I still feel very sad it's been almost six months I euthanized my dog.?

Question

I am still very sad and depressed most of the time (eversince my heart dog 13 year old died) I had to put him down b/c he was suffering with acute kidney failure and was in advanced stage. I had only 2 options either I could have done the IV fluid treatment(to keep him little longer ) or euthanasia, But I didn't want to leave him alone in the hospital in a cage b/c he was suffering (stopped eating completely and throwing up a lot) I was frustated that time so had choosed the second option. Now it'sbeen 6 months I am dealing with extreme guilt that kills me slowly and not having him aroung me I feel very sad I miss him more than anything I tried to keep myself busy but nothing really workes I thougt to commit suicide couple of time. How can I deal with this situatin without any guilt? I need some really good advice and I don't wanna have anymore pets for now. I would really apreciate all of you'sadvice because that is effecting my ment/phyl. Did I do the right thingwith my dog? PLS HELP

Answer 1

It is hard to get over the loss of a pet. Especially one you have had for so long. But it is important for you to realize that the animal, dog in this case, isn't in pain or discomfort any longer. And remember that seeing you happy is what use to make his tail wag.... So stop your grieving he wouldn't want that and go make a new best friend!! Adopt from your local shelter or start from the beginning with a new puppy. Just don't let yourself wallow in tears.
You need closure and your new doggie pal needs your love and a new home!! Its OK to move on your heavenly pooch would want you to!

Answer 2

Please do not feel guilty --- you definately did teh right thing.
First there is no cure for this problem and I'm sure the dog ( your baby) had no quality of life.
And as you said would spend a lot of time in the vets for treatment only to prolong his life for a short time. Most dogs I know doesn't like to go to the vets nevertheless to be stuck with a needle and put in a cage.
Yes it is hard to loose a loved one rather a person or a pet. It does take a LOT of time. When you do get upset try to think of all the good times you did have, tehn think of the way he was before being put down and really consider would it have been rigth to make him live for just a little longer ----- it wouldn't have been for him.
You may want to consider talking to a councelor.
I know you said you werent' ready for a new pet but I will say it will give you something to care for also how could you even consider suicide knowing a new pet would be left to depend on nioone as you would be it's new mom and needs you.
if you should decide don't get teh same breed or color as you may expect it to be just like your lossed dog and it isn't it's a new one. Don't think of replacing but don't you thibnk your dog having such a good and long life want you tobe happy and know you are taking care of another one ( poosibly a distant relative)
I'm sure if you could talk to your dog now he would be so full of love and thanks for letting him go and not keeping him in so much discomfort.
I KNOW YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. REALLY HONESTLY YOU DID.
Good luck and keep your chin up it will be ok.

Answer 3

In my opinion you did the right thing. I would not have wanted to leave my dog alone in the hospital either. You let him go when it was the right time and without putting him through unnecessary suffering. What you did was best for him. I understand the feelings of guilt, but they are false guilt. He would have been far more unhappy separated from you and receiving IV treatments that could only have been a temporary fix anyway. If you can, I want you to turn it around in your mind, because that is the truth--not that you hurt him, but that you did the best for him.

Missing him is normal. If you don't want another pet for now, then I suggest that you do some volunteer work in your community. Put what you put into your dog into people for awhile--that will honor the love you had for your dog and help you to get outside of yourself and benefit others.

YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. Human life belongs to God, but the life of our pets is in our hands to decide for them and sometimes the decision breaks our hearts--but what you did was the unselfish thing for him--and that was THE RIGHT THING.

God bless you and comfort you,
My cat is getting old and beginning to have problems and I will soon be facing what you have had to face. I know how hard it is to let go. But sometimes love means letting go.
And I believe your dog was one of those cases.

Maggie

Answer 4

Your sadness is understandable, but your guilt needs to go away. When we have pets, there comes a time when we have to make that hard decision. You put quality of life for the pet first. Sure, we want to keep them as long as possible, but you did what was best for him. Had you put him through continued tests and IVs, etc. it would have been more stressful to him. Rest easy, knowing you did what was right.

You may not want other animals now, but you should consider that getting another dog anyway, or some other pet. A new one will bring you happiness, joy, love, playfulness and will be an outlet for some of the love you've got storing up in you. I hope that helps. Good luck!

