When I read these messages up here its very rare I reply, I dont know why. I cry every time and feel all the pain.
Just want to take this chance to say Iam really sorry for all of you. I have lost 4 dogs in my time all reaching an old age. The last loss being 9 years ago. I often think how Ill handle it when the time comes again. I have 3 beautifull dogs so I know sooner or later I will feel the great pain all you are feeling.
We must just enjoy them while we can.

I agree Sharon, I've never lost a dog of my own but have known lots and everytime I read about other peoples losses it really upsets me. But the thing s people write about their pets is great too, its hows how much they mean to us.
I'm taking your advice, off to the beach with the pup and Kayla to have a bit of fun after the stress of yeserday :D And we didn't even take them!!!!
Emily

Hi
Its very hard to lose a dog, and I lost mine to cancer a couple of weeks ago. The people on this site have been fantastic and I don't think I could have coped so well without everyone. If you are not dog person, you don't understand that you have just lost a family member and best friend.

I agree we must enjoy them while we can, every day is special.
I have lost 2 dogs in my life, first one was Amber, english cocker, who died at about 11, I was only about 6 when we lost her, I remember her as my very best friend, and being a huge red walking teddy bear that would be waiting at the school gates with Mummy in the evenings!
Then we had Cassy, tri CKCS who I got as 'my' first dog a few years later, he lived into old age but loosing him was heartbreaking. When I was studying to get into vet school I pretty much spent my whole time at it and was quite a lonely time. Cassy used to sleep in his basket beside my desk in  great solidarity Then I would take him for his walks and 'tell' him all about chem,biology, or whatever it was I was studying. I could never have got in without Cassy and I still miss the special bond I had with him. Loosing him was loosing my best friend and a part of my life.
Dogs are true companions, and I feel deeply for everyone here who has lost one. They have the ability to make such a great impact on peoples lives, change them for the better by simply being there wagging their tail, they really are mans best friend.
We now have Ollie, a rescue Pug who is 12, and even with lots of health problems, he is in good spirits and a great character and we cherish every day we have with him.
My thoughts are with everyone who has lost a dog.
Carol XXX

Very true I had to have one of my Labs pts last year aged 15 she was my once in a life time very special dog
I miss her dreadfully,my song to her is once, twice,three times a Lady.
Sheila.

Hi

Read with interest that you have a pug ollie, we to have a rescue pug Gambole who is 7, and a lovely little puggie,  We lost our Peke in May last year who we had had for 9 years, he was 12 neally 13 when we lost him, and I still miss him,  Just throught I would reply as I dont know many people who have got pugs and it is always nice to chat about them,,,,,,

Gail

Hi Gail, so nice to hear from more pug owners!! they are such great companions arent they! Ollie has quite a few age-related health problems now but is a wonderful little guy and keeps going regardless!
I'm very sorry to hear about your Peke, it is always a very difficult loss, 
Carol XXX

Hi Carol,

good to hear from you If I leave me e mail address and wanna get intouch to talk about puggies Gailmcnally@hotmail.com feel free to do so..

Gail

Gail, a photo of my handsome old boy is on its way!
Carol

I can't really imagine what I will do when Copper has to go - he is a massive part of my life.  I've lost dogs in the past (and cats) and they are all special and individual.  It's always horribly sad.  Take them for what they are and enjoy them all.

CG

I'm a little worried, cause i have an 11 year old german shephard x and i've had him since he were 18 months old, he's my life and recently he struggles to get up when he's been lying down for a while, we got him a play mate a staffy pup which he likes to play with, but over the last 6 months we've really noticed him getting old quite quickly.I spoke to the vet who said we'll be lucky to have him another few years, but i'm worried. I had a dog once and she died of parvo at 5 months old i cried for months and then i had 3 cats that died on me, so i sort of know how i'm gonna feel and i never want this day to come but i know it will. Cheers for reading my life story. Take care. x

Hi Kerry dont worry about this now. Many dogs of 11 are starting to show signs of old age and another few years makes him 14 which is a great age for a dog.When I was young we had a dog and was stiff for years before he eventually died. I remember my dad going outside to carry him in because hed siezed up. Other than that he was very happy and led a good life. It happens to poeple so why not dogs.
Enjoy both your dogs. We all know when we take on any pet the day will come when we have to say goodbye, dont fret about this now.

Thanks Sharon... You've made me feel a whole lot better. Take care. x

hi i had many a german shepherd the last was three years ago he went stiff and then off his back legs and eentually his sine started to give out. it broke my heart ut bruno had to be destroyed. with in six weeks i had lost three dogs, bruno was almost 15 rosie westie cross fox aged 14 and half like bruno and my little tasha a bordier terrier(she was killed in a dog fight aged 10) my heart was broken and it ha never repaired i cannot think of my beautiful babies without crying and the feeling of devastion returns. i have lost other dogs over the past 36 years, a chow chow, another german shepherd called rambo, a black mongrel called tiny, one called susie, two toy yorkies called rascal and ally evryone has left a large whole in my heart. i now have another toy yorkie called ruby, two newfoundlands called alfie and poppy a bloodhound cross called harry and a staffy called vicky i am dreading anything happening to these but they are all young dogs though but you never know whats around the corner do you. good luck (hind sight they did offer steriods to my GSD) for a while and they did help. also visit a herbalist there is one on the internet for animals they can offer something that helps.

