Heartbroken over losing Max
 

11-12-2007
11-27-2017

Can't talk about it now. I'll tell my story later. I posted how we lost max in another thread but i guess it's not been moderated yet.

So very, very sorry for your loss, Max was a little cutie. (((hugs)))

Max just turned 10 years old on November 12th. He had health problems but they were under control with medication. He was diagnosed with a collapsed trachea in 2015 after he developed long periods of coughing spells. He had been on medication ever since. So coughing for him wasn't out of the ordinary. It's just heartbreaking sitting here writing about this because this time a week ago I had never heard of this site and the only reason I'm here today is because of his death. What happened to max started on Monday the 27th in the evening hours. Max became restless and started walking around the house. He'd try to lie down but then he'd get back up a few seconds later and walk around some more. Kept repeating the same routine. He was uncomfortable but never appeared to be in pain. He even stopped at his water bowl and got a few drinks as he was walking around. He used the restroom and showed no pain. He just could not get comfortable at all. He did wonder off in areas of the house he normally stays out of though. Like the spare bathroom. He never goes in there ever. But he did on that night. He just looked around and walked back out. His cough has always been present but that night it sounded like he was becoming congested a little. Couldn't tell it much until he coughed after drinking water then you could hear a little congestion. His cough sounded different. Right before he died he pawed at my wife's leg wanting in her lap in the recliner. She sat him there for about a minute and he wanted back down so she sat him back down. He then wanted on the couch with me so I put him up there. He tried to lay in my lap but couldn't he was just too restless. He got up and went to the edge of the couch and stood there. He started panting faster. I put him in the floor and he took two maybe three steps and collapsed. :'( his big ole eyes never shut again I heard his last breaths they were raspy. His little legs jerked a couple of times and that was the last movements he made. I picked him up but he was like a rag doll just very limber. There was a puddle of clear liquid mixed with blood under his head. My wife thinks it came from his eye but it could have came from his mouth. I rushed him to the university of Tennessee emergency veterinary hospital around midnight but he was gone when we got there. They did not diagnose what happened. Once they told me he was gone we walked out in tears. We got back home and I put him in a casket at 1 in the morning and sealed it up and buried him the next day. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I loved him more than life itself.

Mark

I followed up with my original post but it's under moderation at the moment. It's lengthy so maybe that's why.

Hi Mark,
I just welcomed you the other day. I'm so sorry for all you have been through. I'm sure it will take time for you to feel better. God Bless!

I have lost several of these precious little babies, it doesn't get easier. Please try to take comfort in, it was Max's time to leave you, he was in the comfort of his home with his loving family, not in a crate at the vet and passed without his family. My heart just breaks for you and your wife. Hugs to you both.

Our hearts cry with you. Max is waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge.

I knew he was in the last stages of his life but we still weren't prepared for the suddenness of it all. He was 10 and slowing down a bit but we thought we wouldn't have to worry about death until he was 12 or 13. Never in a million years did we think he would lay in our lap one minute and be gone the next. Watching him pass away is the worse feeling in the world. We felt so helpless when he needed us the most. It still like a bad dream.

So very sorry for your tragic loss. I lost my 3 year old tragically to collapsed teachea. It’s so hard when it’s very sudden. Praying for peace for you and your wife at this hard time.

............I am so sorry for your loss......I know how you feel...Max is playing in Heaven with my beloved Bella... :(

.....(((Hugs)))

Dog
 

My Teddy Peanut Bear passed at 10 yrs also. So sad. He was like Max. The sweetest little yorkie. I believe the Lord in His goodness will have our yorkie there in a glorious place waiting for us. Take comfort in this . I will pray for you.

