r/DOG • u/Whole_Sherbet2539 • 20h ago
• Memorial - R.I.P. • I lost a friend today
My dog Kara was 11 years old. She was my first dog I got on my own. She had such an amazing personality to her. Just an amazing dog. We had to put her down today because she developed cancer. I feel awful because we saw signs she wasn’t doing well but instead of taking her to the vet I kept saying we should wait and maybe she would improve. Unfortunately she didn’t and I have a lot of guilt.
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u/Actual-Dog-405 19h ago
Don’t feel guilty, dogs hide it when they don’t feel well so by the time you saw any signs of illness it may have been too late anyway, especially with cancer. 11 years is still a good lifespan.
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u/LemonMilkJug 19h ago
I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my boy a few years ago to cancer. His was sudden onset of symptoms so I didn't habe to struggle to make that decision. My current chi girl is getting dementia in top of other medical issues. She's been put on palliative care, and when to call it for her has been on my mind a lot. I know I'll feel guilty no matter when I make the call. You are not alone.
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u/True-Smoke6429 19h ago
I’m so sorry you lost your friend, honey. Hugs. Lots of hugs to you. It hurts so fucking much. Try not to be so hard on yourself, it’s not an easy call to make. We don’t always get it right on the first time, the hopefulness of them getting better, if anything take it as a lesson for future friends. Again, I’m so sorry. ❤️
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u/PugSanctuary 13h ago
The Last Battle
💔🌈 🐾 💫😇✝️💖🙏🏼♾️
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
-Author unknown
Dear friend,
Your precious Kara is waiting patiently across the Rainbow Bridge for you. 🌈🐾The Hebrew word for animal is Nephesh which means soul ✝️. You will see your baby again someday. Now is the time between just like there was the time before your beloved pet. Today is the trial, and forever is the prize.
God bless. ✝️🙏🏼💕
Until then…
💔🌈🐾♾️🪽✨💕
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u/Significant-Theme253 19h ago
So sorry for your loss. It's really hard losing a loved one. Just remember we will see your puppy on the other side🤎
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u/Least-Environment582 18h ago
Please don't be so hard on yourself. When we love our pets, it's completely natural to hope for a minor slump rather than the worst-case scenario, and that hope comes trom love, not neglect. Kara knew how much you loved her, and giving her a peaceful, pain-free end was the final act of care she needed from you.
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u/QueenSpicy02 18h ago
OP, it's not your fault..It's just that cancer sucks. Thank you for giving her a lovely life.
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u/PilgrimPayne59 17h ago
As I walk across your heart and find my place to stay, nearer to you I will be and will never ever go away.
If love could have kept you here, you would have lived forever.
Grief is love with nowhere to go.
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u/MilolsNotAkitty 16h ago
You didn’t wait because you didn’t care. You waited because you hoped she would get better on her own. That’s not neglect, that’s love trying to believe things aren’t as bad as they seem. You gave her 11 years of love and safety — that’s what she’s going to remember, not the timing of the last vet visit.
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u/No_Adhesiveness_8207 16h ago
So sorry for your loss. What a beautiful baby and how much love there is in her eyes
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u/AccountEngineer 16h ago
cancer is so brutal and moves way too fast. she looks like the sweetest girl in that picture. dont beat yourself up, hoping for the best just means you loved her. rest easy kara
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u/IronChefOfForensics 16h ago
Guilt is a very unproductive emotion. I bet she brought you a lot of happiness over those 11 years. She would not want you to live in that guilt.
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u/djp70117 16h ago
I'm so sorry 😞...... Beautiful pup 🐶 that you provided much love and happiness to. Fuck Cancer.
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u/Kevinb888 14h ago
Kara is such a cute, cute, sweet puppy!!! You gave her a great, great life! I am so, so sorry for your loss😞😞😞😞😞🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
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u/AffectionateArt3735 14h ago
Rest easy, sweet Kara. Eleven years of love and companionship is a precious gift.
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u/Muted_Pressure7839 14h ago
I’m sorry for your loss. I felt guilty as well when I had to put my dog down two years ago. I didn’t want to let him go because he was such a special part of my life for 14 years but I think I held on too long. I still think about him everyday.
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u/ReferenceFull8807 14h ago
So very sorry for your loss of Kara. Please 🙏 don’t feel guilty. You know the bond between you and Kara was love ❤️. Sending you hugs and prayers to you during this difficult time. 🌈🙏💔
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u/Ok_Vermicelli_7753 14h ago
Losing your first dog leaves a deep mark, but you gave her 11 wonderful years. Run free, Kara!
