From Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM,
Your Guide to Veterinary Medicine.
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Forum member SANDYBABS writes:
I want to thank you for the great post you sent that person who just lost her pet. I really feel for her and know just how she feels because I felt the same way.

I went into the site (article) about dealing with guilt-- did I do everything I could? It helped me to understand more about my very ill and very loved 15 year old little Schnauzer, which I finally had to have put down. I felt very guilty for not seeing it sooner. I guess what you really call it; I loved her too much and I was very selfish not wanting to let her go when really she needed to be released. The horrible pain she had gone through just before her death...

I was angry with everyone involved; at myself, even my poor husband. Why, I don't know, he was very supportive of her for the 4 years we fought to keep her alive. In the three months she has been gone I have learned yes it was time to let her go, she had a very long and wonderful life, but when illness took over her body I just knew her quality of life was getting shorter. But I couldn't admit it until now. Your article helped me to finally understand my feelings a lot more. After I read it, I did some thinking I started thinking of so many wonderful memories of my little girl and it put a smile on my face. Thanks so very much, you are a caring person.

Sandy (Babs 11-07-91- 05-18-2007)

Note from your Guide:
I appreciate the time you took to post and for your honesty. I do know how you (and the person who started this discussion) feel. Unfortunately, I am a bit of an "expert" at pet owner guilt myself! Researching for this article helped me to identify these patterns and gave me some answers. I am so grateful that this article offered you some insight and brought back some happy memories of your beloved pet.

Original VetMed Forum Post