I hope you are feeling a little better now after all the kind words above, I too lost my dear dog Sam on the 16th, and although it was on the advice of multiple vets I am still very guilty making the decision, because we could have prolonged his life a little more, but his quality of life was crashing.

If we spend our time with our pets making the best life possible for them, then at the end I'm sure we make the best decisions for them, it just tough making them.

I hope you come to terms eventual, and I hope I do too.

That decision is the worst thing ever but what helps me each time I have to do it is someone once said to me it's the last loving, unselfish thing we can do for our pets.
I'm suffering like you at the moment but we will come to terms with it and it will be less agonising eventually.

How are you now Erlang?

I am remembering all of the happy times she had, she was a truly remarkable girl, I am lucky to have spent the years with her that I had. Yes I feel tremendously guilty still because if I had done things differently she'd still be here now, that is enormously hard to deal with. But I am remembering how happy and loved she was in her years, I recommend doing the same for your lovely Sam. Please don't feel guilty, the vets absolutely would not recommend anything other than what was best for Sam xxx

So sorry for your loss Desert_Rain, and everybody who has lost much-loved pets recently. The pain (and the guilt) seems endless when it's new and raw, but it does ease in time. The thing is to be kind to yourself, and remind yourself that what you are feeling is perfectly natural and really an expression of just how much you loved your little furry friend.

What I have always found most difficult after the loss of a pet was knowing who to talk to about how I was feeling and why. Thankfully, all the posts here on DS have been sympathetic and kind, but often other people don't understand that pets are truly family members, and the grief at their loss is just as deep as that on losing a loved human. I've come to hate the phrase 'it was only a dog/cat' with a passion...

I wonder if anybody knows of the Ralph Site? It has very helpful articles on all kinds of aspects of pet bereavement, and a forum which I have found incredibly comforting and supportive, as every single person on there knows exactly what you're going through.

http://www.theralphsite.com/

Sending hugs and love to all recently bereaved pet lovers xxxxxx

Desert Rain, I want to send you my best wishes, it is so hard to lose a dearly loved pet. But, you gave her love, warmth, food, companionship so you have nothing to reproach yourself for.

With each day comes a passing, a different memory and so your loss will ease. Xxx

I am so sorry sending hugs
For some reason I can not copy and paste so may I please suggest to look up 'rainbow Bridge' and hope it brings you some sort of comfort

Don't feel guilty. Yes this can't happen in spayed dogs but you didn't know. Live and learn and think about what a great life you gave your dog. I had to let our girl go after having 2 strokes over xmas and the what ifs and could I have done more are destroying me but what's done is done I'm afraid and blaming ourselves can't change anything.
I totally understand how you feel

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Thank you for all these lovely responses.

I am ok, I feel like I am having a bit of a grief relapse at the moment. It's so so hard and I know many of you understand exactly what I mean.

It's the little things I am missing now too, she was truly amazing x

How is everyone else doing?

Still missing my little fellow dreadfully. And getting fat and unfit from no walks! I could still go for walks, but can't bear to go without him. I almost adopted another dog but changed my mind as he didn't seem right for me. I need to find the one who will steal my heart again.

I am in exactly the same position, I haven't left the house in weeks. I know I am going to find it upsetting to go to her favourite places, everywhere is full of her memories. It's just going to feel horrible being out there without her, I work from home so I don't need to leave my house for work, she was the only reason I went out, enjoying her walks together was one of my favourite things, they made her happy ,so they made me happy.

I do know exactly how you are feeling xx

Love to all here who are grieving for their loved pets. I got so much comfort from the strangers on the internet here, when my 14 year old dog died, 18 months ago and am still grateful for it, now.

It's normal to blame yourself, whatever the circs. That's human nature.

We got a little rescue pup 2 months after our old dog died, and I had days when I looked at her and wondered what I as doing with this totally different dog where our loved old one should have been. But slowly, new pup stole a place in our hearts and now is as much loved - although a very different character.

I still miss old dog and think about her a lot, but there is no doubt new dog has definitely taken the edge off that sadness. Not saying that is the right thing to do, just that it was for me.

Take care of yourself OP and others who have been through the same recently.

I lost my best friend in November, it was unexpected and such a massive shock. Didn't eat or sleep for weeks, couldn't go to work. Felt sick all day every day. Cos I took her everywhere I couldn't go visit any of my friends or go out for walks, just felt so wrong and sad. She really was my best friend so I know how you feel and how difficult it is. I never thought I'd get another dog, but someone told me to think about it. I got a puppy 6 weeks after losing her, and found one near by that's actually related to my last dog. She's a lovely little puppy and she keeps me on my toes and gives me something to focus on. It did take me longer than I thought, but I really love her now. I still think about my dog every single day, I miss her more than words can say and she'll always be my number one. Its worth thinking about. As soon as I made the decision to get another it was like I then had something to get out of bed for and to look forward to. I feel so guilty about losing my dog and what I could have done to help her, but I try to think of all the good times and how much love she had in her life. I hope you feel better soon.

When i lost my 2 year old Labrador i didn't want another one because i missed him so much. but my husband kept taking me to the kennels to look at them.
You want to save them all but none of them made an impact on me. Until i spotted a lab/staff bitch which was everything I didnt want. But there was something about her that had me heading to the desk to ask for her only to be told that someone was already taking her.
The lady took my number and said she would ring me because they had to do an home check on the people who wanted her. The next day I was told i could have her because they werent suitable. I have had her 9 years and i adore her.
You will find your dog just keep looking he or she is waiting for you,

I'm in a slightly similar position right now, I saw a dog on a rescue website the other day and filled in an application form at once. He'd only just appeared on the website, so imagine my dismay when a "reserved" flag appeared as soon as I'd pressed 'send'. There must have been someone on the spot who'd already seen him The rescue is 30 miles away, so too far for me to drop in every day.
I'm watching like a hawk in case it falls through, but not hopeful.

I wish you luck but dont stop looking. My dog was supposed to be with me and she makes me happy everyday.

We lost our beautiful Labrador on Monday. She was our everything. It's crazy how these things that can't talk and have fur & four legs, play such a huge part in your life

I am very sorry to hear that.