Yes, that has been my experience, as well. I have had a vet tell me I wasn’t being premature, that it was the right time.
It helps to hear things like this. It’s probably normal, but I feel guilty that somehow I let him down. Logically I know I did the right thing. But there is this nagging voice saying the opposite.
I’ve had a couple of animals that I selfishly held on to too long. That’s a really hard thing to think about.
I am sorry I keep going on about this. It helps to get it out. But one of the hardest things is the free time I have now. For so long much of my day before and after work was devoted to caring for him. Walks, dog park, errands where I brought him along, etc. Then as he declined and he couldn’t do as much I would often stay with him and not even do much. Just be with him since he had already spent the day alone. I would leave work as early as I could so he wouldn’t be alone any longer than he had to be. Now I can just do whatever I want, whenever I want. At some point I will probably like this, but right now I don’t want even want to go home.
I think that’s very understandable. Losing a beloved animal is on par with losing a family member. Do spend time with other people as much as you need to, and consider getting some mental health support as well.
One day, you’ll be ready to be a good pet parent to another dog, and that’ll be a great thing for you both.
Please don’t apologize for processing through your grief. Having an animal companion forms a really special bond, and you have a pretty big hole in your life. It’s going to take some (a lot?) of time. I wouldn’t want to go home to an empty house either.
Agreeing; no need to apologize.
For the last couple of years before my mother died, I’d been calling her every day around 9 PM. I found having to do this moderately annoying, not because I didn’t want to talk to her – I usually did – but just because it was another Thing That Had To Be Fit Into The Day.
After she died, it took me some time to get used to not having to make that phone call. It felt like a hole, a gap in my life.
Yes, exactly even though I am not equating the loss of a parent with a pet. I didn’t particularly love going downstairs to check on him multiple times a night to make sure he hadn’t tried to move from his chair and fallen. But it was a chore I had to do, and I did it because I was responsible for his well being. There are lots of these types of things. Honestly the things that I enjoyed about having a dog ended a while ago. It was mostly chore at this point. But they had to be done and it gave purpose to a lot of my free time.
When you feel ready, maybe you could consider volunteering at your local shelter? I found a lot of joy in walking the dogs there, or even cuddling with them on the couch they’d set up in the “living room”.
Hang in there Living Well Is Best Revenge. I know this is rough. Seeing my dogs off have truly been some of the most painful moments of my life. We love them so much.
In time the pain will fade but you will always miss him. Maybe some day another pup can join your crew. No rush, it takes a while, and until then know he’s in heaven (because we all know that all dogs go to heaven).