Answer 5

What you are feeling is very normal, losing a pet has the same grief process as losing a family member. You did was was humane for the dog's sake, it was suffering. If you honestly are having suicidal thoughts you really need to go and get professional help. There are many websites online that are for people that are grieving the loss of a pet where you can go on there and talk to others that are going through what you are, and it helps to be able to just talk about it and to reflect memories with others. It is normal to feel sadness, but you shouldn't be letting it overwhelm your ever thought. Our dog died over a year ago and we still cry when we talk about him, but we don't let it eat at us daily. Try getting some professional counseling, best wishes to you.

Answer 6

I had to make the decision last December, actually my boyfriend did, but it was the best decision of the alternative choice which was to wake her up from the surgery to have her only last at most a couple of weeks. I know the guilt you feel because I still feel it too. the last sight I saw of her was going into the surgery room where they were suppose to try to remove the tumor they saw on her liver, which they soon found out it was cancer that covered up about 90% percent of her liver and her stomach. So the vets called us and told us that there was nothing that they could do and assuming she woke up from the surgery she wouldn't make it much longer and I just kept thinking well what if she does make it longer than a week, how do they know how long. but she was suffering. She wasn't eating, barely drinking, she was limping and her stomach was bloated. I felt incredibly guilty that I let her down but you know there was nothing I could do. I'm trying to tell myself that and I know that I made the right choice. It's so sad and hard that they don't live long lives and that we have to let them go so soon it seems. Just keep reminding yourself that they are no longer suffering. It's still hard for me too and it's been since December just know it's not just you who has the same feelings in regards to a loss of a beloved pet.

Answer 7

I agree with the other posters that think another dog might bring you out of your funk. You did the right thing with you beloved pet. Pets don't understand why you are prolonging their pain. You did the most unselfish thing possible by letting your friend go. Now it is time to move on. You can honor your old dog with a new one. Make the new dogs middle name the same as the original. Training a new dog will help you focus on positive things and get you out and about. Walking a dog will get you exercise and fresh air which will help in lifting your mood. You did the right thing! Remember the happy memories with your old friend and now build a new future with a new companion.

Answer 8

Guilt? The dog was _dying_, dude, and your choice was to let his suffering continue or to end it. You made the right choice.

The sad fact is that dogs simply don't live that long, and if you get a dog, you're going to have to be prepared for it to go well before you do. Every dog owner since dogs first wandered into a human camp has had to deal with this, and y'know what? For the most part, after some normal grieving, they get over it. If you're still this broken up six months later, the dog is just an excuse for your depression, not the cause. Get some help.

Answer 9

Just remember that you made the decision you made at the time out of love for your friend. To ponder now whether it was right or wrong will destroy you if you let it. You did the best thing you knew to do for him and that is all anyone can ask. It seems you made the decision with full information about his condition, and with the desire for him not to suffer alone, and again I say, it is clear you did so out of so much love for him. I personally believe he knew/knows this.

If you're not ready for another dog, then don't get one. But it might be a good idea just to go to a shelter or a rescue society to be around other dogs and see if you can find that love in your heart again. I'm quite sure your dog loved you as much as you loved him and would want you to have a companion. If, by heart dog, you mean one who is trained to recognize cardiac conditions in you, then maybe you could also consider that you might need such a dog around for your own health.

Hang in there and remember that you did what was best at the time for the comfort of your dog. Remember all the good times you shared together and take comfort in that.
Here's to speedy healing and to the possibility of perhaps sharing that kind of love with another dog one day soon, when you're ready. You'll know it when you find one who seems to need you as much as you will need him. (((hugs)))

Answer 10

You did the right thing. It was a hard thing to have to do and a rough decision to make, but his life wasn't what he was used to anymore. He was not feeling well and missing you while he was at the vet.
I had to euthanize my Golden 12 years ago (bone cancer). There is to this day not a day that goes by when I don't ask myself if there wasn't something more that I could have done. But just like you, deep down I know that the dog was miserable.
Go to petloss.com. They have a wonderful candle lighting ceremony and sections where you can submit a poem, story, pictures etc. and get your guy his own candle.
In the meantime, volunteer at a shelter or make a donation in your baby's name.