Pets of the Past, How to deal with pets passing Options

[Zen Clarke]

Okay, so, I've been debating on making this topic for a while now. I...don't think my dog is going to be around for much longer, and that's really hard on me because I've had her since I was five. Almost 12 years. Anyway, I was just wondering if I'm weird for crying because of this? Have any of you guys lost your dog or cat, or hey, even your goldfish and been pretty upset about it? Our pets can be a huge part of our lives. They comfort us when we're sick or sad, loyal, and you can say the stupidest thing to them and they'll just tilt their head and look as if they're saying, "You know, I never thought of it that way! You're brilliant!!"

My dog, Sugar...I love her so much. But she recently got what we think is Cushing's Disease. It's where they drink a lot of water, and have little bladder control (which for a Cocker Spaniel is, like, really bad, because they already have issues with their bladders. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif) They pee when they get really excited). Then, a few days ago, my dog did something and bit her lip somehow, so that she's bleeding almost constantly, and there's nothing we can do to stop the bleeding, and she can't eat because it hurts her, and when she does it, she pukes it back up because she's been swallowing blood. She won't even drink much water! And when we take her out, we have to carry her back up the stairs. She's so thin. I pet her and can feel her bones...it's really weird because a few weeks ago, she was the fatest dog alive. I'm really sad, and scared. I know she's not going to last much longer. Any words of advice?

[LadyKartoffel]

I've had pets my entire life and have lost in total 3 dogs and 4 cats. Th weirdest part is when I have dreams and the pet appears in the dream, then I realize it's gone and it wakes me up. 2 of our cats we had since I was itty bitty, 1 of them was born when I was only a couple months old and died when I was 13, and it was really hard. The easiest way is to just let yourself cry out about it, and then you should feel better. I wouldn't recommend looking at a lot of photos until a while, because it always made it harder, like tearing open the wound again.

I have a cat that I nursed as a kitten because her mom abandoned her. She's attached to me and my entire world, but she's had 2 strokes in her 7 years and the doctor didn't think she would live to her old age. I don't look forward to losing her because it will be the hardest one yet and will probably make me a basket case for awhile.

This will pass, Zen, just give it time and don't rush yourself. Wait awhile to get another dog, and let yourself go through the grieving process.

http://www.hns.org/CenterforGriefHealing/T...90/Default.aspx