Have you ever lost a pet?

[StudyingAuthor]

I just learned that my dog died last night... his name was M'baku. He was 3 and 1/2 year old. He was stubborn, but he kept me company.

He died while I was on vacation... the 1st day actually. He got sick before we left. Now knowing this I feel so foolish. I walked up to my Dad and was like "Dad! When are we getting the big baby?" he told me "Don't worry about it." So now I know that my best friend is dead I want to know about everyone else.

Have you ever lost a pet? How did you take it?

[Skinhead-1979]

Cleo was the best friend I have ever had...

Cleo became heavily depressed when her friend 'Jinx' had been put down (I never knew Cats could become depressed; but they can even get seriously ill and die from depression). For weeks she either sat under the dinner table or in a corner of the room staring at the wall. She didn't groom herself, barely ate and drank, didn't go to her tray, and was continuously drooling.

Eventually she slowly but surely started to come out of it. We knew she was lonely, so we decided to adopt another Cat whom we named 'Mindy'. When Mindy had been brought home, I told my kids not to fully focus on Mindy and give Cleo a lot of attention too or she might feel left out and become jealous. Of course the kids, and my ex, hung over Mindy the whole time... So I fully focused on Cleo. I think from this moment the very close bond between Cleo and me started.

She'd listen if I call her and come running to me (Would my ex and I both call her, she would come to me); if I said "Cleo, kisses!" she'd come running to me and pressed her head against my face and lips; if I said "Cleo, time for sleepies!", she'd run off to our mattress and lay down next to my pillow. She'd stay there till I would wake up again. And she was there for me when no one else was.

21st of December 2019 the nightmare which was my 'relationship' came to an end. I had said to my ex "It is non negotiable, I will take Cleo with me".

The new landlord wasn't too keen on people having Cats in 1st and 2nd floor flats (that's 2nd and 3rd floor in the US), so I decided not to press my desire to have Cleo with me and left her with my ex... I have only seen Cleo once, that was the day the ex allowed me into her flat, when I came to collect my belongings, and I was allowed to see my kids.

1.5 years later, June/ July 2021, I received a strange message after midnight presumably from me daughter (Shortly prior to that message I have had to break off contact with my kids; long story, but it's due to my ex). The message said Cleo had become very ill and was going to die, so the Vet advised to have Cleo to be put down.

Seeing that Cleo has been unbelievably Depressed once before due to 'loss', and she has lost me due to the break up, I cannot help feeling that Cleo again suffered terribly, this time from losing me, became ill and was dying.

I have had more very close bonds with other Cats... Misty, my downstairs neighbour's cat, has now sadly passed away too. That was January. But I have a very close bond with Buster, her other Cat, too; I have a very close bond with an old 3-legged Cat named Harley who always comes running to me when I walk down his road... but I don't think I'll ever have bond as strong as I had with Cleo ever again. I really miss her...

(I love animals in general... and I am now a proud Ferret Daddy... but no animal comes close to how much I love Cats)

[StudyingAuthor]

Oh wow... that's sad. My doggy died because his stomach was twisted. And the surgery to get it fixed would cost $9,000. And even if he got it there would be no chance of him surviving.

[Skinhead-1979]

I am sorry to hear that 😢

The ex and I ran into a similar problem with Jinx. Jinx struggled to pee, and I had brought him to the Vet. The Vet said she couldn't find anything, but gave us some kind of medication anyway. After a month Jinx still struggled and his condition seemed to have gotten worse. So I went back to the Vet.

This time the Vet said that she did think something was wrong, but a basic investigation would cost us £600, and could ramp up quickly if complications were being found. £600 was too much for us; and Vet bills cannot be paid in instalments... that would not have been an issue, no matter how high the costs eventually would have become.

The Vet told us that we could sign Jinx over to them. They would treat Jinx, but once Jinx had be treated we would not have Jinx back. Because Jinx' life was more important to us, we decided to sign Jinx over. At least he had a chance on a long, healthy life that way.

1/2 hour after I came home I received a phone call from the Vet; they had come to the conclusion that his urinary track was too damaged (I knew he had to be suffering from something like that...) and they had decided to put him down. Jinx was only 6 years old...

