I miss you Colby

I am so sorry for your loss - Colby sounds like a wonderful boy, and I'm so glad that he got to be a part of your family.

I lost my beloved dog, Mark, just over a year ago and very suddenly. He was almost 13 and had seemed fine - he and I came home to my parents' house the weekend before Christmas, and he was very happy to see the other dogs. Sunday, he threw up his breakfast and was a little off, and early Monday morning he had a seizure in his sleep and was unresponsive. He passed away a little after noon, at the vet's, while they tried to keep him stable.

It is so, so hard to lose dogs suddenly. I had always assumed that he would have cancer, or failing kidneys, or something where I would know, "Now is the time to say goodbye." Instead, I kissed him goodnight Sunday morning and then he was, for all intents and purposes, gone. I am, at least, comforted that he was unconscious through the entire ordeal, and never suffered - he just went to sleep, and never woke up.

I still second-guess myself. I still wonder if I missed the signs of something wrong - but he seemed like he was a happy, healthy older dog. I still haven't really made peace with his death, because I wish I had been able to do something to save him.

But, here's the thing, and here's the moral of this story - Mark's life was so much bigger and greater than his death. It's easy to get caught up in how they went, because that's the last memory that we have. But he had one heck of a life, and he loved and was loved by his people. I think Colby's story is similar: he was loved, and he loved you, and you gave him a wonderful life. It's hard not to dwell on those last days or hours or minutes, but the ten years that came before are so much more important. I don't think that Colby would blame you if he could - I think he would thank you for giving him a happy life, and for helping him as you did in his last days.

I'm sorry if I've rambled a bit, but I want you to know that I've been there, too, and it's just hard. I hope you start to feel better as time passes. I'll be thinking of you and your family, and of Shelby, too.
 
I am so very sorry for your loss of Colby.. from your post it is obvious that you loved him very much and that it was a real shock to lose him like that.. and I know what the "if only" is all about.. I have not lost a dog to liver problems, but did lose a 2 year old Doberman/Shepherd years ago very suddenly to kidney failure.. in the vet's and dead the next day.

and regarding the "if only", this last July we lost our little Jamie.. he had been having seizures for 9 months and had a really bad grand mal seizure a week or so before July 14. it lasted for 8 minutes and I thought he was going to die. after that he was very shaky, had petit mal every day and by July 13 was walking very slowly and didn't seem to know his name. On July 14 after a very traumatic day, we took him to the vet who said that there was no hope for him, that his brain cells were dying, and so we made the very difficult choice to put him to sleep.. who knew that when he got up that morning it would be his last day? "if only" we had not taken him to the vet he might have lived longer albeit a very sick dog getting worse by the day. "if only" we had grabbed him off the table and ran out of there with him after they had administered the sedative and before they took him out back for the final shot.. even though I love Belle I don't know if I will ever get over losing Jamie..

I am thankful that you still have Shelby.. and lots of pictures of Colby.. in time the pain does lessen but we have to go through the grief. perhaps there is a rescue Sheltie or a puppy Sheltie just waiting to enter your life and that is why Colby left. sometimes I think that Jamie left because he knew that Belle was in need of a home..
 
Re: Colby's Passing

My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to you, your family and to Shelby. Colby was a wonderful dog who gave love and joy and also received love and joy. Please continue to update us on how you, your family and Shelby are doing. Feel free to reach out to us if you need to, we are always here for you. (at least one of us is always online). Please give Shelby a gentle hug from me, thanks.
 
I am so sorry to hear of the sudden loss of Colby. I and many others here know that unfortunate pain. I still second guess myself about the loss of my Lacey and the disappearance of my first Sheltie Buddy. What if I would have taken him with me that one night I was going away. We all second guess ourselves in many ways but know deep down there is nothing we could have done. I agree Colby probably had an illness that was undetectable for awhile and you did everything you could do. The loving home and happiness you gave him for the past 10 years is what he knew and loved. My prayers will be with you and Shelby.
 
I am so sad to hear of your loss of Colby, he looks a really beautiful pup. You write so movingly about him and we can feel your love of both you pups coming thru' the words. Don't feel guilty, you have no cause to. I think all of us feel guilt and believe we could/should have done more, but it isn't true it is just a sad and naturally part of the grieving process. Give a big loving hug to Shelby from me.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss, in the past I too had a special pet ripped away from me unexpectedly and know how shocking it is and how empty it can leave you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
 
tofu pup said:
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But, here's the thing, and here's the moral of this story - Mark's life was so much bigger and greater than his death. It's easy to get caught up in how they went, because that's the last memory that we have. But he had one heck of a life, and he loved and was loved by his people. I think Colby's story is similar: he was loved, and he loved you, and you gave him a wonderful life. It's hard not to dwell on those last days or hours or minutes, but the ten years that came before are so much more important. I don't think that Colby would blame you if he could - I think he would thank you for giving him a happy life, and for helping him as you did in his last days.
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Colby sounds like a wonderful dog and you are in my thoughts at this terrible time. It is never easy to say goodbye to a beloved companion but so much worse if you are wondering 'what if?'. However, I think what Tofu Pup has said is so true. So many dogs in this world never know a kind word or touch the whole of their lives, but you know you gave Colby a great life, and he knew he was loved and loved you - no dog - or person could ask for more.
I also think having the photos will help. I'm the same and have loads of my dogs. I think of them as visible memories of the great times we have shared.

Please do not dwell on the "if only's". It sounds as if you did everything possible and have nothing to reproach yourself for.
 
I am so sorry for your loss. We lost our little Trinket 2 yrs ago at 4 yrs after dental surgery and we were devestated. We blame ourselves and the vet for not doing a blood work up before the surgery as that may have shown us she had kidney problems and allowed for treatment and who knows what else to save our little girl. I wonder about many things that might have been different and what I could have done but nothing will bring our sweet young girl back. I think of her all of the time and stare at her photographs.

I wish you all of the best and know Colby's memories will always be there.

Some pictures of Trinket at this link

http://www.pbase.com/terdonal/my_girls
 
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