Hi Betty... Thanks for your reply, i'm so sorry to hear that you've lost so many dogs in your life.... i lost a german shephard puppy to parvo and at the time i'd only had her 13 weeks, it broke my heart and i didn't think i could go on.... But my german shephard x has been with us now for 9 and a half years and i'm dreading the day that anything happens to him.... even though he struggles to get up of his back legs he isn't in pain. I hope to have him for a lot more years yet but like you said you dont know whats round the corner. I recently bought a staffy pup he's now 17 weeks old and Satan my german shephard x loves him. Satan has just turned 11 years old and i think thats what scares me. Hope to hear from you soon. Take care. x

Hello,
I do so empathise with the terrible void that one has when our beloved dog(s) leave us.  I lost my smashing jack russell on 1.1.05.  After much misdiagnosis, he was finally foung to have a brain tumour in September last year.  The specialist vet had had a good success rate with radiotherapy and it was non invasive.  After the first couple of weeks I saw a dramatic improvement, and for 6-7 weeks all looked well.  I had been told that I could expect a minimum of 6-12 months quality life for him, and the average was 2 years.. It was just awful when my little jack showed the first signs of a stroke on Boxing day, and progession was so swift. I had no alternative other than to let him go and be at peace on New Years Day.  I miss him so much. Then on 26.1.05 my beautiful GSD Zeus screamed in pain.  Complicated by arthritic elbows I dreaded the future for him, and for me. He was found to have a severe ruptured neck disc, with the next disc slightly herniated.  To cut a long story short, he was operated on on February 16th, and hopefully will eventually regain a quality of life, once fusing and healing have taken place over the next few months. I cannot contemplate the thought of my life without him, the pain would be unbearable.  Good luck to all of you who have and love your dogs so much.

Hi,
   Probably not the right thread to add this on, but I just feel like writing......
As I type my beautiful rescued GSD age 12 is lay looking at me with eyes that are not sparkling. She has been in the vets this week very breathless and it looks like she is going into heart failure. She has steadily lost weight. This time last week she was racing around the field with the other 3 dogs, tonight, she won't eat any tea and is just watching me crying buckets at the computer..... She was started on heart tablets and diuretics on Friday, and I thought she would get a little better. Today she has had a short walk and been really quiet and is breathing heavily, although she looks comfortable now, and didn't on Friday..... We are back at the vets in the morning, where the next step although the vet is reluctant to sedate her is to give her a chest x-ray to look for a growth..... Having been down this road with my last dog 3 years ago, I can't stop crying. Emma is my baby who has been there with me through everything... She has been with me when I cried and been happy with me when I laughed. We learnt obedience and agility together, she was there when I got married, and there with her big furry coat to cry into when we split up........
I just don't know what I will do tomorrow, if the prognosis is bad.......
She gives me so much love and strength, I love my big sweet girl so much........
Gabrielle x

I do so feel for you. I've been there and empathise. You know in your heart what's coming, and you know you have to have the strength to bear the unbearable. Remember, she's never let you down. Now it's your turn, however painful. Be strong. I'll be thinking of you.

Gosh Gabrielle. I have tears in my eyes just reading your post. What is it about our little one's eyes! I am looking at Mack now - appreciating his youth (3 years) all the more now!  I dont know what you are going through having never lost a dog. However given that Mack is my world, I can begin to think of what you are going through. I wont be able to stop thinking of you and your little one now. I wish you all the best for tomorrow. This is so difficult to type. I want to tell you how much I feel for you. Do let us all know what happens tomorrow. Gillie & Mack xx

Oh Chesley.... i do hope your dog gets better soon and i'm sorry to hear about you losing Jack, my thoughts are with you.... Come on Zeus get well very soon.

Gabrielle... what can i say i'm also typing this with tears in my eyes.... i do hope that Emma gets better and i'll be thinking of you and her tomorrow, i'll also keep everything crossed for you both... i have an 11 year old german shephard x and i worry that he will leave me soon as he's struggles to get up of his back legs (old age setting in)

Take care. x

Thank you all for your kind words.......
I suppose that you just keep on praying for a miracle..... that is what I am finding myself doing.
I won't let her suffer though, like Jeangenie says, she has never let me down, and I won't let her down, I love her too much for that....
I know 12 is a good age, having lost my last dog at 6 to a tumour, but you always find yourself wanting ''just a little bit more''.......
Gabrielle x

You are facing a very difficult time, many of us on here will know how that feels.  I do hope your miracle comes but I'm sure you will know if it is not to be and do the kindest thing.  We will all be thinking of you I'm sure.

So sorry to read that I dont have tears in my eyes I have them streaming down my face. Our dogs eyes..My eldest  Husky Keatah seems to know everything Im feeling. When Im sad she sits and stares into my eyes, she looks very deep and sad. Other than that shes full of life and sparkle. Hope all goes ok for you. do let us know.

My eyes are streaming too Gabrielle.  Having just lost my dog on 16th March, this is all very raw to me, so believe me when I say that I, and many others like me on this forum, know exactly what you are going through. 

I know you will make the right decisions and be strong if the end has to come.  I shall be thinking of you.

My thoughts are with you, Gabrielle - I know you are strong - but you've had so much this year.

Sending you hugs {{{}}}}}

Margot

Gabrielle - I am wondering how things have gone for you both today. Gillie & Mack x

Hi Gillie,
         She is still with me.... the vet felt her breathing was a little better yesterday ( I didn't) , but she was listening to her chest through the stethoscope. She has kept her on the tablets yesterday and today, and she will be x-rayed tomorrow morning. She is still quiet with the odd wag of her tail.....
She ate quite well yesterday, but hasn't wanted anything yet today, so now the ritual will begin to try and tempt her.......
Will let you know what happens.....
Gabrielle x

Oh Gabrielle! All I can say enjoy your time with your little one. I would love to see a picture of your dog so I can get her into my mind. Would you be willing and able to email a picture to me? Thinking of you, Gillie & Mack xx

Picture sent.......
Gabrielle x