[Skinhead-1979]

I dread to think how high the Vet bills could become if my Ferrets get medical issues. Ferrets are being classed as 'Exotic Pets' (ridiculous; Ferrets are a domesticated animal species; and their cousin the European Polecat is native to the British Isles). Many Vets will not register Ferrets in their surgery... and due to these 2 factors bills are extortionately high. I having my 2 babies neutered cost me £300 for spaying and £180 for castrating. I have the issue of Fleas now (they may have had them since the beginning...), I am using anti-flea treatments monthly; but A) many anti-flea treatments have been banned in the UK now B) the good ones can only be obtained through prescription from a Vet which will cost me 2x £70 for 'check up' appointments just to be able to get that prescription (extortionate and ridiculous).
Would they get more serious complications... I will severely struggle with the costs; despite my financial situation being alright.

[StudyingAuthor]

Wow... I don't understand that currency fr, but that's a lot. M'Baku actually had a flea. About a month ago I think. He wasn't irritated by it. But he was irritated at me trying to look and see what was behind his ear. Luckily it died, but we didn't get to take him to get it checked out. We usually do, but he was going to stay with the vet soon anyways.
His last time getting sick was 6 months ago and he wouldn't stop throwing up. We took him to the vet, he was fine and all we needed to do is get him to gain back the weight he lost. So we gave him weight supplements and that was that. And here we are 6 months later, and they didn't see anything all that time ago.

[Skinhead-1979]

Animals are really good at hiding their pain; so it's often difficult for us to really know what they are going through.

I got my 2 babies last year August, the 11th. My girl had to be spayed in October and when she came back from the Vet I noticed a Flea. Both were scratching themselves already, a bit more than what seemed usual, but I didn't think much of it. They didn't come outside much and haven't been into contact with other animals. The breeder where I got them from seemed a bit dodgy too. So I assume they've had the Fleas since before I got them.

I thought I had it under control... though I am fully aware Fleas hibernate, and eggs will hatch once temperatures go up; so when spring came I started to use Anti-Flea treatment on them again.

But damn, now that the temperatures have gone up somewhat (still only 68-75F, so nothing too extreme) I can see my babies are infested with Fleas. I do hoover a lot, their blankets are being washed weekly and I have been using Anti-Flea treatment 'religiously' every month. While you shouldn't really wash Ferrets, I have given them a shower 2x in the past months. Any Flea I can kill by drowning them during a shower is a winner.

(it's not good for their skin; you wash away all the protective oils. And while Ferrets can smell a bit musky already, wash them [a lot] and it only gets worse)

Even though they love water, they don't particularly like showers... but once I dry them up in a towel, they go absolutely nuts 😁

[StudyingAuthor]

Lol, Baku HATED water. And washing him took a lot of patience. He actually needed it, and when I skipped a bath day you could smell it. So every Wednesday I would wash him with his oatmeal shampoo and hoped that he wouldn't try to jump out.

[Skinhead-1979]

My 2 babies were fighting less when I gave them a shower 2 days ago that the times before, so maybe they are getting used to it now😛

I hope they won't get used to it too much, the water from the shower is what stands in between my feet and legs staying safe or being nipped while having a shower. Ferrets, especially when they are still really young, can be quite nippy. It can be quite a challenge getting undressed and then getting safely to the shower with 2 overly excited Ferrets nipping at my heels lol But as soon as I am under the shower they'll leave my legs and feet alone until I need to come out of the shower again

[StudyingAuthor]

Aww... that's cute.

