Hi lads, I have recently found that my Border Collie has Lymphoma and the prognosis is that he has only weeks left. He is 11 but has always been such a fit dog that I always thought/hoped with make a good age.
He has been by my side all of his life (he is lying here at the lake with me now) and I am having trouble coming to terms with what the next days or weeks hold. I'm not embarrassed to say that I am literally in bits and keep crying like a baby.

I'd love to know how people have coped with the loss of their dog, as at the moment it seems almost impossible to deal with, but I know that it is life and we always find a way of coping.

Sorry for the depressing post, I just felt the need to put it out there.

Cheers.

In reply to Post #1
Hello mate.

First off I'm sorry to hear about your dog. It's really crap isn't it?

I know there are others on here who have been through the same - there was a thread here in non carp a while back which is worth searching for. Edit - it was started by tazi in April 21. You might find it a good read

Make the most of the time you have. Lots of photos and videos that you'll be able to look back on. And don't sit on it alone. There are loads of lads on here who will read / listen and support

In reply to Post #1
Sorry to hear this! It's devastating and like loosing a family member, time I think is the best healer and it does get easier but for the first year it's raw and emotional.......the thing with dogs is they never want for your love but give it to you constantly and unconditionally

Hopefully time will help you........

In reply to Post #1
Indeed mal i did start a thread as it broke my heart to have lost someone so loyal and loving.

So, so sorry to hear that your beloved pooch isn't well and that there appears not much time left.

In that time that is left all i can say is to spend every waking moment as much as you can together with plenty of hugs, kisses and cuddles as they truly are amazing.

I heard a song when i had YouTube on and for some reason it just hit me that me and my best buddy were not going to be together for much longer so i hugged her and told her that i loved her and that i dont know how i'm going to cope when you have gone. Sure enough two months later she had a stroke and took her to the Vets. The saddest part of that of which i cannot get out of my mind is that as we drove her there she hadn't a clue that it was to be her last drive out of which she had previously enjoyed so much.

The pain was fresh and whilst i have come to terms that this is life i'm so grateful that i was given the opportunity to have got to know her and for her to excel whilst in the company of myself and family and would go through exactly the same again. Infact i Will be going through the same again as we have adopted a 3 year old rescue lurcher and to be honest because of the love that they bring it is exactly this as to why we do what we do because in short not only are dogs fantastic but they fully understand your love you have shown to them and for that we feel honoured and priveleged to have shared their life with them.

It hurts like mad when they pass away but the hurt does subside and when it does that is when we are taking comfort from the fact that we provided such a loving and caring home of which to thrive.

Good luck Mate and give your pooch a kiss and a hug from me.

As for myself i too have shed a million tears or more which is a part of both coming to terms with the inevitable and such a sad loss thereafter.

Dogs go to heaven and we Will meet them again.

Xx

Edit - I'm in tears now myself too as it aint easy but does get easier in time.

Edit - During my times of grieving i would find myself retracing the walks that i used to go on with my pooch. It was difficult but it did Help the healing process. All folk deal with grief differently but you Will become more at ease in time and look fondly Back on your times together.

My thoughts are with you mate for sure..I'm sat here with my BEST buddy he's 10 yrs old as I type this out ..

If I move,he'll.move...like my shadow he is ..I'm just getting over an illness myself and my chap,he has been there ...a great companion..

When I was younger I had a beautiful GS...long story ,he was murdered, taken from me ...I never got over it and vowed never to get another dog ...nothing could compere to that dog....how wrong I was ...

Enjoy every moment with your mate...they are all special creatures..

Best W1

Thanks everyone so much for your kind words and for sharing your experiences, and I'm sorry if I have bought back your sad memories from them tough times.

Dogs are such amazing animals and I feel sorry for anyone that has never experienced the unconditional love that they bring you. They will always be our best mates and loyal companions no matter what and it is one of natures greatest injustices that they only live such relatively short lives.

I am trying to be strong and supportive for my wife and my 6 year old daughter, but still allow myself a good cry when I'm out with him. I almost feel guilty, as he is probably picking up on my sadness and wondering what is up. Or maybe he knows exactly what is up, as he always seems so perceptive.

The next few days or weeks will definitely be spent spoiling him and making a fuss, probably pi55ing him off, smothering his face with kisses! I want him to know exactly how much he is loved and how much he means to us. I wish he understood everything that I was saying to him, but like I said, he is pretty perceptive and hopefully know these things already.

Thanks again to everyone who has replied, and for your great words of advice. 🙏

In reply to Post #6


Best of luck mate at such a difficult time.

I'm so sorry for you all and extra special hugs n kisses to your companion.

I'm gutted for you all.

There is a forum called reddit.com (pet loss) that I came across after I had lost my best mate Nikka and it helped enormously as there are others also that understand fully what you are going through and there are no trolls on there just genuine folk who have also endured a loss.

Love to you all.

I feel so sorry for what your dog and you are going through, I'll admit I've had tears forming reading this

Went through it 20 years ago all of a suddenly, one day Toya was fine then the next just didn't seem right
Took her to the Vets and discovered a tumour, Wife in tears and me trying to hold them back.
I took her for the operation a couple of days later but she knew. Used to always lay on passenger side back set.
That morning she sat in middle looking around as she knew that was going to be her last car journey and every time I looked in mirror she was looking back at me.
We got a phone call later to say they could do nothing, so we went down to be by her side. She was only 6
We were broken and said I'll never get another.
We've now got a 21/2 year choc Labrador but eldest got him and still living with us.


It does get easier with time
So make the most of the time you have left together

In reply to Post #1
Nothing to feel embarrassed about you wouldn't be human if you didn't get upset, most dog owners would understand this, the words "mans best friend" was never so apt.

In reply to Post #1
Become a big part of your life mate, part of the family, totally upsetting and sad, lost ours to cancer ffs so I feel for you

Still miss mine now but you remember the special moments with a smile

Time is a healer and not what you want to hear now but after a few months we got another, initially I thought, **** it, nothing like the old dog and I didn't have much to do with it but now we are in love again lol, totally different character and I missed the little walks

In reply to Post #9
Absolutely.

In reply to Post #10

I lost my chocolate lab in November, she had been on steroids and youmove for the last 2 years which cost me an absolute fortune.

In all I was selfish keeping her alive, I walked her in the morning and then her back legs went, she had a great life and was 14 when we put her down.

We got a pup 2 years ago so the grieving wasn't as bad because I still had the daily walks to do but it doesn't her easier with time.

I got a tattoo last week of her which brought back the hood memories.