I Just Joined... I Just Lost My Sweet Pea, Doug, i lost my dog Options

[dougsmom]

I am in shock I guess. He played with me this morning, though I noticed some limping. He was a French Bulldog, and they have back problems pretty often I guess.

After a few hours, he was yelping when I touched him! I took him to the vet, he was fine, the vet couldn't find anything. When I got there to pick him up, he was yelping again. I made plans to bring him in tomorrow. Took him home, he was acting very strangely- like he was confused, didn't want to go inside. It breaks my heart to even think about it.

I took him to the emergency vet. Had to go to work for a few hours, which frankly sucked. When I got back, he had just passed- he was in distress from the pain and they were trying to sedate him. They gave him steroids, noting helped his mouth- it was getting more and more swollen. Couldn't get the tube in his throat! He was choking to death, and it kills me. They had to knock him out, then he stopped breathing.

I don't know how to say good bye to him. I was with his body and just cried and cried. I feel awful that I wasn't there at his terrible time of distress! Why is what I keep asking over and over.

I have a cat who keeps going to the door, looking for Doug. He's in my lap now, which is weird for him, he is not a lap cat. But he's being so sweet and supportive now. I appreciate this board- I just had to vent and write it out.

Doug was a total, complete love bug. Snuggled with me every night, always greeted me with his special snorting way, loved to run around with me. I am lost, he was such an immense force in my life.

[karenmc]

Since I just lost Leroy 2 days ago, I'm not very confident in giving advice, but here goes. I still have just a couple of his things here that I can't put away yet. His blanket he loved to lay on is still on the couch and I lay on it so I can feel like he is still close to me. I did put away his water bowl and food things and cleaned out his litter and put the box in the garage. His leash is still hanging on the hook. I just don't have it in me to get rid of all that was his. While Leroy was an old guy and I could see him slipping away, he too ate the night before - chicken - one of his favorites. The next morning he was on the living room floor unable to walk and was incontinent and I think nearly in a coma. He had made a mess on his blanket and was just lying on the rug so I cleaned him up got a fresh blanket and gently put him on it. We just kept stroking his head and talking to him. My son was leaving for his college classes and I said be sure to say goodbye to your "brother" because he won't be here when you get home. And sure enough he was gone by 8:30. There is, I don't think any right or wrong way to do any of this. If you are more comfortable, put Doug's belongings in a box and store them out of sight somewhere until you are in a better (is there one?) place to deal with this. I like having just a couple of things that were his still around - I feel like I owe him that for all he gave me and my family.