[Dongie]

Yep. I had 3 run over on a highway up the road. But the one that tore me up was Tina, my blonde pit bull. I had had her for 6 years and almost 3 months. She contracted heartworm and I spent 300 bucks back in February 1994. She seemed to be doing better after 3 plus weeks of the treatment. My dad even remarked that she seemed to have come through it. I went back home in Longview and a couple days later, on Tuesday March 22nd I got up and she was huddled in the back bedroom having shit and thrown up a lot during the night. I carried her to the vet after snapping at her that she was going to die. The vet came and told me for a 1000 dollars he could put her on dialysis as her kidneys had failed and it would give her a 20% chance. I didn't have the money. So for 20 bucks he would put her down. I didn't even go say goodbye as I was to embarrassed because I couldn't control the tears running down my face. So I went to the store and got a Sixpack of Busch 16oz. I picked her up and drove the 50 miles to mom and dad's to bury her. It ripped my heart out as she was no typical dog. When I would come home from work feeling tired and alone I would plop down in the recliner and she would sit down about 4 feet from me. She would walk on her hips sliding easily up to me then slowly raise herself up and gently lay her chin on my shoulder. It never failed to cheer me up.
So after I buried her I got another six of same thong and went back. I went to my job and cussed the owner out, got fired, had the cops called on me, left went back, the cops had just left. My friends talked me into leaving again as the cops returned. I got my job back later that night when my buzz wore about half off. She had been a bitch to me for a few weeks anyway. I pointed this out to her the next day.

[StudyingAuthor]

Damn... this was my first dog... my best friend. I did everything around the house with him, even taught him how to put up his toys. My last day with him I was sitting by the playground in the grass with his big doggy head on my lap as I ate a popsicle... he kept sniffing at it so after I got done with the popsicle I let him lick my stick. I didn't know or suspect anything about his stomach issues. And it was a shock to know he died.
He too needed a surgery that didn't guarantee he'd live. It costed $9,000. So my parents decided to let him die in peace for his last 2 days.

[Dongie]

Awe, I'm sorry. My aunt just lost her greyhound she'd had for 12 years. I remember her getting him. She cried for days and wouldn't answer her phone. She'll be 80 in November.

[StudyingAuthor]

awww... that's tough.

[Dongie]

Yep, I she'd tears reliving it. But I enjoyed cussing my boss out. I said," are those fuckin checks ready bitch?"

[StudyingAuthor]

HAHA, LMAO.

[Dongie]

That should have said shed tears. Stupid spell check

[Dongie]

Blew her skirt all the way a y off.

[Dongie]

Yeah, that became a ritual, we danced 2 more times.

[StudyingAuthor]

Aw... that's so nice.

[Dongie]

Yep, she was married to a jerk almost 14 years older than her. The 4th time I got fired she let him do it. He seemed to enjoy to much. So I nearly shaped the shit out of him. Hah, he got caught molesting her 12 year old sister 4 months later and went to prison. I say he got off cheap.

[StudyingAuthor]

Damn... what age was she at this time?

[Dongie]

12..

[StudyingAuthor]

So she was married at 12, so that means the guy is like 26 right? And he molested her sister? I mean... that's sick, but why would she marry the guy in the first place?

[Dongie]

My boss was 26 he had turned 40 her sister was 12.

[StudyingAuthor]

So she was 26? and her sister was 12? And he was 40?

[Dongie]

Yeah.

[StudyingAuthor]

Damn... that's kinda crazy.

[Dongie]

He was a sickophant.

[Dongie]

A ghoul.

[Dongie]

A dirty old man at 40.

[StudyingAuthor]

Yeah... what he did is disgusting.

[Dongie]

Yeah, but I bet he paid for it in prison. They don't treat pedophiles nice in there

[StudyingAuthor]

Good. When it's up to me their balls and dick get cut off. I don't accept stupid shit, and I for sure wouldn't let that man survive.

[Dongie]

Yep, you talking about the muslim?

[Dongie]

I wouldn't cut their pecker off just castrate them. What do we do with the female pedos?

[Dongie]

You go whole hog we have to have surgeries unless you let them die. Just take their engine. They can't function without that. Not sexually. But they would always have that reminder😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂

[rosemilk]

so sorry to hear that!

and yes, i have, quite a few times. the most recent 2 happened in the same year. it sucks!

[StudyingAuthor]

Aw... My aunt had 2 cats die back to back once. They died literally a week apart from each other.

[ohsheeT]

I'm sorry for your loss I'm sorry the way that it happened and I'm sorry that you have to go through what you're going through right now... Pets are just like people for me anyway... I have a firm belief that when people die our spirit our energy we are all of us are energy lives on...

