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?

[Mizukithepanda]

I actually know how that feels, though the pet in question for me was my beloved baby ratty. (er... though he obviously wasn't a baby by the time he passed on ._.;;) I remember feeling as though he wasn't going to last much longer for several months beforehand, and at the time pretty much anything that reminded me of death or illness just made me sob my head off. Crying about it is pretty normal, and I'd never begrudge you that.

I don't know much about animal illnesses, but is it something you can at least get checked out at the vet? And, if your dog starts suffering too much are you willing to have her put down, as painful for you as it may be?

Really there's not much you can do about dealing with the pain, everybody goes about it differently. I guess you just have to... keep going.

*hugs*

[Zen Clarke]

My parents said if we took her to the vet, the only thing they could do is put her down. Glad to know I'm not all alone in this feeling. I have a feeling there will be a lot of crying on my part. Just making this topic I started to cry a little. D: *hugs back*

[Toaster Boy]

Yeah, I know how you feel, Zen. I've lost two dogs I've had my enitre life. My third is nine now, and I've know him better than the others. I don't know how I'll take it. The hardest part of it all it to realize they won't be there when they are gone. But you get over it eventually.

[Crystal Talian]

You might want to insist on vet visit, Zen. They might at least be able to make your dog more comfortable, even if they can't extend her life.

I've actually been in this spot twice before, almost three times. My first time was with Rocky, my cat. He was eight years old and . . . his liver just failed. I didn't cry beforehand, even though I'd been warned he probably wouldn't make it. But once it got to the point where he was almost completely gone and we had to take him in to be put down, I was a wreck. They wouldn't let me be with him when they put him down either. I actually cried almost constantly for three days straight.

More recently, last April, my other cat died. Max was thirteen and had intestenal tumors. He had problems eating and using his litter. I actually spent some extra time with him in his last month or so. Lots of cuddles, he was thrilled. We actually had an appointment scheduled on what turned out his last day. We took him in for a progress report and he'd just gotten really bad. So the vet said we could give him maybe two more weeks - hopitalized and on IV fluids. I decided would just be cruel, to keep him alive like that, so we had him put down that day. They let me stay with Max, though, and I think that may have helped a little. I still cried for a week afterward, and I still can't look at the card the vet sent me without crying.

I do have one other cat who got sick. The vet gave her a fifty percent chance of making it through. Well, with a lot of love and care (and probably because she was so young), she made it.

There's really nothing you can do to make the process easier. Just spend time with your dog while you still can, and make her comfortable. Don't worry about crying either. Just cry, it's actually really good for you in cases like this. Also, go about things as normally as you can - that helps a lot too. Remembering happy memories or special quirks about your dog can help, too.

[Chicken]

You should really take her to the vet. I hate euthanization more than anything, but if she's suffering... But, like Crystal Talian, said, there is a possibility she can at least be comfortable as she goes out of the world.

Sorry to hear about Sugar. :[

[Twilight Wandere...]

Twin...

My story isn't the total same as your's, but it is close.

When I was about seven, just a little over a week before my birthday, my mom said I could get a kitten to keep me company as part of my present. So we decided to go to the pound and look. They didn't have any cats, but they were filled with dogs. I trudged back to the car, disappointed, when a woman got out of her own car with a siamese kitten in a carrier. My mom started talking to the woman, and the woman said that some teenage boys dumped this kitten on her lawn while they were skateboarding. She said she couldn't keep it because she had dogs, so she was going to leave it here. My mom offered to take it since I wouldn't stop playing with the kitten, and the pound was full anyway. I named my adorable ball of fluff Cocoa. <3

I had her until I was about thirteen. Six years. I loved her all I could, and she did the cutest things, like when I was reading on my bunkbed she would climb on the top, cuddle, and read with me.

Well, one day my step-brother decided to play a trick on me, so he opened the front door and chased my cat out into the street. She got hit by a car and died almost immediatly. I saw all of this, and I could not stop crying. My mother said I didn't sleep for two weeks, I just constantly cried. To this day, three years later, I still cry when I think about her.

My condolences about your dog, I hope she get's better. :[

[Zen Clarke]

Thank you, to everyone who gave their stories and advice. I'm writing to tell you that Sugar passed away in the night.

[Chicken]

Awww. I'm sorry to hear that, Zen. But at least she isn't suffering anymore. That doesn't help your hurting heart, though, I'm sure. Again, sorry. :[

[Zen Clarke]

I know. My mom kept saying that this morning when she told me, but all I could think was, "She's gone. I'll never see her again." When I was walking through the kitchen when we got home from church a few minutes ago, I kept having to tell myself, "There is no dog. There is no dog. There is no dog." I keep expecting to look up, and see her curled up on the floor somewhere, sleeping.

[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

[Toaster Boy]

I know. My mom kept saying that this morning when she told me, but all I could think was, "She's gone. I'll never see her again." When I was walking through the kitchen when we got home from church a few minutes ago, I kept having to tell myself, "There is no dog. There is no dog. There is no dog." I keep expecting to look up, and see her curled up on the floor somewhere, sleeping.

Yeah, like I said this is probably the toughest stage of the grief. You just need to let it sink in, and then it'll be natural for you to not expect your dog to be there. Once this is over, everything else becomes easier.

[Hasfusel]

I'm not trying to be insensitive or anything, but apparently the best way of dealing with the death of a pet is to cook and eat the carcass. Works great with relatives too.

[Mizukithepanda]

Just two words Hassy: Too soon.

But anyway, I know it's tough right now, Zen, but just soldier on through, and I promise it'll eventually get better. The only thing I can really recommend you avoid doing is buying a replacement pet. My younger brother did that after his guinea pig died nine years ago, and he just couldn't love the new pet the same way that he loved that guinea pig. It was a disaster. :/

[Crystal Talian]

Hassy: I never find that kind of thing funny.

***

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that, Zen. Just remind yourself that Sugar isn't suffering anymore. The hardest part is realizing that she won't be there, but it'll pass with time. Just cry it out if you need to and remember the good times. When my pets died, my mom and I would sit and talk about all the funny things they did. It made me laugh a little bit and helped a lot. Like everyone else said, don't get a new pet until you're ready and don't force yourself to get a new one. It might be a year or more before you feel ready for new pet, it might be next week, or you might not want a new one at all - and that's okay, too.

[Zen Clarke]

I don't think we're getting a new dog until all of us are ready to. Not for a while.

Thank you for all of your lovely words; except Has.

[General_Wolfy]

When my dog died, I was really sad about it because she was the first dog I ever had. I didn't even remember a time without her, since we got her when I was around 4. The worst part was seeing the space where her bed to used to be empty. ):

Around 4 or 5 months later we got another puppy, and it really breathed life back into the house.