Lost my dog of 14 years

[Philadisney]

Just found out last night that my dog Belle (named after a certain princess), who had been in my family since I was ten, was put down last week. She was living with my parents out of state, and they didn't tell me because they didn't want to ruin my birthday, which was a few days later. My dad took her to the vet thinking that he would be able to get some medicine to cure the various ailments that had been plaguing her with age (she couldn't even use her back legs anymore), but was told there was nothing to be done. I will miss her so much.

 

[jann1033]

we lost 2 of our cats last fall...it's very sad but i guess maybe knowing she isn't suffering or in pain might help a little.

 

[Philadisney]

we lost 2 of our cats last fall...it's very sad but i guess maybe knowing she isn't suffering or in pain might help a little.

Yes that's true, thank you. I had no idea she was in pain beforehand - apparantly she was pretty sick, but my dad wanted so badly to believe that she would get better that he did not tell me

 

[Ariel07]

Just found out last night that my dog Belle (named after a certain princess), who had been in my family since I was ten, was put down last week. She was living with my parents out of state, and they didn't tell me because they didn't want to ruin my birthday, which was a few days later. My dad took her to the vet thinking that he would be able to get some medicine to cure the various ailments that had been plaguing her with age (she couldn't even use her back legs anymore), but was told there was nothing to be done. I will miss her so much.

Oh hun...I am soooo sorry!!! My dogs are my children, so I know the pain and loss that you are feeling.

Have you heard of "Rainbow Bridge"?
Check it out...it is a beautiful poem.

 

[Belle1997]

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Now she is having fun at rainbow bridge waiting for the day she can see you again. Many many years from now she will be waiting for you. I left a memorial when our dog passed at pet lost .com. It really helped my healing. Hugs to you. It does get better though I spent a whole month in tears. I lit a candle every night for her it help me alot. So sorry.

 

[Philadisney]

thanks for the info on the website, Belle1997. it is so nice to get tips from people who have been through the same thing.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

So sorry to hear about Belle,...I love the thought of the Rainbow Bridge myself..

 

[Snowysmom]

I am so sorry about Belle. It is very hard to lose a pet (and important member of the family.) Like others, I have found the Rainbow Bridge poem to be comforting.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Philadisney,

I'm sorry about your loss of Belle. I know what you are going through. I had to put down my cat (Prissy) of 13 years last Friday. He (yes Prissy was a boy; my wife named him that) had started being lethargic and wanting to be alone all of the time. His weight went from 18 lbs. to 12 lbs. He had other behavioral changes we should have caught as a sign of sickness but we didn't. We took him to the vet on Thursday. The vet thought his diabetes had worsened to the point of needing insulin shots so we left him there for blood work. The vet called the next day to tell us that the problems were much more serious. Prissy had morbid anemia, toxemia, and internal hemorrhaging. The choices were a blood transfusion and surgery if the transfusion worked or letting him go. I didn't want to put him through all of that without a guarantee of sucess so we decided to let him go. He is now with our other pets on Rainbow Bridge. It still hurts us both but we know it was the right thing to do. Take care.

 

[TnTsParty]

My sympathies to you. I understand how you are feeling. In February my 14 year old dog had to be put to sleep. Her hips stopped working and she could barely walk and was in constant pain. Trust me your baby is in a better place and like others have said she is playing with the other furbabies at the Rainbow Bridge (even though I can't read that poem or really think about it without it making me cry - and think of my 2 cats that also passed away) It does get easier the longer its been and you will always remember the good times you had with Belle and that she is no longer in pain.

