I lost my Koda Friday night from a snake bite
 

Hi everyone. Thank you for reading my post. Trying to deal with the grief. It is so painful. My little 4 pound Yorkie was so precious and loved to chase lizards. I am new to Arizona and guess terribly stupid. I was warned about the dangers with her being so small. She was having a ball with trying to find the little movements, she did alert us to the snake that was hidden under a fake rock. We dealt with that and I was holding her but not realizing she had been bit until later. We rushed her to the ER, but she was not able to be saved. Breaks my heart. How long will this grief last??? I know I have not gotten a good night sleep since this happened, and know time is the key. Any words of advice will be welcomed. M

Welcome to YT - So sorry about your loss, to me I never get over the grief, it just gets some easier, each one of our Yorkies has left us a piece of their heart and taken a piece of ours.

How long was it before you noticed the bite? Was the vet able to tell you what type of snake it was? Did your dog bark or yelp when he was bitten?

How horrible with the snake - I live in the south and we have lizards (the small green ones) and snakes and red ants, hawks, owls - to name a few of the hazards. My guys do not go out ever in the yard unless they are in the stroller or we are carrying them. - Just too many hazards.

Thanks for your support!
 

I did not hear a yelp from her until after the bite. I was holding her but just thinking she was tired from a very long day in my sister's backyard and 3 other dogs. I laid her on a chair and checked on her and she yelped when I touched her head and it was swollen. It was a rattlesnake. We saw it and got it back into the wash. Should have killed it but just not thinking correctly. So, the vet knew. It was just her tiny size that did not play in her favor. What I have learned is I should have gotten her an antivenom shot, but hindsight is 20-20.

Unfortunately we don't see this site until it is too late. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Not sure I will get another pet. I have to remember the 5 wonderful years I had with her. M

So very sorry

I am so sorry for your loss. M, you are not stupid and this was not your fault. There are so many dangers lurking in the desert environment that it is hard for me to imagine and I've been here over 30 years. I live in Fountain Hills, and we have coyotes traveling the wash just on the other side of our fence, hawks and owls roosting on the cactus in the wash, we've had snakes and a gila monster right in our backyard. I am constantly vigilant about the dangers lurking and extremely protective of my dogs but still consider it by the grace of God that I've had small breed dogs here for all these years without a tragedy.

RIP little Koda, and M I hope you are able to find some peace.

Diana

I am very sorry about your loss. I am so afraid of rattlesnakes getting into my yard. I have lot of bushes and other snakes have been here but not a rattler. Houses on both sides of me have had them in their yard. I am really afraid and so very sorry that your baby girl died. RIP!

Hello, I am so so sorry for your loss. That is so sad. How long does the grief last? I cried myself to sleep for 4 nights, sobbed, had nightmares and my nerves told me he was still here every time I heard a noise that sounded like him. Then there was hope that the owner of the dog who killed my dog would take responsibility and buy a sibling from the same breeder as mine. That hope came into fruition when it was confirmed she'd paid the deposit. It's hard, after having years with a pet and then suddenly, without warning they're gone forever. Yesterday, I came across the last pictures I'd taken of him and cried and missed him so much. Thinking of the new pup is a great distraction for me, so much I want to do differently with this one. It's not been 2 weeks yet. I'm sure each person is different as well; I'm emotional.

Thank you both for reaching out to me. Guess you always do the "what if's". Not sure I want another pet, but what I can do is pet sit for others and will definitely be more aware of the surroundings. Take care. M

You are so sweet to share your advice. Thank you. My son bought little Koda from a breeder in Ohio. She was excellent stock. He could no longer care for her so she became my grand dog. Guess you feel that you are to take care of them and then something like this happens. I was hoping the vet could save her, but her size was tiny. Dang. I see you are in Italy. Nice to hear from you. It has been 3 nights, hoping each day it will get easier. M

I am so sorry to hear about your precious baby, I live in FL and two years ago this Dec. I lost my precious baby, 4years old, we had friends living with us and one of them left the door open and she got out. We searched for days and so did our neighbors. She was never found, there is a big hole in my heart, I never stop thinking of my Katie. It's horrible not knowing what happened to her. We have two other yorkies, they are the love of my life and I am now scared to death when they are out of my site. You never get over it, you just learn how to deal with it. My heart goes out to you.

Thank you for sharing your story. Yes, have to keep an eye on them always. I miss her, she was my little side kick. I am trying to move forward. M

I am so very sorry for your loss. When we loose something so precious and dear to us it's hard to even grasp what just happened much less move forward. All of that takes time. I am just so sorry. May your little Koda rest in peace.

So very sorry for your loss. I'm wishing you fond memories take over your thoughts when you start to feel sad.

RIP precious baby.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Koda. Please don't blame yourself, accidents happen everyday, it sounds like she had a very full and happy 5 years with you, and those memories you will always carry in your heart. I lost my Jingle in Jan. and I didn't leave the house for a week, it was a very hard time for me and my little poodle Holly. It wasn't until I got Presley that Holly and I both began to somewhat heal. Give yourself time, the hurt will always be present, it just gets more tolerable with time. Again, I am so sorry, you will be in my prayers.

