Dave, about the guilt..
Please try to stop second-guessing yourself. I hesitate to share a story on this thread, afterall this thread is about you and your loss. However, I think this applies.
Years ago my first pet began to enter the last stages of his life. He went downhill rather quickly, and when I couldn't stand to see him in pain, I made the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. I had brought Fritz home as a pup when I was just 12 years old. So, you could say we grew up together. Anyway, as you can imagine, his death was incredibly hard on me (I'm crying as I write this and its been 15 years).
For years I worried that I took him to be pts too soon. If only I'd waited, if only I'd seen another vet, the if onlys were hard on me.
I can't say that I dwelled on that, but the thoughts were there.
Eventually, Shelby's time came. Poor thing. After second guessing my decision about Fritz for years, I so wanted to wait as long as I could. I know now that I waited too long. She was incredibly dear to me and I could not face the guilt of putting her down too soon. Dave, the wisdom of hindsight has taught me that the best decision, the decision that was for the furbaby I loved so much, was the decision that I made for Fritz. Poor Shelby hung on longer than she should of, and that, I did for me. Finally, one Saturday, I realized that enough was enough, called my vet, and we took her on the hardest 15 minute drive of my life.
Dave, please stop questioning your decision. I know in my heart, that you would not have made it if it wasn't the best thing you could have done for him.
I'm sure he is frolicing happily at the rainbow bridge. Perhaps with Fritz and Shelby. You need to grieve, but you need to give yourself a break and let the guilt go.
I hope this helps. |