I got home from school yesterday only to find my beloved dog Gemma had died in the morning.

Gemma was a 10 year old golden lab. She had an operation on Monday to get a lump removed, and she came home in a bad state on Monday night. It did occur to me that she might die so I kissed and cuddled her even more than usual, then I went to school worried that she wouldn't drink anything, and she died at about half 9 in the morning. Although I'd mentally prepared myself and thought about it, I didn't actually think she'd die and I didn't cry for the first couple of hours of knowing, I don't think it had really sunk in.

My mum said her last moments were peaceful...she smiled at my mum moments before she died, but had apparently collapsed in the kitchen and was crying about half an hour before. This saddens me because I hope she didn't think we'd put her through pain deliberately.

I just feel so down and lonely now she's gone, I've got my GCSEs coming up and I feel it's happened at a bad time (not that there is ever a good time). My friends have been there for me at school but I just feel I've lost my most loyal and faithful friend. She really was an angel and I'll miss her wagging her tail and smiling whenever I walk through the door.

Aww sweetie, I am so sorry to read your sad news. She's at peace now, and out of pain, but I can totally understand the whole that's been left in your life right now. It will get easier, I promise.
She sounds like she had a wonderful life with you all, she was a very lucky girl.
Take care hun, thinking of you. xxx

im so sorry to hear about your poor dog. im sure she was a much loved pet and she knew it. we had to have our 10 year old collie x put to sleep last night, i know how you feel losing a furry friend. its heart braking, take some comfort in the fact she wasnt alone when it happened. i hope you manage to revise ok for your exams.

So sorry to hear that you've lost a family member and friend

I'm sure she wouldn't think that you caused her pain deliberately, as she would know how much you loved her; although its not easy, especially at the moment, try and console yourself with the fact that she had such a happy life and knew that she was loved and wanted - and she knew it too, and showed you every day when you got home from school.

Its going to hurt for a while I'm afraid - its only natural when you suffer a bereavement, but in time the pain will get less, I promise. Having said that, you won't ever forget her - I still remember my first dog (a Golden Lab too) - he passed on about 21 years ago.

Try and stay positive, and get through your GCSE's as best you can.

Very sad at the loss of your dog, however from what you've inferred about the state she was in when she came home from the operation, I would be asking the vet some very serious questions and demanding some very serious answers.

Unless you were told to prepare for the worst, and that Gemma was sent home to die, something which vets don't normally do if an animal is in pain, this looks like very poor vetinary practice. Even if Gemma was terminally ill, I would still say shame on the vet for sending her home to die in pain.

You'll see Gemma again at Rainbow Bridge.

So sad to hear that, I know only too well how you are feeling and what it is like to lose a well- loved pet. I treat my young Lab. as part of the family. Unfortunately dogs do not live as long as humans so if we keep them as pets we have to lose them at some time.

You obviously loved your dog very much and gave her a good life. Wait a bit and see about getting another pup and you will then grow to love it just the same. You will get over it it just takes time. I have had this happen to me around 6 times with various dogs in my life and remember the last time I just broke down sobbed my eyes out and I am a man in my 60s.

OP, I am so sorry.

I totally agree with everything that Fat Controller said...

I am sure that Gemma didn't think that you'd deliberately hurt her or put her through any pain - I am sure she knew just how much you loved her, and I think our beloved pets know when we are trying to help them to feel better.

I really really sympathise with how you are feeling, I lost my first labrador Sam (a black Lab) when I was doing my 'O' levels (showing my age there) and I missed him so, so much. He'd been the reason I stopped working and took breaks, and he was always there with a wagging tail and wanting a cuddle when I came home.

I loved my Sam so much that when years later I had got a house of my own I had another fantastic labrador black Lab and called him Sam as well - in memory of an old and dear friend.

Hang in there sweetie and try and hang on to the thought that Gemma knew how much you loved her.