RIP Little Koda

Cindy. Thank you. Is that picture on your site little Jingle? She looks so much like Koda, only Koda was such a tomboy/girl. She loved the outdoors and I was naive. Your kind words help and I now try to imagine her still with me. Today was somewhat better but hurting again now. How long before you got Presley and what breed is he/she? I am just not sure I can survive another loss, but caring for something might be the thing to do. Thanks for your insight on the grief process. I guess I have been fortunate in my 62 years to not have had to go through this. It is so different when a pet is older versus being yanked from you. Again, thank you. M

Dear Jennifer. Thank you for your kind words and how to begin to deal with the grief. Each day is somewhat better then there are waves of sadness. I will remember the great years we had together. Did you get another dog?

Thank you, Joyce, for your kind words. Time is the healer. I just want to turn back the hands of time. Did you get another dog? Hard to imagine going through this again. M

Hi, the picture you see by my name is Presley, on my profile under photo albums is a Jingle album with pics of my sweet baby. I too lost Jingle to an accident and way too young, he was only 7. I think your right about it's a different process of losing one to old age versus when one is ripped from you, though neither scenario is easy. It was only a few weeks before we got Presley after Jingle passed. It was not an easy decision, when my husband suggested getting another baby it made me mad, I felt at first it would dishonor Jingles memory somehow. I was really struggling hard with Jingles death, hands down it was one of the hardest things I have been through. My babies are just that -my babies. Their little lives are so interwoven with ours, and their love is truly unconditional. I kept thinking Jingle would have been so mad and jealous if I got another baby, but my husband brought out a very valid point, Jingle would absolutely HATE to see me in the shape I was in, he would have hated seeing me so upset.

When we found Presley, I was scared, so worried that I was making a wrong decision. Even though the breeder was wonderful, sent me pics and videos of Presley that brought smiles to my face, in my heart I was scared to death. The day we went to get Presley was hard (before we got there) I still had feelings of guilt about getting another baby, and I honestly wondered if I could love another like I loved Jingle. When I seen Presley and held him my fears were relieved and I cried again but of relief and joy :) Presley hasn't replaced Jingle at all, no baby can take Jingles place in my heart, Presley has his own paw print on my heart, equally loved.

Presley helped the healing process, even though I still have hard times and tears with Jingle, Presley has been exactly what we needed. He keeps me busy and laughing at his silly little puppy antics. His energy is high and his heart is huge, nothing is like puppy kisses to lessen the hurt. For sure Jingle taught me 2 things, 1. My house is not a home without a Yorkie (there is just something special about Yorkies) 2. It is better to loved and lost than to have never loved at all. If I had it to do all over again I would in a heartbeat, because the joy he brought to my life and my family's was worth everything.

I'm sorry this post was so long, I hope my story helps somehow. My prayers are with you as you are going through these hard days. The decision to get another pup can be hard and everyone is different, but it was a life saver for me. God bless you and yours!

Cindy. Thank you for sharing your story. Yes, your quote that it is better to have loved and lost, than to not have loved at all rings true. I will need to post my pictures of Koda on this site to memorialize her. Yorkies are truly one of a kind. My Koda was a little pistol and loved the outdoors. Thank you for your encouraging words. M

I am so sorry for your loss. Please do not blame yourself take a day at a time. Time heals but you will never forget your little one. Susan

Hi Susan. Thank you for your kind words. Yes, time helps and she will never be forgotten. Crazy how your world can change in an instance. I guess she was so tiny that she just didn't have a chance. The vet called and said she was seizuring, so I gave permission to let her go. You always wonder what if,but she may not have been her same self. Hard to know. I have her little ashes and paw prints, so she is sitting here with me. Thanks again for reaching out to me. M

So sorry
 

I know how you feel. I just lost my Chloe on Saturday. You will grieve for Koda forever, but it gets easier. I lost my Brandy before she was 3 years old from An auto immunity disease. Chloe's death was sudden and out of the blue so yes, I can feel your pain and loss. What really helps is pouring yourself into the life of a new little one. Chloe gave us 10 years after we lost Brandy and now we have Zoe to fill us with the loss of Chloe. Find comfort in knowing that Koda loved you and that you loved him/her.

I am SO sorry to hear about your loss :( RIP sweet girl...

I'm so sorry for your loss of precious Koda. I live in AZ and was paranoid every time I took my little 5 lb girl outside; searching the sky for hawks and owls.
Don't necessarily give up the idea of another fur baby just because of the eventual loss. Didn't you have many wonderful, fun, comforting years with Koda? :) I lost the fur-love of my life this week so I share your heartache. Coming home is the hardest...no barks, no kisses. The hope of a new little dog keeps me from spiraling down into the darkest depths.
Hang in there. It sounds like there are many if us that unfortunately feel your pain.