Dog PTS - is it always worse the 1st time?

virgin_moneysaver

catkins wrote: »

So sorry to hear about your dog. I have had a number of dogs and cats over the years and I agree with other posters that, no, it doesn't get any easier.

Each time both me and OH have said "no more" but we do go one to get another dog or cat. Most of the dogs have been rescues but the one before the one I have now we got as a puppy. I don't know if it was because we had him for longer than the rescues (they were all at least 5 before they came to us) or that we watched him grow from a baby but when his time came (and he lived to a good age) we were both affected more. I honestly think I cried for weeks and I have never ever seen OH so upset. He said he could not go through that again and could not bear to see me so distraught.

Three years went by (by far the longest we had been without a dog) and one day we both looked at each other and said "shall we get another dog?" We missed the dog walking and the companionship a dog gives. So we did get another who is now just over 10. Hopefully he has a good few years left but we already know that as upset as we will be we will definitely be getting another dog some time after he goes. We both say our house is not home without a dog - when we go on holiday and he has to go to kennels the day before the house seems so empty for that day!

as we holiday in this country at present, our Dog came with us, so even going away was strange without her sat outside the tent - I always chatted to the other campers with their dogs & the one would come & greet me every morning - I so missed her the last time we went

virgin_moneysaver

paulsad wrote: »

Had my lovely dalmation Lucy pts yesterday - it was horrible - big bloke sobbing like a baby all day - took her for a last walk in the sunshine; was ok till my son turned up at the park (another tough 21 yr old bloke) and started getting upset - he walked with us to the vets door then he couldn't come in. You are right it is awful no matter how people say you are doing the best for them I couldn't help but feel rotten having to make the dreaded decision and maybe should have given her a few more weeks. But as the vet said she was 13+ and very sore with degenerative arthritis - stumbling/falling over and soiling herself for the past year or so. The pts was mercifully quick and she just slipped away in seconds with me holding her head and saying a tearful sorry.
My son bought a puppy a few weeks ago and it has been a mixed blessing he was causing the old dog some extra pain trying to play with her - but on my return from the vets yesterday he licked my tear ridden face for ages.
So I am glad we've got the new pup (I wouldn't personally have got another one) in the house it has helped ease some of the pain. Pets do at least teach us to love and prepare us maybe a little for saying goodbye.

I am so, so sorry to hear about Lucy (having a little tear as I write this) - it has takem me 8 months to get to this point but I came home yesterday from a weekend away to find my husband had picked up a dog from the rescue centre - he's a lovely thing, but feeling a little guilty, as if I'm replacing Nell

puddy

i think what is often unrecognised is that grief periods are often up to about 18 months and pet lovers go through this period just like we would for a parent, partner etc, they are family members.

my cat died in august last year, i still get upset about her, i keep dreaming about her and did last night again, it upsets me for the whole day when this happens.

so you are still grieving, it hasnt even been a year yet.

as to whether it gets easier, she was my first (she wasnt pts) but i anticipate that it wont be any different in the future.