Probably about 10 years ago I went on vacation to see my mom and my grandmother my grandmother wasn't too and too well.

That night there was a big thunderstorm and my grandmother's dog hated thunder
When she opened the door to let her in she wasn't outside there was a thin stuffed yard and the only way that the dog could have gotten out is jumped over the fence... I was looking for the dog couldn't find it the next morning got up and I weren't searching for it again and I had this really bad feeling..

I saw a friend of mine driving down the street we stopped for a minute I told him that I was at my mom's house for him to follow me over there he did... This friend of mine is kind of deaf he can read lips and stuff but he's always asking me about spiritual things and what I believe in and all this kind of stuff

When we got to my mom's house I told him what I was doing looking for the dog and I said but I really feel that the dog passed away either got hit by a car or something I'm not sure what it was but I think the dog died and as we're standing there talking and talking about the dog we both had short pants on and I felt something Rush up against my leg and just then my friends eyes got really big and he said you're not going to believe what I just felt and I said yes I am I said you felt something brush up against your leg and he said how did you know that I said because I just felt the whole the same thing he said my god you're kidding me and I said no he said every time I get around you something crazy and spiritual happens I started laughing

But everything on this planet comes from energy energy never dies if you're quiet and you pay attention your dog will come say goodbye to you if he already hasn't your dog will come to say he's okay and you will see him again and I believe in that with every fiber in my being... Like I said I'm very sorry about your loss and your puppy dogs were created to be man's best friend and also teach men what unconditional love is all about it took a dog to teach man that how silly but it's true I hope in time you get another pet and I hope in time that you're okay

[StudyingAuthor]

Thanks. Reminds me of my grandfather. When he died he visited me in a dream and said "It's gonna be alright grand daughter. You just have to fight." Now I still feel like that big baby is sniffing at my head trying to get me to get up and play. I have a strange urge to get his ball from outside. Just haven't gotten the guts to do it yet I guess.

[ohsheeT]

Where's his ball and how long ago did he pass

[ohsheeT]

Wait I'm sorry I thought you were talking about your grandfather's ball lol you're talking about your dog's ball

[StudyingAuthor]

My grandfather passed October 20th 2023. And my dog passed Monday. I learned about it yesterday night. And the ball is in my sandpit for some reason. I don't know who put it there cause Baku ain't allowed in the sand and he knows not to put his ball there.

[PBandJ_Nerd]

Yeah. Our oldest cat was 17 years. old and he died when I was 18. My parents took him to the vet to put him down since he was breathing really heavy and just slowly suffering. He wasn't happy about being picked up and wrapped in a towel, but we had to in order to get him in the car. I didn't go with them I stayed home but I petted him one last time on the head before he left. For the last several years, he's visited me in my dreams. He'll meow at me, and I'll pet & rub his belly. He's a young and happier kitty now at least (anyone would be after the death phase). But he also watches over me, protects, and warns me about things, even if I don't know what that is.

[IslaTheWitch]

yes... the stray cats I fostered since they were kittens until their deaths... all of them passed because of cancer... in really old age... I especially miss my black cat, Sabina... she read me... she knew when I was suffering when I needed her close...

[StudyingAuthor]

Aw...

[IslaTheWitch]

@studyingauthor
I'm sorry for your loss... I think I'm still not over my furs passing away...

[exitseven]

Okay- I had two cats. One of them was killed by a coyote. I found him in the woods a couple of days later. I have him buried in my backyard. I say hi when I mow the lawn.

Sammy the Cat

[StudyingAuthor]

Aww... that's a big fluffy baby!

[exitseven]

he really was a nice kitty. The coyote came right up on my deck and dragged him into the woods. His brother saw the whole thing. He was never the same after that.

[StudyingAuthor]

Aw... that's sad. I know that must've hurt him.

[exitseven]

I thought that coyotes only came out at night. I used to leave the cats outside during the day. They had food and water on the deck and would just hang out in the back yard until I got home from work. I did not knowxa coyote would come by

[StudyingAuthor]

Wow, It's not your fault tho. We live and learn.

