Feeling broken

[chloe123]

Hi,

We lost our dog Chloe of 12 years last week to heart failure. She had been slowly deteriorating over the past month but I didn’t realise it was so serious because she was still so happy and wanted to go on lots of walks still. She had a heart murmur and a really bad cough for the past month but the vet thought it was an airway problem so until they did an x-ray last week we did not realise her heart was so enlarged (she was on many medications for her condition).

Since covid, working from home and losing our other dog two years ago I became so attached to her. I would give her medicine and feed her and walk her every afternoon. She was basically my dads shadow at all times and he was also her favourite person. The whole family is devastated and the house feels empty without her.

I can’t stop bursting into tears everytime I think of her. It’s hard because other people don’t understand the pain unless they’ve experienced it.

I keep thinking if I just had one more chance to hold her or even walk her. I’ve never felt grief like this and I don’t know how to manage these feelings

Topic

[vmelsie]

Hi @chloe123,

Thank you for sharing this with the community.
It sounds like you and your family shared a very special bond with Chloe, and that she has been an important part of your lives for the past 12 years.
Losing a pet can be very difficult, and it’s completely normal that you’re experiencing some difficulty with managing these feelings following such an unexpected loss. You have taken a great step by reaching out for support, and I truly hope that you’re able to find connections with others in our community who identify with what you have shared.
Do you have anyone close to you who you could talk to? Please feel free to also call the Griefline Helpline at 1300 845 745 to talk whenever you need

Take care.

[VM-Mancha1]

Hello @chloe123,

your post was so vivid I feel like I can almost see Chloe, tail wagging as she traipsed around the home following you all – and the love she must have felt for your family. It’s so unconditional, I truly believe many people could learn so much about love and dedication from the average dog, let alone the really special ones.

I have an older dog who’s not doing so well, he too is our shadow. Everything we do he comes along, looks at it as if he’s trying to figure out what we’re doing and then usually sits on it to ‘help’ – though the smile and the wagging tail tell me he’s just being cheeky.

I can only imagine the pain you’re feeling, please come back and let us know how you’re coping. How are you and your family supporting each other? Have you thought about how you might find ways to keep the memory of Chloe moving forward with you all? Please come back and let us know.

[vmiris]

Hello Chloe,

Sorry to read about your heartbreaking loss. It is sometimes said that ”the more we love, the greater the loss” and the love of our furry family members is a big, unconditional love and a hole that can be left behind. I hope you are finding things that can comfort you in the difficult times after your loss, but yes, please reach out here and use any of the services, a helpline chat, a booked call, this online forum. If/when you feel like it, you might want to share more about your precious Chloe, or you might not want to, or might do it elsewhere – there are no rules and no ‘shoulds’ but only what might help you and your family in these days.

Take care

[Author]

Replies