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news about Gemma, but I know exactly what you mean about smiling, my lovely golden Lab Sheba used to smile a lot. No matter how prepared you were I'm sure it's been a huge shock for you and it'll take some time to feel better. Just remember how much fun you had together and how much she would have enjoyed the extra cuddles last night, you made her last hours comfortable in a loving environment and knew you loved her.

Big hugs.xxxxxx

Well my parents took her to the vets when the lump was really small, around October time probably, and our vet said she definately didn't need to get it removed, he said it was probably just fat and he said most old dogs get lumps when they're fat.

Thank you all for your kind comments.

I'm sorry for your loss. I haven't had a dog since I was a small child - I've had cats. I do know that losing a pet can be like losing a member of the family.

((((hugs))))

Very sorry to hear that.

Big Hugs From Me Too X

I'm sure she knew she was loved and she passed away with the people she loved with her, who had tried to do everything they could to help make her better.
Sometimes you can do the right things but events just don't work out the way we would like them too
I'm very sorry for your loss, (my own dog was very ill recently and I was very scared I was going to lose him) but I really think that if she was fated to go better it happen in her own familiar home, with the people she loved and who loved her, than at the vet's in a strange place with strangers.
She will leave a big hole in your life to start with but it does get better eventually, although it may not feel like that for a while.

Kelly82 :
So sorry to hear about your dog too. Losing them is the downside of the joy and love of sharing your life with them, and that they have so much shorter lives than humans
But although it hurts horribly I always think if you don't care when they go there was no point in having them in the first place

Im so sorry to hear about your dog. Its a horrible thing to have to go through. Just think now she is at peace.

Sorry about your dog ! .

You get so close to them. My dog is my best friend. --hugs ----xx

I'm welling up after reading these posts.
I have a 13 month old golden lab and she is heart and soul of our family.

Sorry to hear your news -hang in there and good luck for GCSE's

TL

Aww thats very sad for you all. big hugs from us here too

Awww soapgirl xxxx Sorry to hear about your dog.
My heart goes out to you.
Keep your chin up and all the best with your GCSE's.

So sorry to hear about your sad lose .

Sendind you big ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))

Really sad to hear your loss. My lovely old black Lab died when she was 11, just before Christmas 2006. I still miss her but not with the mighty ache that I did.
The great thing for dogs is that they live in the moment. Unless you were actually standing there hurting her (obviously not) she would not have made any connection between you and pain.

I still have 5 dogs, all various mongrels and all aged 14 or nearly so. Most of them have fatty lumps but one has just had a lump taken off her side, that turns out to have been a spindle cell tumour, so better off than on. It started out like a fatty lump but I didn't like the way it hardened. Before anyone tells me I was cruel to put her through surgery, by the day after the operation, I had to put her in the (large, well cushioned, with water-bowl) former puppy cage when I left the room to stop her leaping on and off the furniture, she felt so well.

We do the best we can for the dogs we love, and it will be love that is your dog's abiding memory of you.

So sorry to read about your sad loss, OP.

I had my much loved dachshund put down 5 years ago at the age of 16 as he had a heart disease and was suffering badly. The vet came to my house, as I couldn't bear to take him to the surgery. I really do know how you must be feeling right now.

Although I now have another dog, I still get a lump in my throat from time to time, but then I look at his photo and remember with fondness all the happy times.

Sending you a big hug

Red
xx

Aw, sorry to hear about Gemma. I lost my dog last year when I was 14, and we'd had him for 10 years. He turned on me and my mum as we were stroking him, and we were so gutted, but the vet said it was a common problem in border collies. We had to have him put down to stop him hurting my little brother and sister. That happened right before a couple of GCSE exams, and it hit me so hard. You're right, there's never a "good time" to lose a faithful friend, but this seems to have happened at the worst possible time for you. We're getting a new dog this year, so it proves that although Gemma will never be out of your mind and your heart, it does get easier, and you'll find that your heart grows to allow another dog in, that you can love just as much

Thinking of you - I've got my GCSEs this year too and can't imagine losing a faithful friend right before the biggest exams. (((hugs)))

*bighugs* its so hard losing a furbaby xxx