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Having had the pleasure of Lara (miniature Schnauzer) in our lives for > 12 years, her passing yesterday has hit me really hard.
She was fine on Saturday but was sick after her dinner on Saturday evening. Sunday morning she was 'not right' so we elected to go to the emergency vets with her (who operate from within our normal vets). She was ultrasound scanned, placed on drips for fluids and pain relief. Our normal vet took over her care yesterday morning and called to suggest we need to go there later in the day to discuss the path forward, as there were really only 2 options, which included fairly high risk surgery.
However, a few hours later the vet called guiding she had taken a turn for the worse and we should consider getting there asap. Thankfully we were with Lara when she finally passed.
She was not a 'trail dog' but was a loved and loving family member - always with us, cheeky, comforting, gentle and she and I explored together locally and wherever we went (looking at pictures - many places we explored). Time to reflect on all the positive (and it all was).
I'm sure this will get easier, but today is tough.
Took that trip with my old spaniel a few years ago. Feel for you. Dusty in here.
I truly feel for you 🙁
Our lives changed massively 7 years ago when we got our first boy. So much so we got a 2nd recently and both are embedded in our family life.
It will pass, but could be a while:(
Sorry to hear this, its really tough - 5 years on from losing our collie he's still left a hole in our life. It's hard going, i spent 1st few weeks doing loads night rides to avoid being in the house when my wife was working as missed him mooching around.
It gets easier, but not sure it goes away. Sending big hugs, be kind to yourself - think the grief hits most more than expect.
Again sorry to hear this, even a year & half on from the losing of my cat (again over a couple of days, out of the blue), I'm upset, but it get easier. There part of your family, & leave a big hole.
Picture are required, to remind you of (& let us see) the good times
I feel your pain.
We had to have the best cat in the world put to sleep in October. We had Fudge for 10 years and was a full-on family member and it hurt like hell. Watched a vid of him scoffing some treats earlier which brought a lump to my throat. Miss him everyday but it does get easier.
I dread the day I have to say goodbye to my spaniel.
but..... fit and well until Saturday, passes on Sunday. That is bowing out with style. Hopefully, in time, you will take some comfort from that.
Dogs are awesome.
Horrible and sorry to read that. I was absolutely inconsolable when my cat had to be put to sleep at 21 when I was about 7.
Had a dog after that, who lived to 15 (which is mad I think - especially as my dad had a habit of buying him a weekly chocolate mini milk). Loved him too. For the last 2 years of his life though he was in a sorry state; anxiety, dementia and reduced mobility - I think my mum probably kept the poor bugger plugged in for a lot longer than she really should have. It was a blessing for us when he was put to sleep, and horrible to see him like that before. In your case I hope that you can take some solace in that yours lived life to the full to the very end!
We adapted a 2 year old rescue Dachshund last May.
i never really understood the whole 'dogs are a member of the family' mentality until now - she's totally embedded in our lives and we love it.
Sorry for your loss OP.
Lost Paddy, our 11 yr old Springer, in October. Unwell for a week then fell asleep in our arms one evening.
He was my shadow, and unless it was a foreign holiday, by my side everyday or under my desk in the office 🙂
For the first couple of months it was a massive change in routine and was missed desperately everyday. I got some lovely artwork to put on the wall for Christmas from the family along with a lovely picture book containing loads of FB pics from when he was a pup until the fateful week.
Strangely, up until last week he didn't feature in my dreams, but does now and always in a comforting way.
Sad times but they do get easier. Sorry for your loss.
Man, reading all these comments hits hard. Somebody's cutting onions up in here.
My lab is 3 years old, 4 in October this year. I spend more time with her with me working fully from home than I do my wife or any other family, We have a daily routine during a weekday where she hears my wifes alarm, waits till the mrs gets in the shower then she trots upstairs and nudges my elbow with her nose to wake me up and let her on the bed where my wifes been sleeping for some morning cuddles, followed by breakfast which is either a tin of butchers, kibble or sardines and kibble, depending what she fancies that morning I give her the options and she will always do a big stretch to let me know which one she wants, then she snoozes till my lunch break and we go out for an adventure, usually walk down to the beach, my wife always rings me on her way home and she knows as soon as she hears my phone vibrating that her mams coming home and gets the zoomies, followed by more zoomies when the wife actually gets in.
Weekends are always different but most of the time if we sleep in past 8.30 we wake up to find she's snuck on the bed and is curled up at the bottom
She's my first ever dog and shes awesome, so sorry about your loss, I genuinely dread the day it happens to us and I try to actively not think about it as I know I'll find it unbelivably hard.