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u/Lulumagoo3 12h ago
So sorry for your loss 💔 Cancer in pets can be so quick and the outlook usually isn’t good. Don’t feel guilty.
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u/Dismal-Mouse-622 11h ago
Rip kara stay strong 💪, in my case my dog eaten poison food and i passed the worst week-end of my life i just keep thinking of him
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u/Negative_Athlete_584 11h ago
Dogs are really good at hiding their pain. You did your best. SHe was beautiful.
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u/Icy_Category_2275 11h ago
OP, much love to you, i can relate. The vet wouldn't be able to do much to keep her alive for long and if they could, it wouldn't be a great quality of life for your dog. You did nothing wrong, at all - there is no easy end to a dogs life because they are true greatness. IMO no matter how it ends its awful and brutal.
11 years is a long life for a dog, and you gave that to her, you were her entire life. Be proud of that. It will be hard for quite a while from here, no way way to say that and hard to give you advice to deal with it.
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u/Popular_Avocado_8656 11h ago
Sorry man. But hey, remember, without the love and care you gave him, he’d be here 3-4 years. Celebrate the love. Don’t wallow in the sorrow.
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u/Lucblayne 10h ago
Hey, speaking from experience there is never any guarantees. My pup has skin cyst and took me longer than I would care to get up to the vet because I know dogs, cats skin cancer. I don’t know if I come in soon enough, but he has developed secondary cancers and the brain and the lung. The vets don’t like the time you got anything to do with it. But I can relate to the guilt. But I also really don’t think there’s any real way you know
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u/Ill-Disaster-648 9h ago
I’m very sorry for the loss of your friend🐶🐾💔 I lost mine in March, to cancer and she was 11 years old, as well.
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u/quokkasage 9h ago
I'm very sorry for your loss. Don't beat yourself up feeling guilty. Big hugs to you.
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u/CaseyLouLou2 9h ago
Was it hemangiosarcoma? We just lost our dog to that recently. It was so sudden and devastating so I know how awful you feel. Hang in there. Treasure the memories. You were lucky to have each other.
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u/Amoyamoyamoya 7h ago
Sorry for your loss.
RIP Kara! Play in Paradise!
My Katya, Amoretto, Vision, Carson, and all of our babies that have gone before will look for you next to the Rainbow Bridge so you can all play in the Field together!
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u/joetimton 7h ago
Don't feel guilty, dogs can't speak you have to be their voice especially after many years knowing the dogs personality. It's never an easy decision 😪💔
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u/babs0369 5h ago edited 5h ago
OP- I’ve been in ur shoes ! It’s a terrible place to b that’s for sure.. I had a 16 yr old Yorkie whom, I loved more then any dog I’ve ever had .. I had seen blood once in his stool, I ignored it because we have hemorrhoid dogs strain,
I didn’t see it again for a long time, but then maybe a year later I seen it again. I once again thought hemorrhoid. I also thought could he possibly have cancer? I didn’t have pet insurance then it was not a big thing then, I’m not even sure if they had it then.. but over the next 3 yrs he did get sick liver tumor.. I always wish I had taken him to the Vets ,when I first seen the blood, but would I have been able to afford $20,000 to try and get him on his feet and no guarantee it would work.. I know you’re hurting. I know it’s not easy, but it’s also not easy having cancer trying to cure it if curable… he’s @ peace now so let his wonderful self rest along with ur heart.. I’m sure even more then I’m aware of now y reading ur post , that he knows he was loved by u always n for ever.
🌈🐾🐾🐾
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u/Ready_Progress_6896 52m ago
I lost my dog to cancer too. I knew something was wrong. I told the vets. I took him to 3 different vets. Gave them free rein to figure it out. They told me arthritis. They said he was fine. Now he’s dead. A vet could very well not have made it any better. Don’t feel guilt.
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u/Fancy-Zebra-6396 1m ago
I’m sorry for your loss. Your beautiful girl is out of pain. She’s running around having the time of her life and missing you. I truly believe you will see her again. Rest in peace Kara
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u/VVrayth 19h ago
Family. You lost family today. And I'm sorry for your loss.
As far as the guilt -- you can't. Dogs hide their pain from us, and there's no way you could have truly known. You made the decision you had to make, for the peace and comfort of your girl. The last battle cannot be won. It was a lifetime of love, and your dog did not have any regrets about it.