What to do when my pet dies?

Question

I have a dog who is very old he is 14...well he is deaf now, dosen't play anymore, missing some teeth, weak bladder and poops in the house...

He is probably on his last months of living and to think of him not being with me anymore breaks my heart...I just don't know how to handle it...I like having that comfort around me and do I get a new pet right away...is the pain as bad as losing your father or a close relative? I am at the point where I am having nightmares about it :-(

I sound crazy I know

Answer 1

It will be hard, ecspecially to have a pet for so long. I had a dog that my parents baught when I was born, and he grew up with me all the way to the age of 16, and I was heart broken when he died too. But I did get over it, after grieving for a little while.
I dont know where you live; but if you have the space, perhaps when he dies you could burry him somewhere in your yard. We did that with our dog...we even made him a cross with his name on it. It was hard at the time, but it helped me to get over it. Whenever I felt sad or missed him, I'd go sit by his grave and it really helped. I still felt him somehow and I would go there to think out my problems and tell "him" that I missed him. We also did a small memorial service when he passed, sounds weird, but it was nice. Our family was so attached to him. My dad burried him, with a few of his favorite toys, and then my mom, brother & I and walked out as dad was scooping the last part of dirt onto his grave, and we all wrote that we'd miss him on the cross for his grave.

Just remember he's better off in doggy heaven than here on earth suffering. 14 years is such a long time for a dog to live, so remember the good memories of your dog, and remember that he was very lucky to live that long and was very lucky to have a person to love him so much.

Kind regards and hope you'll be O.K.
<3

Answer 2

Enjoy the days you still have with your dog, make sure he's comfortable..if the pooping in the house is an issue..there are doggie diapers for incontinence issues.

You may consider starting to consider options of what you want to do with your dog's body when he passes. It's like people who plan their funeral so they know before they pass what will happen and it'll alleviate stress when the time comes. You may speak to a counselor at your local humane society or your vet. There are the options of having your dog buried, cremated..if cremated do you want to keep his ashes, etc. You may also like to get an impression of his paw done as a keepsake... things to remind you of him in a good way.

The grief you feel over losing your dog can be as strong as the grief felt over a human, and nothing is wrong with that. Humane society usually will have a pet loss grief program/counseling sessions you may attend.

The time to get a new pet is up to you. Some find it comforting to have another right away since their past one was so great they want to feel that love again, others need more time to heal and wait...wait how long is up to the individual... no one person is right or wrong in this situation.

Answer 3

Everything you're feeling is perfectly normal. I have have lost many pets, and it's always very hard because they were with me every day and night. They were my family. You definitely should think about getting another pet eventually, but you may not feel like it right away. Your heart will tell you when the time is right. I was grieving the loss of my dog Coco and swore that I could never get another dog, but a few months later, still grieving, my heart told me it was time. I always say that my little Roxi found me, because it was so out of the blue that I made the decision to get a puppy. She is such a gift and helped to heal my heart. Subsequently she helped ease the pain when I lost my other dog Ruby shortly after.
Time, lots of love, and good memories will help ease the pain.

Kim at:http://www.peaceful-organic-planet.com

Answer 4

This is NOT crazy! You are absolutely grieving the coming loss of a good friend. I really understand. Some people find getting another dog really gives them focus and helps to get over the loss. Others just can't re-focus their love to another animal, and that's not fair to the new pet. Grief is perfectly natural and you shouldn't have to apologize. Can your vet give you any advice about making the dog's final weeks more pleasant for both of you?

Once you feel ready for another dog, you could let your friends and family know. As they know you, they might have a lead on a dog that would fit into your life well. You probably don't want to think about that yet. I really feel for your pain and wish you and your dog all the best.

Answer 5

You do not sound crazy.When your pet dies, you will be in pain, but think, your dog is in a better place. If you want a new pet you should get one, right away or months after. Don't be scared of your pets death, talk to your parents about it. My dog died on my birthday a couple 3 years ago, I was devastated. He had a terrible rash and was always miserable, I still miss him, but I know he's not in pain anymore. Remember that when your pet dies. Its OK to miss him. It will be hard at first but the pain lessens as time goes on, don't get a new dog until your ready. 14 years is a long time, but all animals have to die.

Answer 6

I recently had a cat that was 17 1/2 and made the decision to put her down. She started to cry when I would pet her, she went blind and deaf, started to pee on the floor and poop outside of her litter box. I felt so bad for her and the best thing was to put her down. I thought that I would save her the misery and do what I thought was best. The night before I did it, she came to my room door and pawed at it. I let her in, put her beside me on my bed and slept with her the whole night. (she use to do that but hadn't for a while.) I think this was her way of saying goodbye. I knew that I would miss her so so much but I did what was best for her. I to this day miss her (I had her since I was four, so my life always included her). The day I put her down I went looking for a new kitten. Some people choose to wait but I needed that love and attention that I had with my other cat. That week I found one. It made it so much easier for me to accept that she was gone. I love my new cat more than ever. Just take it a day at a time. Losing someone you love happens all the time and you just have to try to deal with it the best you can. You need to make the decision. Do you keep the dog until it dies and you find it? Or do you say your goodbyes and put it down? Up to you. But I did what I thought would be best for the animal, it shouldn't be about what you want and what you'll feel like. I felt so so bad for my cat, I felt like I was hurting her more by not helping her. Good luck, hope you find happiness with a new puppy.

Answer 7

You don't sound crazy at all. I have told my husband that when one of my dogs go, I will need grief counseling!
It is really hard to lose a pet, but just remember that this dog had a great life and knew what it was like to be so loved. Some dogs leave this world never knowing a loving touch in their life, so take comfort that your dog had a wonderful, loving life and that is a great gift.
Give yourself some time to grieve his loss and then start all over with a new one and give the same great life to that one!

Answer 8

You don't sound crazy, Erica. Just in January, I had to have a little friend put to sleep that I had raised since she was a baby. And yes, it does hurt a lot. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what he's talking about.

Don't be in a big hurry to get a new puppy: You'll probably spend a lot of time comparing the new dog to the old one, and that won't really be fair to either you or the dog.

Go ahead and give yourself time to mourn. But remember the good things you and your old dog used to do too. And when you are ready, go ahead and get a new dog and start making new memories.

Answer 9

You don't sound crazy; you sound normal, just like any other person losing their long-time pet companion. It hurts like hell emotionally and is scary to think of the inevitable time that will come. Just spend as much as time possible with your dog--dogs love being around people and it's the best comfort you can do for him. It's the cycle of life and yes, usually losing your pet is much like losing a close relative. It is a member of your family.

Although you may not feel like getting a new pet after he passes away, know that your pet will want you to be happy.

Answer 10

If your dog is no longer enjoying life then it is time to put him down. I just lost my dog yesterday. He was 8, and I had him since he was an 8 week old pup. It was devastating. I cried like I have never cried before, but I also felt relieved that he was not in pain, and I don't have to wake up every day worrying if he was going to be having a good or bad day.
I also have to remind myself that he had a good life and there is another dog out there that needs a good home. So, when I am ready I will go to the Humane society and adopt a new dog who is waiting for someones home to open up to them.

edit--I also chose to have a private cremation so I can keep his ashes.