Do you guys ever feel guilty sometimes that your pet died.?

Question

My dog died four months ago to cancer and i feel like its my fault that she died. I fed her the right food, took her for walks, and i loved that dog more than my family. I still think about her and its not fair that she is not here. INot fair they live very long. I cry very hard when i think about her. Sometimes i think i can feel her around me. My dog was a pretty white boxer that my sister found in another town and the owners let her go on purpose. My parents did not want her but i took her instead. I just wish there was a cure for cancer. I am gonna go to college and study to be a vet. Who knows maybe someday i might find the cure. R.I.P Moose.

Answer 1

I miss my dogs something terrible, but I do not feel guilty. I tried everything I could to make them better so I could keep them with me. I had a dog with cancer, took him to a cancer specialist vet, one with heart problem & took her to a cardiologist. There was nothing that could save them. Do not feel guilty for the loss of your dog. With him having cancer the odds of curing them are not very good. Here's a couple sites that you may want to read http://www.ygrr.org/doginfo/death-coping.html & http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm I am so sorry for your loss. Cherish your memories & your friend will live on forever through you!!!

Answer 2

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure Moose knows how you tried and she's sad to leave you too.

Feeling guilty is normal. We always wish there was SOMETHING we could do to keep dogs around forever. I'm still beating myself up (a little) over sleeping over at a friend's and missing feeding my dog once - 7 years ago. I wish I'd spent more time with that dog before she died a few months after that incident. I miss her a lot, even though my family got a new dog and now I have a dog of my own. Nothing will change the fact that these dogs aren't Cassi.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dear Moose - she sounds gorgeous and I'm sure she loves you just as much as you love her. Becoming a vet is a great idea - if you got your own practice ever you could name it after Moose. You'll always remember her and I'm sure she'll remember you.

I wish you the best in all you do!

Answer 3

Sorry to hear about your beloved Moose.
It will just take time until you can think about her without feeling sad.
My 12 year old cat Eduardo died last year and I would cry almost every night for months when i would go to bed where he used to lie on a pillow next to me. I still feel sad when I see his grave in the back yard with so many beautiful flowers on it.
I have found that the best thing is to think about the good and funny things he did, how he lived, not about his illness or the day he died.
I'm sure Moose will always remain in your heart but time will distance you from the pain I promise. You will always love her and I know she loved you, you sound like a very responsible pet owner. Take care.Hope this was of some help.

Answer 4

OMG, do I ever. My problem is that my cat's death was my fault. I had aways heard of it happening but I always thought it was impossible. Anyhow, what I'm talking about is my cat entered my dryer while I was changing out loads and I had no idea. I can only imagine how horrible that was for her and I will never forgive myself. Needless to say I don't close the dryer door until I know for sure that neither of my remaining cats are in there. Yea, I feel guilty and I should. However, you have nothing to feel guilty about. Like you said, you can't cure cancer so there is nothing you could have done. You gave her care and love and that is all she needed from you. I'm sorry about your boxer. I have two boxers of my own and I can't imagine having to go through that. Unfortunately, Boxers are prone to cancer and I know that it will be a possibility. Good luck in your quest to find a cure.

Answer 5

I'll bet you will be one AWESOME VET if you decide to do that when you get to that point in your life. I don't know why you would feel like it was your fault that she died. Even if looking back you could identify something that may have contributed to her illness, hindsight is 20:20. There is nothing that you did or could have done to prevent this, even looking back, it seems.
I admire you for your desire to channel your love of your dog into a passion to find a cure or better treatments for a devastating disease. My Vet reminds me of you. He has that kind of passion for animals and as a result of that, he is not just a Vet but an artist. He has a "shine" to his career that makes him stand out among Vets.
Things I did to grieve the passing of my dog:
I wrote a letter to her which was saying good-bye, at least for the time being. I folded it up and put it behind a photo of her. That pain of losing her was eventually replaced by the warm memories and the hope of seeing her again one day.
Her passing was somewhat eased because I had two other dogs, one a puppy, when she passed. The one that had been around her for a few years grieved for her loss as well.
The sinking sadness will pass. Hang in there, and talk to others as long as you need to.
http://earthrenewal.org/rainbow_bridge.htm

Answer 6

My beloved Bailey (Scottish Terrier) died from cancer on Feb 23. We had to let her go. She had horrible tumors on her jaw and neck. She came to live with me when she was 5 weeks old. She was 9 when she died. She was my best friend and I loved her very much. Yes, I feel guilty every day because I was the one who had to make the decision to let her go. I got a marble memorial with her picture on it and a verse and put it in the back yard where she used to play and squirrel patrol. We had her cremated, so she is always with us. I have a picture of her on my headboard and her collar and leash hang on the lamp next to my bed. I will never be the same. We did adopt a shelter dog who needed a good home in her memory. She helps with the pain and loneliness. She's not Bailey, but a great dog with her own wonderful qualities. I do love her too. I think becoming a vet is a great idea.

Answer 7

My dog, Sheppy, was run over by a car when I left him out to play with some boys who were over to visit. He died on a Fri. night all alone at the vet's office because they wouldn't let me stay with him.
My daughters used to tease me that he was my soulmate because he just made me so happy! Everyone loved him. I felt like I lost a child. I still think about him every day. He has been gone for 3 years now.
It was my fault that my dog died, but how could you possibly have prevented your poor dog from getting cancer?
I think that what you are feeling is part of the grieving process.
I am so sorry for you & sorry for your loss. Hugs

Answer 8

I've always felt so guilty after my dogs have passed away. I feel like I didn't spend enough time with them or that I couldn't have done more to save them.

But the fact of the matter is when it is there time it is there time. I don't know what your beliefs are but there is a time to be born and a time to die. Unfortunately is was Moose's time. Just treasure the memories and spend that extra love you still have to give to another one of your pets.

Or better yet save from the pound that would lose it's life without you. Moose would be so proud!!!!

Answer 9

I think that everyone would like to think that they can cure anything that may happen to their pets. Ours are like our children and I can understand your pain.
We lost our Chow several years ago to something the vet couldn't determine. Whatever it was caused her to loose hair and become all but bald. She was a happy dog and didn't seem to suffer but when she died I felt as if I could have done something else, even though I couldn't. I think back on the time she blessed us with her presence and the Joy she brought into my life and I think God gave her to me for a reason, and I will forever remember the love she gave us while she was here on this earth. There will never be another
"Yanga" but My life wouldn't have been the same had she not been in it.
Remember the good times and know that she loved you.

Answer 10

Oh yes I feel guilty about what happened to my dog Shadow. He was put down August 19, 2006. He had blood in his stools and he kept throwing up. I took him to the vet and they said he had pancreatic cancer. I blame myself for having him put down. After he was put down I ran out of the vet's office crying and screaming. To this day I feel just awful. I do believe it was one of the WORST days of my life. I think about him constantly that maybe I should have gotten a 2nd opinion. Maybe it was an e-coli bacterial infection. I don't know. All I know is I regret having him put down. I miss him immensely.