I’m married with three kids, all boys. We have two Shelties and one of them passed away on Monday. She had been with our family since the beginning of our marriage, she was 14 and had been having failing health for a while with loss of appetite and labored breathing. On Monday morning she looked more tired than usual, breathing a little hard, and seemed to not have much of an appetite. I cut up and warmed some leftover steaks and I felt a little better. Picked her up and took her downstairs where my wife and I were working to keep an eye on her. Talked to a virtual vet and they made an appt for Wednesday. My son came in crying after work because she wouldn’t eat. Tried to make him feel better by giving her food myself but she wouldn’t eat and kept looking away from us and it seemed like she was breathing harder. Decided it was time to take her to the animal hospital but on the way there she went to sleep. When I picked her up at the hospital she seemed limp but I thought she was still breathing but couldn’t tell. As they asked what’s wrong, I cried, “I think she’s dying…” they took her and told me she was gone about 2 minutes later. I think she passed quietly in the back of the car while we were on the way, my wife and I were in the car with her. Beating myself up now because I feel like I should’ve seen how serious it was sooner, I should’ve carried her in the car so she could’ve died in my arms and not alone in the back, and a dozen other decisions that day that I could’ve made better. Now there’s a giant hole in my family’s heart and I feel like it’s all my fault. Don’t know how to go on without her, she’s been here for so long, but many won’t understand. For some a pet is just a pet and I have few people to talk to. I feel lost and if I think about her for too long I can’t breath. Please help me.