Really sorry for your loss.
We lost our 15 year old westie last October, fine on Friday night, wasn't well Saturday morning and then we had to make the call Saturday afternoon.
Anyway, we weren't looking for another dog, too busy to take a pup on, then this little turned up out of the blue. He has settled in really well. Charms everyone he meets!
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Thanks all, I appreciate your words.
Some time will undoubtedly help with the emotions (and tissue consumption) but I and we will never forget her.
RIP precious Little Lara.
Everyone believes their dog is the best. Because they are.
Lost our old spaniel to cancer in 2021. Aside from the obvious grief, he left a MASSIVE dog shaped hole in our life. 6 months later we got another dog, and right up until the day we collected him I felt guilty about 'replacing' the old boy. in hindsight, we shouldn't have waited that long, and the old boy was never replaced, but the hole was filled (and an 8 week old cocker REALLY fills a hole...). Grieve as much as you need to, they're awesome.
Still miss him like mad, but we've now had the two best dogs in the world 🙂
Sorry to hear the news op.
It's so sad to lose a beloved pet that's become a real part of the family.
Sorry to hear that. Bonniedog is 11 nearly, but fit as a fiddle. Hope we have many more years, but also aware that when she does start to deteriorate, already being older it might be quite swift.
Could resist though
but….. fit and well until Saturday, passes on Sunday. That is bowing out with style. Hopefully, in time, you will take some comfort from that.
surely bow wowing out in style?
our dog made it to over 17 before he died, that's collie lurcher for you. Spent his last night on the floor beside him, he died as the sun came up that morning.
nearly 5 years on I still see him out of the corner of my eye. I see him down a track in his favourite woods, but of course he never comes close. He was part of our life for a long time, in fact sometimes you can't even remember if he was on a ride or not, he was just part of the group, silently tabbing along
dogs are indeed awesome
So sorry to hear. Our standard sends her condolences. Schnauzers have so much character that I can't imagine life without one.
I didn't get the size of the loss until it happened to us for the first time after more than 18 years with our cat. Then two more in pretty swift succession (taken on as older rescues). Each was sad or tragic and hit us hard.
It feels odd to type but in some ways it was as profound as the loss of my father. But different. Maybe because a family pet physically shares everyday life with you and a parent normally lives elsewhere. Maybe it's because of their dependence on you, maybe it's having often played a part in making that final decision. Regardless, the impact was bigger/harder than we expected. It'll get better op, but never goes completely - but I wouldn't want it to.
We lost our 18 year old Tibetan Spaniel three weeks ago. We knew it was coming as his dementia was severe but the decision to make the final trip to the vets was agonising.
I wake up during the night thinking i can hear him downstairs and the living room seems empty without him asleep in his basket.
The tears have stopped but i still feel numb from the loss. I know it will pass as we have had three dogs previously.
It certainly is shiiite. So sorry to hear it when it happens to anyone.
Last year was bad with many of our dog-walking neighbours losing theirs. OOur own angel of a black Lab departed this world in June last year, after a cancer returned and wasn't operable the 2nd time, at about 10.5 years old. We'd had him from 9 weeks old, and had been fault-free up to just under 10 year old (when we discovered the tumour the 1st time).
All I know is that we do the best for them that we can, and when that time comes, they get a more dignified and caring exit than 99% of us are allowed.
He left a very large hole in the house and in our hearts. It felt empty without him, especially as I'd been 95% WFH since covid (and prob 60% before). I still miss him dearly.
It's not wrong or disrespectful if/when you get another. They are never going to be a replacement. They are just the next recipients of the love and kindness you have to give.
We didnt last long before getting a new pup - we decided being dog-less was totally shiite. the new fella was (and still is) a wonderful distraction from missing the previous one, that's for sure. He's my new best buddy. And me his. I take the view of "what would the last one wanted?" And the in our case the answer to that is another pup in the house - as they'd have got on great together.
I was woken at 5am this morning with a wet nose in the face. Up I dutifully got and went to the front door to go out with her.
Turned around and the little **** had gone back to bed. I swear she had a grin on her face.
Lovely things pets. People often talk about not wanting the hassle of one. But the amount you get back is so huge the hassle just fades away.
Sorry for your loss - it doesn't get any easier. Our pug left us in May, and last weekend we popped into the pet shop where we used to get her raw food and I found myself welling up.
Only thing to do is, after an appropriate time, get another little furry family member to help provide more joy and excitement to your life!
We are just about to go through this with my 13 year old bearded collie he is really on his last legs with a large tumour
such a hard decision what to do for the best for him but its not going to be long now
really hate this part of having dogs