she thought we were just taking the easy option in deciding to have him put to sleep. But, the moment the nurse came in to help put his catheter in and tried to offer him a biscuit too and it flopped out of his mouth again, she said we’d made the right decision. It was so quick, not even 10 seconds after the first bit of injection went in, his eyes rolled and he was gone

We got him back in 2012 when we didn’t think we could have children. Our dd8 (suspected autistic) is seriously struggling and can’t process her emotions because of the suddenness of it all. She’s so angry and keeps kicking and hitting out . Not at us, but at inanimate objects.

I feel so lost. He was my baby. The first time we met him, he fit in my hands and fell asleep snuggled up on my chest. And the picture was taken a couple of weekends ago. I couldn’t face going home to an empty house and had to get out somewhere for a bit to pull myself together. I want to be strong for dd, but I keep bursting into tears at random stuff, like how he never barked, apart from when he was dreaming, or how he loved to munch on carrots. He was the best dog we could have hoped for, so good, so good with dd, it just feels so wrong 😢

I really feel for you. But don't be strong for your daughter - she may interpret that as your not having loved your chocolate boy (I've always had black boys). Cry together over your loss. Labs really are the absolute best.

He looks a lovely boy. So sorry for your loss

That's so sad, OP.
It's terrible when they go, and worse when it is sudden.

As the owner of a carrot munching sleep-barker, your post really resonated. So sorry for your loss OP but allow yourself and the whole family to feel sad together. Perhaps school could arrange for DD to speak to someone? You can underestimate the impact of such a loss, on all of you.

Oh what a beautiful boy with such a kissable little face, I’m so sorry for your loss what was his name?

I am so sorry
He looks like a lovely boy and I am sure he will be missed terribly

I'm so sorry that you lost your Choccy boy. He sounds like an older, darker version of our golden lab - he also rarely barks except in his sleep (or if his ball disappears under something and he can't get it). We will all be devastated when we loose him, so sending your unmumsnetty hugs.😞

What a sweet face. I am so sorry that you have lost your lovely boy. We went through a similar loss a few months ago. It's appallingly sad. We all cried here. And still do sometimes.

He was called Bruce, and was a Bruce before we even went to choose him. DH's mum and dad, years before we had him, had a choccy lab too and they put a name each in the hat, along with dh and his brother. Dh put in Bruce and that's what was picked out, but his mum overruled it and called the dog Ben 🤣

Bruce was clearly a lovely and much loved boy. Sorry for your loss.

Oh I’m so very sorry for the loss of the beautiful Bruce…. I’ve cried more for my lost dogs than some members of my family….bless you….so much love to you, your DH and daughter xxx

Oh this is so sad, I am so sorry

I’m so sorry. As a mum of an elderly choccie lab I know how precious these boys are.

have a good cry with your family, remember the cuddles, the daft behaviour and the sheer joy these creatures bring to our lives.

he will have known how much he was loved

🤎

What a gorgeous dog. So sorry for your loss. Dogs really are wonderful companions and such precious souls. 💐

I am so sorry for the loss of lovely Bruce. He looks gorgeous.

We have an elderly black girl lab who also loves carrots.

Bruce looks lovely.

For what it's worth, you did the right thing in giving him a good end. I also had a Lab put to sleep in the past, mine was 13. When I felt he wasn't enjoying life anymore, lost interest in eating and couldn't walk far. I'm so glad I did because I can always remember him as a happy boy which he was his whole life.

Very sad for you and your family, but Bruce is at peace.

I'm so sorry, such a shock for you all
Don't hide your grief from DC
It's natural to be sad to lose a family member( which he was)

Our girl was PTS on Saturday so I am going through what you are just now. Our house just feels so empty without her. She was my shadow and everywhere I look I keep expecting to see her. Our DC are all teenagers and have grown up with her, my eldest is housebound and is taking it very hard, we sit and have a good cry most nights. She was a big high maintenance pest a lot of the time, always on the hunt for food and she refused to walk or even pee in the rain. She had to sleep with her head on a cushion too, a total diva. They are such characters. I’m trying to remember all the happy times.

Sorry for your loss. He looked like such a gentle sole.

Oh goodness what a shock op, I'm so sorry. Did they think it was some kind of stroke? I've just been going through the wringer with my own girl so I feel for you.

I’m so sorry. You did the right thing for your boy, sounds like he had a lot going on. Could’ve even been a stroke from what you describe. Thank goodness it was quick and he didn’t suffer. I think we probably all keep them a little bit too long sometimes.

Don’t keep your grief and pain inside, don’t stay strong, it’s ok to cry and I think your child needs to see it, to have it acknowledged. Not pretend like everything is ok, because it isn’t. Let it out. If she wants to be angry then let her, tell her it’s ok. Could you make a memorial or have a service, have a photo framed to help? Sorry if I put my foot in it, I don’t know much about autism.

In time, perhaps a new pet will help heal you all🌷

The nurse was a lot more understanding and said it looked like a stroke, especially when the biscuit just flopped out of his mouth 😞

You didnt put your foot in it at all. I really do appreciate all of the support ive been given on here. Writing about him was like a bit of an outlet for me. I like the idea about sorting a photo for her. I've got some lovely photos of him so maybe a digital frame will be nice