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Two weeks ago, we had to put our dog to sleep. She was about 13, kidney failure, and the last day we believe she had a stroke, by the way she was acting. This is a constant struggle for me. I called my psych nurse practitioner and she upped one of my meds for awhile. I also have an appointment with my therapist. My therapist was away last week or I could've gone then. But now that it's been almost 2 weeks, what good would therapy do now? I've read lots on the internet, it takes time, etc. I cry off and on all day. I work night shift and when I come home, she always met me, waited at the bedroom door and we both went to bed. And so far, I cry myself to sleep because she's not there. I cry even as I type this. Any good words of wisdom for me? My husband and I cried together but he seem to be moving on fine, still thinks of her but can accept it much better than I. If I was all alone and lost my dog, I think my answer would be to end my own life, really doubt if I could ever do that, but that's that way Im thinking. Thank you.
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I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Please be gentle with yourself and let yourself grieve with as little self -criticism as possible. She was a member of your family and the loss of her is real. I have no words of wisdom. It just takes time. I have never been able to go without getting another pet within a month after one goes, but that is me and not everyone is ready/needs to as soon as I am - I need that new creature to focus on and care for even while still mourning the loss of the old pet. I still grieve over a dog I had two years ago, and she had a long good life and I have other dogs and cats. Each of them is unique and touches us in special ways that I believe we need to acknowledge and celebrate and grieve. Would you tell us more about her?
My dog, Lucky, was a small black lab mix. We got her from a shelter and she was scheduled to be put to sleep the next day but we came along and brought her home, thus her name of Lucky. Lucky because we saved her and we were lucky to get her. We've talked quite a bit, before she died, that we knew she wasn't going to last long but still never ready to lose her. We want to get another dog but probably not til spring which isn't too far away. I have no children of my own, husband has two from his first wife, both all grown, and Lucky truly was my child. I'm crying now as I type this. I'm not going to tell my elderly father unless he asks because I can't talk about her without crying and I con't like people to see me cry. (one of the reasons I see a psych doctor) because of anxiety and depression and keeping everything locked inside me. We had her 12 years and my husband says we gave her a wonderful 12 years as well as she gave us 12 wonderful years. Thank you for your reply.
(((Kat))))

I'm so sorry for your loss. My husband and I have always owned dogs starting with the newf he owned when we got married. I know it's not the same as a person, but that doesn't mean we don't form a deep attachment with our pets. They are family and interwoven into our daily lives and it's a real loss when we lose them. I have found for me (not to say it has to be that way for you) that the grief I experience when I lose a pet is as intense as when I lose a human I love, but it doesn't seem to last as long. But this is your loss, and it is clear that Lucky was a close companion and meant so much to you. Your grief will take as long as it will take, and that's ok. I agree with stoppers that you need to be gentle and understanding with yourself about your need to grieve. I hope that your good memories of Lucky will comfort you.

AG
((((((Kat))))))

I'm so sorry for your loss! I honestly still occasionally get upset for my cat who died when I was away at college and my dog I had to hold as she was put to sleep. What made it easier for me was to think/talk about what made that pet so unique and the little stories that remind me their presence for that (seemingly) brief time had real meaning to me. I'm not sure much but time makes it better. And even if they're not people, we do get attached and it's perfectly normal for that to hurt. So please take your time with the grief and don't be hard on yourself about it.
Kat,

I am so saddened by your loss of Lucky. I have actually had two lucky's in my life! Both were great. I love animals and when I had to put my last dog down, it was horrible. That loss, that grief is like nothing else. One of the things that did help was a poem. I don't know who wrote it but it is called the Rainbow bridge. Let me warn you that you will cry, but to think that things might be the way it says, filled me with joy. You can look it up - it is worth it and might help.

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