 

[Philadisney]

thank you everyone. it is so sad to hear stories of others who have lost their pets, my thoughts are with you guys as well thank you all for the kind words.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[INferno0619]

Wow I guess I ain't the only one. I feel your pain man, I really do. Here is my story.
Well today was the end of my little dog called Hyper.
Hyper was with us for a long time. My sister found him homeless in the streets around 5-7 years ago (not sure how long ago).
There was a reason we called him Hyper, he would literally always be Hyper,jumping all around the place, wagging his tail crazy, spinning etc.I had lots of fun playing with him.
As the years went by, Hyper starting getting more and more older, eventually his legs wouldn't work the right way as he would sometimes drag his two back legs when he walked. My sister took him to animal doctor to see what we could do about it but the doctor said that he had arthritis and that he couldn't do anything to fix his legs but said that we can give him vitamins to see if he would get more healthier.
Unfortunately, the vitamins didn't change anything. Hyper still couldn't walk right.
Then as more time went by, his hairs starting falling from around his back( a small portion from the back) and then recently, off his ear/head. My sister and mom told me that Hyper was suffering and that it would be better just to put him to sleep. I refuse but after a couple of weeks, I realize that maybe they were right, that it would be just better to put him to sleep so he wouldn't suffer any longer.
So today after my 1st day of school. My sister and I took Hyper to the animal shelter to put him to sleep for good. We were sad afterwards and I asked my sister, do you regret this. She said I know it's hard and sad but it was the right thing to do.
So I need to know. Was this the right thing to do?

 

[Ricmiclvsthemouse]

Wow I guess I ain't the only one. I feel your pain man, I really do. Here is my story.
Well today was the end of my little dog called Hyper.
Hyper was with us for a long time. My sister found him homeless in the streets around 5-7 years ago (not sure how long ago).
There was a reason we called him Hyper, he would literally always be Hyper,jumping all around the place, wagging his tail crazy, spinning etc.I had lots of fun playing with him.
As the years went by, Hyper starting getting more and more older, eventually his legs wouldn't work the right way as he would sometimes drag his two back legs when he walked. My sister took him to animal doctor to see what we could do about it but the doctor said that he had arthritis and that he couldn't do anything to fix his legs but said that we can give him vitamins to see if he would get more healthier.
Unfortunately, the vitamins didn't change anything. Hyper still couldn't walk right.
Then as more time went by, his hairs starting falling from around his back( a small portion from the back) and then recently, off his ear/head. My sister and mom told me that Hyper was suffering and that it would be better just to put him to sleep. I refuse but after a couple of weeks, I realize that maybe they were right, that it would be just better to put him to sleep so he wouldn't suffer any longer.
So today after my 1st day of school. My sister and I took Hyper to the animal shelter to put him to sleep for good. We were sad afterwards and I asked my sister, do you regret this. She said I know it's hard and sad but it was the right thing to do.
So I need to know. Was this the right thing to do?

I think you did do the right thing. Hyper knows you loved him, and that you were acting in his best interests. His arthritis sounds as if it was very painful since he didn't even use his hind legs. His legs probably hurt from being dragged around and rubbing on the ground too.

I'm very sorry you lost your friend. I like to think my departed friends are waiting on me in heaven. I'll tell them to look out for Hyper.

There is a quote that goes something like this: "I wish I could be half the person my dog thinks I am." Dogs think we are so wonderful, even if we are not. I think you would honor Hyper's memory if you try to be the person he thinks you are. He'll look down with pride.

Take care,
Michelle

 

[Uncleromulus]

Would only our pets live as long as we do!!
It is always difficult to loose a good friend/family member. Or to be the person that has to make that awful decision to show compassion and end suffering. I've had to do that with my pets before--and with four 10+year old dogs now, I'll undoubtedly face this again. The one thing you have is the wonderful memory of time spent together, knowing that of all the possible places your pet could have ended up, it was with YOU!! And knowing that your pet could have hardly done any better!!

Though I am retired now, I work part time now at a local Vet Hospital. I get to see (and often participate in ) these put-to-sleep cases almost on a daily basis. It just breaks my heart to see what the owners go through and the love and devotion they had for their animal. It took me several months before I could even stay in the treatment room without breaking down myself.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[terri01p]

I know exactly how you feel, whenever my beagle died in April it was such a blow, I felt as if one of my children was gone, for weeks I walked around in a daze. God Speed !

 

[Philadisney]

thank you everyone for all of your sweet comments. there are so many good people on these boards