[exitseven]

damn coyote. I wish i had my shotgun back them.

[StudyingAuthor]

Aww... sorry.

[Wiredone]

I've lost so many furbabies. I've lost 9 cats and 3 dogs. The only thing that made grieving easier is by getting another one to give my love and attention to. I have 3 cats now. 2 are 18 years old and 1 is 10 years old. My dog is 3 1/2 years old

[StudyingAuthor]

wow... your cats have lived for quite some time. My dog was 3 1/2 years old. He was gonna turn 4 on November 15.

[Wiredone]

I'm sorry he died so young

[StudyingAuthor]

Yeah... he was a great dane... they're not meant to last long.

[Wiredone]

I've only had one pure breed dog. He died at age 10

[StudyingAuthor]

What was he?

[Wiredone]

He was a havawart. If you Google it, he was the black and tan color

[StudyingAuthor]

awwww... they're so cuteee!!!

[Wiredone]

I have to say he was the smartest and protective dog I've ever owned. I wish I could find another one just like him

[StudyingAuthor]

awww... I hope you find one then.

[Makeushiver]

I'm sorry. Losing a pet can be as traumatic as losing a person in hour life. Pets always seem so innocent with none of the devious news that ! aka people seem ugly. Time will help. I just had to put a dog at had for 12 years to sleep and it hurt.

[StudyingAuthor]

aw... sorry about that. My doggy has been my best friend for the past 3 1/2 years of his life. I miss him a lot, and I hope someday I can get another dog like him.

[Nikki1989]

I had 5 die, all within a 2-year period. I still have never truly recovered from the loss.

[StudyingAuthor]

Sorry for your losses.

[BarryLiverstone]

That’s horrible:( I was like 10 years old when my son Amber had to be taken away because of my mom’s allergies. I cried and was heartbroken. It wasn’t fair and I missed her

[StudyingAuthor]

Damn... my dad was allergic to M'Baku... yet he let us keep him. He even brought him on a vacation with us in 2021. Baku had a blast and had melatonin for the first time on that road trip.

[WhitneySnow]

I’ve lost two cats and a dog. I took it very badly. I love animals in general and my pets in particular.

[MrGSpotHer]

Yea, it's quite painful even though I'm usually quite heartless

[StudyingAuthor]

I used to be that way. Gladly I'm much different now.

[Miah04]

Yes it is very hard.

I am so sorry for your loss.

*big hugs*

[FarmBoy13]

I’ve lost multiple pets and people over the years. You can’t always control or predict when it’s going to happen

[gorydetails]

Of course. It's devastating.

[StudyingAuthor]

Is this question fake too? Did my dog really fucking die? Or am I making this up?

[gorydetails]

Could be. I don't know. You wouldn't be the first person to lie on the internet. What are you going to offer to send me a video of your dead dog?

[StudyingAuthor]

I haven't seen my dog since we dropped him off. And I only offered bc it would be nice to show you what I mean.
And sure go ahead... throw your insults at me but you won't throw them at M'Baku. Yes I'm mad I'm fucking pissed off right now. I want my dog... I need my dog. And right now I don't have anything to try to calm me down when it knows I'm frustrated. So yes! I sure as hell wouldn't be the first person to lie on the internet, and yes I can prove that I'm not lying. But you sure as hell need to fuck off and start thinking things through.

[gorydetails]

ok, kiddo.

[StudyingAuthor]

Thanks! I'd love to hear your next accusation.

[MicahRaine]

Yeah I've lost a few sadly

[andy530]

Yeah I have it sucks

[StudyingAuthor]

Yeah... my big baby died. And ngl, it's kinda hard looking at an empty cage hoping he'll be there looking at me... ready to go play outside.

[andy530]

That’s so hard! I’m so sorry to hear he’s gone!

[StudyingAuthor]

I know... I never got to give him a pair of drumsticks that he could actually chew on...

[andy530]

Aww 😢😢

[StudyingAuthor]

yeah, I'll get them anyways.

[andy530]

Sounds like a great way to honor his memory

[StudyingAuthor]

yeah, I think so too.

[andy530]

❤️❤️

[eagle1951]

many