Saying Goodbye to a much loved pet

jungle_jane

Hi Vicx

I am so sorry for your loss and am crying your tears for you tonight too. I lost my beloved Maine Coone cat yesterday morning - also through heart disease. We knew that he had a heart murmur but had no idea that this could blow into full blown heart disease or how we could try to prevent it getting worse. In our case, our cat had started panting and becoming out of breath 6 months ago but to be honest we learnt everything we know from researching online - our vets were really useless.

We decided to let nature take its because because this type of heart disease - like your Yorkie - is pretty much incurable. We had an extra 6 months with our boy and although he became a shadow of his former self, we didn't need to have him put to sleep. He passed away yesterday morning peacefully in his sleep and for that I am immensely grateful.

Like you, we are utterly gutted. The pain and loss and sorrow is hard to put into words and all I can do is extend a cyber hug to you. They say the pain eases and I'm sure that it will. But right now...well it feels like an elephant trampled on my heart and I am sure you feel the same. I had my boy cremated and will get his ashes back - its so lovely that you were able to bury your little guy at home.

xx

spike7451

jungle_jane wrote: »

Hi Vicx

I am so sorry for your loss and am crying your tears for you tonight too. I lost my beloved Maine Coone cat yesterday morning - also through heart disease. We knew that he had a heart murmur but had no idea that this could blow into full blown heart disease or how we could try to prevent it getting worse. In our case, our cat had started panting and becoming out of breath 6 months ago but to be honest we learnt everything we know from researching online - our vets were really useless.

We decided to let nature take its because because this type of heart disease - like your Yorkie - is pretty much incurable. We had an extra 6 months with our boy and although he became a shadow of his former self, we didn't need to have him put to sleep. He passed away yesterday morning peacefully in his sleep and for that I am immensely grateful.

Like you, we are utterly gutted. The pain and loss and sorrow is hard to put into words and all I can do is extend a cyber hug to you. They say the pain eases and I'm sure that it will. But right now...well it feels like an elephant trampled on my heart and I am sure you feel the same. I had my boy cremated and will get his ashes back - its so lovely that you were able to bury your little guy at home.

xx

J.Jane,
I'm so sorry for your loss.That is how Orbit went as well,and he was also retaining fluids as well.I too decided not to have him pts,as long as he wasn't in pain & had a quality of life,he would live on.And he did for another nine months.

jungle_jane

spike7451 wrote: »

J.Jane,
I'm so sorry for your loss.That is how Orbit went as well,and he was also retaining fluids as well.I too decided not to have him pts,as long as he wasn't in pain & had a quality of life,he would live on.And he did for another nine months.

Thanks for that Spike - they break your heart, don't they? Bet you were grateful for those bonus 9 months - we certainly were. Our little guy got very thin, but the fluid in his heart still made him look quite beefy. It was that terrible thumping of the chest that made it so hard to watch, but like you as long as he was comfy and happy, we let him be.

When we found him, he looked so peaceful - like he was sleeping. i felt a great sense of relief wash over me because it was over peacefully. Couldn't ask for more...

I am walking about my house like a lost soul and I can feel his presence everywhere...so sad...:A

spike7451

jungle_jane wrote: »

Thanks for that Spike - they break your heart, don't they? Bet you were grateful for those bonus 9 months - we certainly were. Our little guy got very thin, but the fluid in his heart still made him look quite beefy. It was that terrible thumping of the chest that made it so hard to watch, but like you as long as he was comfy and happy, we let him be.

When we found him, he looked so peaceful - like he was sleeping. i felt a great sense of relief wash over me because it was over peacefully. Couldn't ask for more...

I am walking about my house like a lost soul and I can feel his presence everywhere...so sad...:A

They're like small,four legged children!..I went away for 10 days & when I came back & saw how much weight Orbit had lost over them 10 day's,I was shocked.It was about a month later he went.Those eejits who say "It's only a cat/dog/hamster" really are idiots.they aren't just pets,they're family.
All I can suggest it to post a memorial for him on Rainbow Bridge (link below) and consider taking on a rescue cat.I got Daisy who is now giving me a dead leg as she's asleep on my lap!

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/board,13.0.html

meerkat2007

Spike, they're better than family.

jungle_jane

Definitely family! I am glad you got Daisy, Spike. So many kitties need homes - Daisy was very lucky indeed.