I had one baby who passed in my home. She was fine, not sick, not on any meds. We had just come home from a camping week end. Once in the house I saw she was restless, kept going from room to room, going into rooms that she never did in the 13 years she was with me, I found that behavior kinda strange because she was always in the same room with me. Then I realized it was about 1/2 an hour and I had not seen her, I went room to room looking for her. I found her passed away in the den. Then i realized the reason she was restless, going from room to room was, she was looking for a place, she knew she was going to die. I had read when a dog knows it's their time, they look for a place to pass away. I wrapped her in a blanket and drove to the vet with her on my lap crying all the way. The vet asked did I want an autopsy done to find the reason of her death. I asked would that bring her back? No, I didn't want that. Over time I came to peace with myself and realized if she had to leave me it was better she passed in her home. I had one baby left that went into a state of deep depression, I couldn't mourn the death of my baby, I had to stay strong and up beat for my baby girl that was now the only fur baby. I had just lost 2 babies 6 months apart. It was horrific to find my girl had passed away when there was nothing wrong with her.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Being there at home when our babies leave us gives us the opportunity to love them when they need us the most. Losing Jaya is the worst pain I have ever felt and I’m so sorry for the loss of our babies, a pain that never goes away. I was blessed with every day I had her, as we are all blessed with these precious little lives.

It's been 10 days now since Max passed away. The pain comes and goes but mostly comes. It honestly feels like he's still here. I found myself raising the front storm door shade a couple of times out of habit so he can see outside. I Didn't realize I had done it for a few hours. There was a pair of house shoes laying in the floor the other day and for a second I thought it was max as I caught a glance out of the corner of my eye. It's very lonely in the house now. Even with my wife and daughter in the same room the atmosphere is very gloomy. No one really talks now. It all happened so fast with max it just doesn't seem real even today. Everytime I think back to that evening I wonder if I could have done something or what did I do wrong. After he collapsed I felt helpless and didn't protect him when he needed me. All I could do is watch him go :'( I wish that I had never had to watch him die. I can't get it off my mind at all. He has gifts under the tree. He has a stocking and now he's gone. I wish Christmas would hurry and be over with this year. It just won't be the same. We have a big blow up santa in the living room and every year my daughter holds max and we take their picture together posing in front of Santa for the yearly growth chart. it's heartbreaking that he won't be in the picture this year. I hope he knew how much we all loved him. We didn't have a chance to really say it the night he died until after he was gone. If he's looking down from heaven I want him to know we love him and miss him dearly.

Max felt your love every time you pet him, touched him, every time you threw his ball or played tug of war with him. My girl just went off to a quiet spot in another room and left this world. Seeing your baby die before your eyes is a memory not soon forgotten, but a time will come when you will remember the happy playful days you had with Max, it just takes time. I share your pain. My last girl is gone 4 years now and everyday I think of the good times we had, and yes remember the day when I had to let her go, she will be in my heart forever as Max will be in yours. You did nothing wrong, it was his time to go.

Holding you and your family in my thoughts to give you strength to get through this painful time (((hugs))).

My heart goes out to you.

So sorry for your loss. It is so heartbreaking when we lose our furry companions. I too was overwhelmed with the grief. And so much harder when unexpected, and throw in the holidays just compounds the pain. My heart goes out to you.

My heart also goes out to you. Max knew he was loved and had a very warm loving home. I think Max knew it was his time to leave but he did not want you to know. He was fortunate to have great pet parents and he could pass away at home. I have gone through death with my little ones but it was always bringing them in to be euthanized. Either way it is tough to go through. Think of all the wonderful memories you had and all the fun times. I know what you mean about Christmas because that was my little Keally’s holiday. She loved the Department 56 houses and every Christmas I would put them out for her. She would look at them and touch them gently. When she passed I never put them out again. Do not do what I did ; celebrate Max on Christmas with his memory. He is looking down and he wants you and your wife to go on . I decided I am going to put Keally’s things back out again for Christmas and we will always treasure the wonderful memories. Remember he knew the love he got from you and you will see him again. I hope Max meets my little Keally over the Rainbow Bridge. Take a day at a time and my little Kinder and I send a hug for comfort. Susan

Heartfelt condolences to you :(

I am so, so sorry. Max was clearly a very well loved member of the family. I wish there was something we could do to ease your pain. <3 Run free, Max, you were a good boy.

I'm glad you found YorkieTalk in your sense of grief. We can all relate and understand. We'd love to see more photos of him when you are ready too. Max will never be forgotten.

