My Gosh it's tough loosing a dog isn't it. :(

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poiuytrewq

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A few weeks ago our beloved Labrador of 13 years was diagnosed with the beginnings of mylopathy- I posted here about it.
The vet commented that at his old age we probably wouldn't notice much more deterioration as it's very slow (he'd shown small signs about a year) and that something else usually got in there first (only he said it in a kinder way!)
I remember thinking at the time it won't happen... He was too lively and happy even at 13, until I came home from work on Tuesday this week.
I work 3.5 hours and he stays home with our terrier.
He was lying against the back door where he'd poo'd and been sick. Stupidly now I let him out- I just didn't think. He staggered into the garden where he collapsed and his breathing became rapid but shallow.
It was awful, he was in the wet and mud and it was raining. I was able to carry/ drag him as far as the shed where I wrapped him in a horse rug and called my o/h. After an eternity where he just lay with his head on my lap my o/h got home from work and he was able to carry him to the car where we rushed to the vet.
They were unable to hear his heart or find a pulse. His breathing had worsened and the bit the hit me hardest was his eyes were dull and sunken. He was too weak to stand and we made the decision to pts.
They carried him back to my car and the vet did it in his basket in the boot of my car. I didn't want him to go in the surgery.
I'm heartbroken, I get home to a clean floor and no dog smell and it's awful. My little terrier won't leave my side as he's obviously devastated also.
I'd left home already when our family dog was pts so was out of it all and had no idea how hard it is.
As stupid as this sounds it's killing me the thought he's buried out there in the rain and mud alone. - totally irrational as I firmly believe when something's dead it's dead and gone but I can't shift this bloody thought
Sorry rambling now!
Sleep tight gorgeous boy xx
 
Oh my, I am so sorry . . . I can't imagine coming home to a clean quiet house with no scrabbling paws and woofy greetings :(. You have suffered a horrible loss . . . please take care of yourself.

In my thoughts :(.

P
 
So sorry to hear about your dear old Lab. If it's any consolation, he probably did not know very much about it, it sounds as if he was really ready to go. He will now be safe and peaceful in the earth, just as if he were asleep in his basket. He won't know anything about the mud and the rain . My old dog has myleopathy too and when her time comes she will be laid to rest in the garden too. Hugs to you all and give your terrier lots of extra love.
 
I am so sorry for your loss. It was heartbreaking just reading that. Please give yourself some time to grieve...he was part of your family.

Big hugs xxx
 
Thank you all, I've just taken little Terrier out walking to cheer him up.
I have him and a mini disabled lab (who don't get on with each other!) so I still get my doggy fill but it's blindingly obvious who the messy one was!
I'd give anything to have him back :'(
 
I only ever had two dogs, and the first one got run over, he was my first ever proper pet, and I still remember him as "my dog" ... that was a few years ago, well it was 40 years ago, but he was a star, and devoted to me :)
I am such a softie.
I was "lucky" with my other dogs, I was there when her back legs went and I called the vet out, she never suffered, and I buried her in the back garden.
 
Its heartbreaking losing a beloved pet, it sounded a very traumatic time for you, your old dog wouldnt have been aware of anything Im sure, as for his body being in the mud and rain you must know that is his shell and he is somewhere now painfree and happy.
 
poiuytrewq said:
...
As stupid as this sounds it's killing me the thought he's buried out there in the rain and mud alone. - totally irrational as I firmly believe when something's dead it's dead and gone but I can't shift this bloody thought
Sorry rambling now!
Sleep tight gorgeous boy xx
Click to expand...

RIP lovely boy.

I feel your pain - my beautiful Saluki died last March. He died while I was at the yard, on that day we had a massive dollop of snow. I didn't know what to do, and the OH said he'd hold fire with the burial till I got home, but he'd rather just get on with it, so I let him.

He texted me when it was all over, and when I got home there was a big patch of clean, naked soil where Wes was buried. That bl00dy snow stayed around for days, so it was like a slap in the face every time we looked out of the kitchen window.

How much easier it would have been to have been able to look out of the window and see a lovely shrub growing on his grave rather than a black square in the snow.

