Having a hard time getting used to this???

Hi everybody,

Unfortunately about a week ago I had to put down my dog of 11 years. It was time, and it was an overwhelming sense of relief when she went, as her quality of life just wasn't there anymore.

Now though, I find myself having trouble accepting that this has happened. I get up every morning and think I have to continue our daily routines. Get up, say hello to her, let her out, refill food and water, etc. I keep looking over from my bed expecting her to be there. I keep catching myself about to ask my family where she is. Its honestly been hard for me to sleep because I'm so used to falling asleep looking at her.

I guess I just wanted to vent sort of, but if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can adjust it would be helpful.

I’m so, so sorry for your loss. I grieved terribly over the loss of my dog a few years ago. It hurts intensely at first but the pain eases with time. I promise you it does get better with time.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved friend and companion. Pets become a part of our family, and their loss hurts.

I'm sorry you had to experience this as well.

I know it eases with time, I've lost pets before, but this just seems so much worse... I'm assuming its because we did everything together for the last 11 years. I could barely go to the bathroom without my dog following me, and it's just so strange not to see her.

Losing my precious pets over time eventually caused me to have a major breakdown. If you can go to a grief and loss support group, or see a therapist and talk about the loss of your dear pal, please do so. Yes, time definitely works wonders...but helping things along with support can't hurt. I so wish I would have reached out when I was grieving pet loss, rather than "dealing with this myself". I could have saved many years of suffering and so, so much stress.
I wish you the best, and I am so sorry for your loss.

The pain is real. They’re not just pets, they’re family members. They pretty much love us more than most people. It’s so hard to lose someone who loves us so unconditionally.

Also, I remember feeling relief at first as well because my little guy had been sick for quite some time. I do remember the immediate relief and then the sinking grief. In time the good memories will start to take the place of the pain.

I know how you feel. My dog just passed, and only the month before I lost my baby bird who I raised from nearly a hatchling. It's been one thing after another.

I do have a therapist I can go see, and I'll be seeing her in just a couple days. I know that I can't get through this one alone.

I hope that you are feeling better, if only just a bit.

Absolutely. I always referred to my dog as my sister, my parents referred to her as their child, she was always very much a part of the family.

Thank you for sharing that. That's exactly what I'm feeling right now. At first it was just immense relief for her, but now I'm really starting to notice the grief. I keep "seeing" her out of the corner of my eye because I'm so use to doing so. I hope its soon... there was never a dull or unhappy moment with her.

At the least I'm not feeling the regret some pet owners experience after having a pet put down. It was too soon, but it was her time as nothing could be done.

Take comfort in the peace you have with your decision. That’s a blessing. We tortured ourselves over decisions we had made and it was pointless to do that to ourselves. Our dogs are our babies.

I also swore I wouldn’t have another dog ever again and two days later I rescued what turned out to be a high maintenance little dude who is still driving us a bit bonkers. And so it goes...

I'm really sorry for your loss. I lost my cat last January. My mom came to wake me up to tell me that she found our kitty outside of the bathroom on the floor. She had passed away. I still have trouble accepting it. I still don't have peace over it. There's a lot of guilt. I get what you mean when you say you get up and think you have to do your daily routines. I used to get up, say good morning, feed her, run errands when I had to go outside, come back and say hi, chill with her, then go to bed and repeat. When I would come home, she'd come up to greet me.

It's very hard losing a pet, but it sounds like you were a very sweet owner. Your dog isn't physically there, but I believe that your dog is with you in spirit. <3

Thank you. I'm sorry to hear about yours as well. Honestly the routine not being there is one of the worst parts I feel. You keep expecting them to be there for their part, and then you're reminded again that they aren't.

I sure hope she is. That dog definitely knew she was loved that's for sure.