I'll miss you buddy :( My Bender passed away.

[taylorRichie]

I genuinely thank all of you for taking the time to post... It really helps... Today was the first day back to work, and I stayed 3 hours late knowing that going home was going to be tough... And it is...

I can't figure out if it's better to find a new friend fast? or to mourn Bender for a while... Seems like having a new buddy to take care of would help making home life more normal, but I don't want to have guilt, as if I'm replacing Bender, cause he truly can not be replaced. I really just don't know.

Justin, I've read on the elevated food issue too, but it's been written both ways, Good and Bad. Bender has always had elevated food. The thing with bloat, as I understand it, no one is sure what can trigger it, it's all speculation, and theory. My Vet said lifting a hind leg and scratching their face just after eating may cause it. Laying down wrong can cause it, Running after scarfing down food can cause it. Bender always inhaled his food, and I never thought it was an issue. He was on a strict diet, 1 cup at a time so even if he did eat fast it wouldn't be too much at a time. The one consistent piece of advice I found was feed multiple meals through out the day and never one big meal.

Thanks again everyone, and I still recommend becoming familiar with the possible causes of Bloat.

I empathize with anyone who has ever lost a pet, I never knew it could hurt this bad. I have lost dogs in the past (family pets) but never one that I cared for a nurtured, one that needed and relied on me.

[VX crazy]

I am so sorry!! Dont beat yourself up about what you could have done or what caused it! I too am an animal lover, I had a dog that passed away and I went and got the exact same kind of dog the same day and named her the same name! Crazy I know, but at the time it totally distracted me from grieving for the old one, and helped me to get out of bed in the mornings! You have tons of love to give to an animal and you it would be good for you AND the animal out there waiting for you!

[Chopper]

The grief is natural....and in it's way good. Trying to defer it by bringing someone new home right away, is sort of like the transition girl you find to fill the gap right after a bad breakup. You'll always be comparing...rather than enjoying them for what they are. When you've moved along far enough, that you are not looking to fill a hole, the "right" personality will find you. It may be a dobe....it may be a terrier....but you'll know him/her when you meet. And you'll know it's time. Like any kind of love, the more you try to force it, the harder it will be to find, and the more wrong paths you will go down. It's not like replacing a beloved vehicle or TV.

[kodiak]

I had to putt my dog down yesterday her name was Remy. She was having bad complications from diabetes. I had her for a little over 9 years. She was a good dog.

[taylorRichie]

Thanks for the advice, I'm sure I'll get a new dog soon. I just don't like coming home to an empty house. Brit has school late. Right now I'm just going to spend my time checking out Breeders, and Breeds, though I think I've made my mind up on another dobie. I haven't met one I didn't like.

I had to putt my dog down yesterday her name was Remy. She was having bad complications from diabetes. I had her for a little over 9 years. She was a good dog.

Dude I'm so sorry... It's always a tough decision to make when their quality of life isn't what it should be. Good luck! This place has been a great outlet for me. (no one can see the tears on my side of the screen)

My mom currently has a 1 eyed, but blind in the other eye dachshund. But he still wags his tail every time you call for him and he's become great at navigating their house. His quality of life is still good, but he's a silly dog.

[WormGod]

Rich, I would sit on the new pet thing for a while. I did that with my Dobie just after having to put my 13 year old rescue Grayhound, Rudolph, down for throat cancer. I loved him dearly and having a new dog so fast caused me to judge her too mych and make unfair comparisons. She suffered for it greatly. Unknowingly, I just didn't give her the attention she needed. It took some time, but I came to my senses and turned around. I was a horrible person for it and she hardly benefited, but all has been good since I snapped out of it. Lucky for me, pets are quite forgiving and can be your best friend as long as you return the favor.

The lesson was learned though. I really should have gotten over my grieving period before I decided on picking up a new best friend. I "thought" she would solve all my sorrows from the loss of Rudy, but she was not the pill for that resolve. My advice though, just on my experience, try giving it some time. You may be a world different than me and it will work out, but this is just one perspective.

[crager34]

Richie!! Come down to Moab for the weekend for some wheeling, drinking, and hanging out. You and Brit can stay with me and my dogs if you like.

[kodiak]

Thanks to every one, sorry I didn’t start a separate thread. I just thought having 2 threads about dogs passing away in the same week was just too depressing. We berried Remy in the back yard last night, It hit me pretty hard this morning when she wasn’t there waiting for me to let her out. There’s just no way you can prepare for the day your buddy dies.

[Ldub]

Thanks to every one, sorry I didn’t start a separate thread. I just thought having 2 threads about dogs passing away in the same week was just too depressing. We berried Remy in the back yard last night, It hit me pretty hard this morning when she wasn’t there waiting for me to let her out. There’s just no way you can prepare for the day your buddy dies.

Amen Brother...Very sorry for your loss too...

[Scott Harness]

Sorry you guys! You are making me sad.My boxer is getting there, one eye, deaf, bad hips. He is starting to need help getting on the couch.

[WormGod]

This is very interesting to say the least. I ran into a friend last night who is a vet assistant and was asking her about bloat, to keep me up with the facts, other than what's online. She instantly got all serious on me and was saying that it was weird that I bring it up because the number of pets being brought in and diagnosed with bloat was really high this year and just seems to be increasing. Even for simple check ups now, her office is considering sonograms as part of the check up process, to look for any digestive complications. Her response has me more worried than ever now.

[Chopper]

Sorry you guys! You are making me sad.My boxer is getting there, one eye, deaf, bad hips. He is starting to need help getting on the couch.

That's my Crystal now....13....gotta lift the back end onto her couch. Getting a little senile too. I just keep on putting that decision off. We have a service that comes to your home to make the whole thing easier on the dog...but I just can't pull that trigger, you know? Every day is a gift at this point.(probably more for me than her) I hate this conversation.

[lasturbo]

My condolences to both of you. My Aussie Shepherd is 9 years old now and my first dog that I purchased and raised. I will be devastated when his time comes....Hang in there all, they all go to doggy heaven

[Chopper]

You had to say "pull the trigger" didn't you?! I had a dog when I was a kid, part shepard/part coyote (grew up in the desert on farm land). Perhaps, we just assumed he was that type of mutt because he came home with all sorts of crazy critters. He came home with someone's prize rooster one morning. Not too long after that, he came home with a bullet hole and a dragging leg. My mom's boyfriend came over (yes my dad knew about him) to put my dog down. I was inside the house when I heard the gunshot so I immediately ran outside balling only to see my not-yet-dead dog get shot in the head - first shot didn't do the job, the one I saw did the job too well to forget. Took years to want another dog!

I was raised on a farm too. Only horses (and MAYBE a cow) got Vet care. I've yet to use a gun on any animal. Saw way too much of that growing up. I'm all for hunting the hunters. Way more sporting when your target is armed

[don moore]

rick..Its hard to loose a family member..