Stay strong - it will get easier.
 
It is dreadful to lose part of the family. We bury all our pets in the garden. My OH grew up in our present home so we have guinea pigs, cats and dogs buried here. I am sure they all come out at night and play. The lLast dog was a lab and our collie would lie on her grave . It does get easier with time but so hard.
 
Bless you. I so feel for you, as on Tuesday as well ,my beloved Rough Collie, Callum, aged 14, was PTS. Old age just caught him up, and so we had to make that awful decision. The vet came out, and he went to sleep at home where he felt safe. I miss him so much, and still think I hear him. There's no dog to trip over because he just loved lying right in the doorway. No toy shoved into your hand because he wants to play. It hurts so much. My heart goes out to you. Big hugs to you xx
 
So sorry to hear of your loss, I have 3 dogs buried in our garden, they were together in life, each time I had irrational thoughts that we had buried them still alive, now i feel we can never move because i cannot leave the dogs. It does get easier
 
I'm so sorry for you and the loss of your precious dog and that he went sooner than you'd expected.

I think the bond we have with our dogs is stronger than any other animal - I adore my horse but my dog is my little soulmate, I can't begin to imagine life with her not in it.

I'm sure it will feel like a part of you is missing for a long while and the house will feel very strange without him but, as the old cliché goes, it will get better with time and the pain will ease and you'll remember all the wonderful times you had with him in the 13 years. Take care xxx
 
merrymeasure said:
Bless you. I so feel for you, as on Tuesday as well ,my beloved Rough Collie, Callum, aged 14, was PTS. Old age just caught him up, and so we had to make that awful decision. The vet came out, and he went to sleep at home where he felt safe. I miss him so much, and still think I hear him. There's no dog to trip over because he just loved lying right in the doorway. No toy shoved into your hand because he wants to play. It hurts so much. My heart goes out to you. Big hugs to you xx
Click to expand...

Obviously Tuesday was the day for the good ones to leave.
Big hugs too you xx
 
I'm in tears reading your post :( :( . I'm so sorry you've lost him. I've actually been in tears twice today (once on the way to the vet and again when we got back home) because one of our dogs is not going to be with us much longer - probably just a couple of weeks.

We found it was easier to bear when we talked about how much nicer his life is than it was in his original 'home' and about all the things he loves. If we can, we're going to try to make it so that he can do as many of those things as possible before he goes.

You said you believe that dead is dead, but humans can be pretty illogical and I can fully understand you being upset at him being 'out in the mud and rain on his own'. ...even though you know he's not. Would it help you to make a collage of your favourite photos of him? Or to get some balloons and write/draw some of your special memories of him and then let them loose? Maybe you could get some photos of him printed onto some fabric and turn that fabric into a cushion or bean bag or tote bag or all sorts of other things?

I hope you're ok.
 
Yes, it's terribly terribly tough losing a dog...so sorry you're going through it...it's nearly 5 years since I lost my special boy and despite having two lovely dogs since, your thread title strikes an instant chord...one of those things that can only be understood by experiencing it :-(
Hugs xx
 
I am so sorry to read this. We lost our old lad two years ago, we had a feeling we didn't have long left with him and were considering making the decision when he decided to put it out of our hands. Now I only remember the good times we had with him. As soon as he had died, I distinctly felt that he'd gone on to do other things - he didn't hang around. I hope he came back as someone's much loved human child - he certainly deserved to!

Could you possibly plant a lovely shrub over his grave? A rose perhaps? Then you could cut the blooms and bring them in the house in the summer. He'll never really leave you anyway, because his memory will stay with you forever. Hugs.
 
