terrible news

yoshito · Post by **yoshito** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:50 am

Sorry to hear of your loss and of Chili's loss too. The dog that is left behind does take it the hardest.

*hugs*

Hope you do find a new bud for your family.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:50 am

There is no need to apologize. I will play it on your soundcard.

Ashura · Post by **Ashura** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:17 am

Oh No! I'm sorry to hear about your cairn, DevoVamp

Losing a pet is horrible. My rott died a few months ago. So I understand. Sending warm thoughts your way. I hope your new puppy eases some of your pain!

LinaLoN · Post by **LinaLoN** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:46 pm

I understand COMPLETELY how you feel becuase I just went through the same kind of things about four weeks ago. It's really hard especially when you put blame on yourself. I was too guilty to accept what everyone was saying to me about it not being my fault and it just happened. Eventually though with alot of comfort foods, family and cheer up sessions with anime and thinking of the new dog helps you along. I hope you feel better and find your happiness once again!

DBZ Cel Maniac · Post by **DBZ Cel Maniac** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:02 pm

I am so sorry for your loss, I have suffered the loss of several pets in my life and it is never easy to say goodbye to a dear one. My heart and prayers go out to you and you love ones....

vampyreshoujo · Post by **vampyreshoujo** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:17 pm

*huge hugs*

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's horrible that she went so unexpectedly and such at such a young age.

Forget being the strong one. Go have a good cry... it really helps.

I hope you're able to find a wonderful companion for Chilli and the family.

DevoVamp · Post by **DevoVamp** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:10 am

Thanks again, guys. I'm very grateful to you lot for making me feel better. :yourock:

I did want to ask, though, if any of you have any suggestions about what I should do about Chilli. He's not wanting to eat his meals, although if I give him something that I'm eating, he'll take it. Tonight I gave him left over shrimp cakes and spinich, which I managed to get him to eat by nibbling a bit of it myself. Later, he mooched some of my three cheese perogies off of me. People food is the norm for the dogs, since we've had them on a home cooked diet since the day they got here. Heck, I roast chicken for them and then order a pizza for us!! They eat better than I do!!

But, Chilli always took his meals right beside Sissy, in the living room while I watched to make sure she didn't swipe his food.

So, after she passed, I've moved his dinner dish into the dinning room, and still sit with him. I thought if I put his dish in the usual place, he'd feel it all the more that she wasn't there. But, he often just walks away so to make sure he's getting something, I take one of those Glucerna vanilla nutrition drinks and give him part of that. Both dogs always would walk a mile across broken glass for milk, so he has no trouble drinking that, but I still want to get him to eat more. Today I gave him 1/2 in the morning when he walked away from his breakfast and the other 1/2 in the afternoon, after we got back from a walk. All the stuff he normally inhales he's walking away from. My mother's worried that he'll pine away and die himself. The breeder suggested that we fuss over him and "love him up" and that that would help him get through it. We always did fuss over both of them, but now I'm trying to do it more. I've taken him for walks and chased him around the yard and played with him, and even though he seems to enjoy it he still wants to walk away from his dinner.

Am I worrying over nothing, in that time will help him get back to normal, or is there something else I could do to get him to eat more? Now, that being said, he does eat his treats and cookies, just like he always did, it's just his meals I'm having trouble with.

Any suggestions? I'm open to just about anything right now.

Ronin · Post by **Ronin** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:27 am

Oh no!!! I am soo soo sorry for your loss Tammy! I recently lost a pet (well a family member, I don't really like calling them pets) but it's just horrible, if you need to chat or anything, just shoot me an email or something.

I hope you and your family are coping alright.

May Siska rest in peace...great pics of her by the way!

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:27 am

Or something. Where did you last see a pet well a family member he or she do not really like calling them pets but it is just horrible if you need to chat or anything just shoot him or her an email.

klet · Post by **klet** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:25 pm

*hugs* I'm so sorry! I wish I had some suggestions for Chilli, I really do. But all of my pet experience has been with fish and rodents, so I'm no help.