I have tons of pictures of max but when I try to post a pic from my phone it says file too large. I haven't tried from the computer. maybe it wil let me from there. Thanks to everyone for the condolences. It's been two weeks and 4 days now and it still seems unreal. The house is lonely without him. He was a huge part of our family.

Picture of max in his bed. This was his day bed in the living room. He slept above our head on a human pillow alone the headbord at night. You know what they say. If you ever let your child in bed with you, you can't get rid of them. Max slept in the bed for several years. Every night around 9 he'd start his routine wanting a snack then he'd start walking toward the bedroom wanting to go to bed. If we were on the couch he'd paw at the couch letting us know it was time for bed. He was like a little child not a dog.

A couple of more pics. He was hiding his bone under the tree in the one picture. In the other picture he was looking out the door. He loved looking out the door with the shade pulled up..

Thank you for the photos, they are just precious. Max was a beautiful boy, beautiful memories. Yes, yorkies are very child like. Having a yorkie is like having a toddler for life (((hugs))) to you and your family.

I think the only way to heel from our lose is to get another puppy. The void in the house is unbearable. My wife says no more pets because she's not going through this kind of hurt again and she's right in a way. I mean, 10 years is a short period of time. 10-13 years from now we'd be facing yet another death. It's a lot to think about. The big thing right now is She's still heavily grieving and She feels like she'd be betraying her boy. Max was her shadow 24/7. He loved us all but he was extra close to her. When she lost her mother in 2014 max never left her side. He cuddled up next to her the entire time she mourned her mom. like he felt her pain. Now he's gone too.
I had an idea that I believe would help us get through the loneliness. My daughter and I were talking and we both agree that maybe in a few months after the grieving becomes a little more tolerant we could surprise her with a Yorki puppy for her birthday. She'd never turn away a puppy. We can't bring back our lil boy but we could provide a loving home for another lil guy. It's our first loss so I don't really know what the right thing to do is but I know our house is extremely lonely now. Any thoughts?

Max
 

I sitting here crying looking at beautiful Max. He was a great friend and companion. His creator called him home and now he waits for you. The Lord knows we need our little dogs with us but they all go home . We will too when He calls our name. I will pray for comfort for you. It is heartbreaking losing our doggies. They are family. When my Spud left me, I adopted Daisy. A very sweet yorkie. Spuds picture is on my tree and I carry his collar and other collars of, dog's I've had on my purse. They are still very near to me. Hard to let them go but I know they run in heaven. That comforts me.

It's been 3 weeks today that we lost our lil buddy. I don't know if life could ever be the same again. Our daughter grew up with max. Side by side they grew together. Our family of four is now our family of three. I thought the pain would subside after three weeks but it hasn't. There has been good days but right when you think you've gotten it off your mind you have a flashback of something he would be doing if he were here. I know this is selfish to say but I wonder why a turtle can live 125 years and a dog or cat only lives 10-15 years. We raise them from pups and watch them grow and then we have to watch them die. :'(
I'll never in my life get the image of max collapsing on the floor. His big ole eyes looking at me. They never shut again. It hurts tremendously. I wish he were still here where he belongs. Christmas will never be the same again. He loved Christmas. He had as many gifts as we would have. Don't mean to keep dwelling on his death but it's still just so unreal. I can't remember a time of not having him around.

I think getting a puppy is a fantastic idea, for sure you will be focused on a new baby making the loss of Max less painful (but never forgotten). Just remember, there will never be another Max, every yorkie has it's own unique personality, never compare the two.

You're right in so many ways. I'd never dream of replacing him or expecting a new puppy to do the same things as max. It wouldn't be fair to the new puppy to expect him to be somebody he's not. We'll never get max back or his personality but both will live in our hearts forever. We've had a dog for so long it's just hard not having one around. I think a new puppy would occupy our minds and keep us from mourning ourselves into deep depression. Almost there now :( I loved him so. I want to get through the rest of the year and somewhat start a new beginning. There\'s a puppy out there that desperately needs our love. My daughter and I are going to surprise my wife in early march with a yorki puppy. This will allow us all time to grieve. I\'ve always read a house without a dog is not a home. I now know this is true.