poiuytrewq said:
A few weeks ago our beloved Labrador of 13 years was diagnosed with the beginnings of mylopathy- I posted here about it.
The vet commented that at his old age we probably wouldn't notice much more deterioration as it's very slow (he'd shown small signs about a year) and that something else usually got in there first (only he said it in a kinder way!)
I remember thinking at the time it won't happen... He was too lively and happy even at 13, until I came home from work on Tuesday this week.
I work 3.5 hours and he stays home with our terrier.
He was lying against the back door where he'd poo'd and been sick. Stupidly now I let him out- I just didn't think. He staggered into the garden where he collapsed and his breathing became rapid but shallow.
It was awful, he was in the wet and mud and it was raining. I was able to carry/ drag him as far as the shed where I wrapped him in a horse rug and called my o/h. After an eternity where he just lay with his head on my lap my o/h got home from work and he was able to carry him to the car where we rushed to the vet.
They were unable to hear his heart or find a pulse. His breathing had worsened and the bit the hit me hardest was his eyes were dull and sunken. He was too weak to stand and we made the decision to pts.
They carried him back to my car and the vet did it in his basket in the boot of my car. I didn't want him to go in the surgery.
I'm heartbroken, I get home to a clean floor and no dog smell and it's awful. My little terrier won't leave my side as he's obviously devastated also.
I'd left home already when our family dog was pts so was out of it all and had no idea how hard it is.
As stupid as this sounds it's killing me the thought he's buried out there in the rain and mud alone. - totally irrational as I firmly believe when something's dead it's dead and gone but I can't shift this bloody thought
Sorry rambling now!
Sleep tight gorgeous boy xx
Click to expand...

So sorry to hear your beloved boy has gone sweet dreams boy RIP.
 
Every owner who's ever loved their dog will know exactly how you are feeling, I miss my old lab terribly and look at my aging spaniel some days and think how awful it will be when she goes.

I think you just have to try to remember all the good times you've had together and all the love you've shared.

Hugs - JDx
 
I know exactly how you feel - I lost my boy just before Christmas and now only have my 2 cats (no comparison)
It's awful going into an empty house every night
Give your other 2 dogs extra fuss and your old boy is now pain free
Take care XX
 
Some lovely replies thank you, it's nice knowing I'm not just loosing the plot slightly here!
I snipped a bit of hair which stupidly I put in my pocket and it got a bit mixed up with hay and shavings but I don't care too much. I've seen a place you can get glass paper weights with the hair inside so I plan to do that.
He's not in our garden as it's too small and wet so went to my partners work - he's a farm foreman for a lovely guy who instantly provided a place, man and digger. (As he did years back when my old pony passed- in fact that day harvest stopped which is unheard of)
We are going to plant a tree, maybe a cherry tree.
Treasure your dogs- they are such devoted loving animals
 
poiuytrewq said:
Some lovely replies thank you, it's nice knowing I'm not just loosing the plot slightly here!
I snipped a bit of hair which stupidly I put in my pocket and it got a bit mixed up with hay and shavings but I don't care too much. I've seen a place you can get glass paper weights with the hair inside so I plan to do that.
He's not in our garden as it's too small and wet so went to my partners work - he's a farm foreman for a lovely guy who instantly provided a place, man and digger. (As he did years back when my old pony passed- in fact that day harvest stopped which is unheard of)
We are going to plant a tree, maybe a cherry tree.
Treasure your dogs- they are such devoted loving animals
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that you've made some plans for his final resting place . . . and a cherry tree sounds like a lovely idea. Sending you hugs and thoughts.

P
 
So sorry to hear of your loss - it is especially when they have been in your life for so long.

I lost my Bella at Christmas - she was 15. I miss all the little things - her snoring at night, having a good stretch and back scratch in the morning, the way she licked the bathwater off my legs every night, despite me telling her "no" every night, the smell of Dettol (she was incontinent for a few months with her cancer), the way she tapped her paw on the floor by the bed to wake me up, the big Bella-cuddles she used to give.
 
It's the hardest thing ever. Lost my springer (aged 17) in 200e and it took 10 years before I was brave enough to get another dog. Am dreading when I have to say goodbye to my girls.

I hope you start healing soon and can look back with a smile xx
 
So sorry to hear your news, I know how much it hurts.
Two years ago OH & I lost both our old girls within 2 weeks of each other, and buried them side by side in the garden. Around that time we also celebrated our silver wedding and were given a Rose which we have planted over the dogs graves. Every time it blooms I think of the girls and have happy memories.
 
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