I was interested that you noticed Orbit's weight loss when you went away - we also went away for 2 weeks and got back on Sunday. Our little guy died one day later - and he too was a bag of bones when we got back. We were shocked at how thin he was. We had our lovely neighbour feeding him twice a day but i am racked with guilt that our absence had something to do with his final, rapid decline. I wish we could have cancelled the trip and was so worried about him while we were away.

I'm planting a memorial garden for him on the weekend - watered with my tears, no doubt...

lynnemcf

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

vicx

Thanks again for all your kind words.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss Jane. I wish I could have let nature take it's cause too but it was the last kindest thing I could have done for him as he was in so much distress and suffering. That still doesnt stop me questioning myself if it was really his time - I just feel so guilty.

He was put to sleep at 8:30pm last night, those awful images are still stuck in my mind as they will be for a very long time so I guess it's another sleepless night for me again tonight. I have just buried him in my garden next to my other Yorkshire Terrier that I lost 4 year ago. I thought it would have been hard but I get comfort from knowing he is still close to me and next to his brother that he missed so much. The hardest part was getting him put to sleep, yesterday was the hardest day of my life.


Spike I agree with you, they are like children. My dog was like my little son and those people who say 'it was only a dog/cat' etc, really do not understand the attachment and bond we have with our pets since they are not dog/cat lovers themselves.

I have neighbours who are like that, they would say 'look at you with that dog, its only a dog' because I would always be picking him up, giving him kisses and cuddles and talking to him but that's what he wanted and he understood what I was saying to him - he wasn't daft. They have their own personalities and give unconditional love. I couldn't have asked for a better dog than Maxi, he had a great personality, he was so intelligent, friendly and loving. I still can't believe he's gone, I am missing him so much

spike7451

jungle_jane wrote: »

Definitely family! I am glad you got Daisy, Spike. So many kitties need homes - Daisy was very lucky indeed.

I was interested that you noticed Orbit's weight loss when you went away - we also went away for 2 weeks and got back on Sunday. Our little guy died one day later - and he too was a bag of bones when we got back. We were shocked at how thin he was. We had our lovely neighbour feeding him twice a day but i am racked with guilt that our absence had something to do with his final, rapid decline. I wish we could have cancelled the trip and was so worried about him while we were away.

I'm planting a memorial garden for him on the weekend - watered with my tears, no doubt...

That's a nice sweet gesture. Orbit was on Fortekor & was later put onto another diaretic to remove fluids off his body.

This was orbit a few weeks before;
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/spike7451/Orbit/Image0012.jpg

And about a week before he died;
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/spike7451/Orbit/Image0432.jpg

spike7451

vicx wrote: »

Thanks again for all your kind words.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss Jane. I wish I could have let nature take it's cause too but it was the last kindest thing I could have done for him as he was in so much distress and suffering. That still doesnt stop me questioning myself if it was really his time - I just feel so guilty.

He was put to sleep at 8:30pm last night, those awful images are still stuck in my mind as they will be for a very long time so I guess it's another sleepless night for me again tonight. I have just buried him in my garden next to my other Yorkshire Terrier that I lost 4 year ago. I thought it would have been hard but I get comfort from knowing he is still close to me and next to his brother that he missed so much. The hardest part was getting him put to sleep, yesterday was the hardest day of my life.


Spike I agree with you, they are like children. My dog was like my little son and those people who say 'it was only a dog/cat' etc, really do not understand the attachment and bond we have with our pets since they are not dog/cat lovers themselves.

I have neighbours who are like that, they would say 'look at you with that dog, its only a dog' because I would always be picking him up, giving him kisses and cuddles and talking to him but that's what he wanted and he understood what I was saying to him - he wasn't daft. They have their own personalities and give unconditional love. I couldn't have asked for a better dog than Maxi, he had a great personality, he was so intelligent, friendly and loving. I still can't believe he's gone, I am missing him so much

I was the same with Orbit,He'd be waiting by the door for me when I came home (he was a house cat,as is Daisy)& I'd pick him up,give him a cuddle as I went to the kitchen,I'd get his food out & he'd watch me doing that.
I'd then lift him down to his food tray & he'd eat.Later he'd come onto my lap for a wash & then a snooze.