I'm sure that someone here will know what to do.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:25 pm

I have no idea what to say.

yoshito · Post by **yoshito** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:04 pm

Well I never did have this problem when I had one dog, but yeah... they do tend to mope for almost a month or so. At least my last two dogs did that. I don't know if my situation will work for you though since my two dogs always ate in two different sides of the room. So they wouldn't fight/steal. The first dog, I put his dish where the older one's was (next to the waterbowl) and after a while he started eating his full meal, but think that was after two weeks or so. Also did the "doctor up his food by adding human goodies into it" routine, but it got us into trouble when he started expecting warm rice with all his meals. >.>

The second time we left the food in the same place, and treated the dog like we did before the other one passed away. She took it hard for nearly a week (we fed him enough to keep him going, the minimum food intake that the Vet suggested to keep him going) and then started eating half the normal amounts. After she realized that her older brother wasn't coming back, she got back to normal. Of course we did the "baby her" deal, by having her lay in my bed in the evenings (spoiled her) and played with her a bit more, but not overly doting over her. Of course now it is her bed and I'm allowed to share it while watching DVDs or playing games. >.>

Dogs just need to accept that their friends aren't coming back, but it takes a long time since we can't really "tell" them. Maybe talk with the Vet to see if he's still healthy since he's not eating as much. That's all I can suggest... since you're already doing something to help him.

Ack, sorry that this message was long. >.< But hope it helps a bit.

*edit: We had a dog between the two situations, but he was an outdoor dog (bigger one) and was claustrophobic if he stayed indoors too long (although he loved spending evenings indoors till it was time for him to go to bed, and cold nights, or if a skunk was around [got shot by one and never trusted a black and white cat again]). He helped the first dog by making him "act younger" by making him quit moping, but that was about a year after the previous one died. He didn't really mope like my other two dogs when he lost his bud, he was a real trooper, didn't show emotions like sadness or pain. >.< But a new puppy did help a year later, think that might be the best when you have two dogs and they live for a while with each other... Bleh, should have put that earlier... sorry for the longer edit.

Post by **sensei** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:02 pm

I really feel for your loss, having had a long-time companion (a beagle-mix named Socks) go on to the happy hunting grounds this past summer. It's more of a shock to see a friend go relatively young and without warning. I'm sure you and Chilli will feel some of the aftershocks for some time, even after you stop thinking about it consciously.

I would sit down with Chilli every so often and talk to him, especially at mealtime. Say how much you miss Sissy, and try to explain what happened. I've read that animals understand us about as well as 3-4 year-old children, less by understanding the words you say, but by interpreting your actions and your tone of voice. In any case, it will be good therapy for you in getting closure on your grief, and you'll be surprised (I'll bet) at how much attention Chilli pays to you.

Does a dog have a Buddha-nature? As the Japanese Zen master famously responded, "Moo!"

Keep us in touch about how things go.

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:37 am

I am so sorry, DevoVamp..... I know how you feel..... I had a beloved dog and when she was only 4 years old, she died like your dog.... No one knew why.....

It hurts me still today (she died about 15 years ago...) so this is why I cannot have any more dogs......

I am very very very sorry for your loss

kisara · Post by **kisara** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:44 am

I am so sorry about your loss.

Losing a friend, four-legged or otherwise, is very sad indeed.

As far as Chili. . . time is about all you can give it. However, I would suggest keeping as much the same routine as you did before. Losing his companion was stress enough, as much else as possible should remain much the same. Though you may feel that keeping things the "same" will be an upsetting reminder to him, trust me that to him it's a huge comfort. Also, I would be very, very carefful feeding him people food. If you do, stick to as bland as possible. Dogs, especially smaller ones, do not react well to human food and diet change. In some instances, such things can even be fatal. O_O When he's hungry enough, he'll get his regular appetite back. Again, just give it time. And, as Sensei said, be there for her.