Sheila, I am very sorry for your loss. Only physically removed from you, Thor will live in your thoughts forever.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Oh, Sheila, Thor was fortunate and blessed beyond words that he had you to make that
decision ... it's so painful for ourselves but such a gift for the suffering friend.

You blessed his life just as he blessed yours.

This is what true pack leaders do, Sheila; they set aside their own anguish and decide based entirely on the friend's needs.


"There are no words to describe the role my "heart" dog played in my life and I know, no one reading this needs them to understand the loss."

You are so right. You were always there to make the right decisions for him, and this was no exception.

My heart aches for you.

Run free, Thor. You are so loved.

I just want to echo all that Connie and everyone else has already said -- The second-guessing is always so awful, and comes from the heart of human nature, no matter how much our mind & the Vet assure us that we did the right thing ... In lessening their suffering, we somehow increase our own, like an act of unnecessary yet unavoidable self-imposed penance or something.

Recovery from the repair of gastric torsion requires all cylinders firing. Thor would have awoken to pain. Like any elderly ICU patient, he may have been confused, he may have had trouble walking, controlling his bowels/bladder and he would have struggled to heal.
Instead, you took his pain away . Try not to eat yourself up with second guessing. Your decision, though terrible, was the one to make. Any owner can tell the vet to do surgery--what you chose was the relief of suffering.
Be confident that you made correct choice and allow that confidence to bring you peace.

Sheila...my heart aches for you...I know how tough it is to lose your hear dog. Betty's comments to you and any of us who have gone through this are very comforting.

Thanks all for the kind words and encouragement. It really does help to know I'm not alone with my pain; everyone here understands the extent of the loss.

Betty, thank you for writing exactly what the outcome would have been like if I opted for the surgery; in my "what if" scenario, he came through with flying colors and actually was like a 2 year old again.

He would have hated the realities; and for the first time, I'm starting to feel better about the decision.

If it had happened during my vet's hours, it would have been easier because they pretty much said, they would not recommend putting him under general anesthesia at his age. The emergency vet was very kind and good but remained neutral on what we should do. When we made the decision he said, he felt that was the better option. But I didn't know if he was sincere or just nice.

Bloat is awful; it is so rushed. Surgery needs to be done ASAP and euthanasia can't be delayed too long due to the discomfort. So its a quick goodbye when you really need and want the time to get it right. However; we stayed as long as we wanted afterwards.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

Thanks all for the kind words and encouragement. It really does help to know I'm not alone with my pain; everyone here understands the extent of the loss.

Betty, thank you for writing exactly what the outcome would have been like if I opted for the surgery; in my "what if" scenario, he came through with flying colors and actually was like a 2 year old again.

He would have hated the realities; and for the first time, I'm starting to feel better about the decision.

If it had happened during my vet's hours, it would have been easier because they pretty much said, they would not recommend putting him under general anesthesia at his age. The emergency vet was very kind and good but remained neutral on what we should do. When we made the decision he said, he felt that was the better option. But I didn't know if he was sincere or just nice.

Bloat is awful; it is so rushed. Surgery needs to be done ASAP and euthanasia can't be delayed too long due to the discomfort. So its a quick goodbye when you really need and want the time to get it right. However; we stayed as long as we wanted afterwards.

The e-vet wasn't being nice; he was sincere. That's my strong opinion. In my long experience, vets aren't insincerely nice about such a big issue. (I know that no one decides to be a vet because it will make them a bunch of money; they decide because they love animals.)

When I saw Betty's post, I had to slap my own hand not to type "amen" like some kind of "me too" forum person.


But putting a guy of that age through abdominal surgery and the recovery, for me, would require extraordinary circumstances. I'd always be worried that I had done it more for myself.
The pain, the aftereffects of G/A, and, as Betty said, the struggle for a geriatric patient to heal from this major trauma ... for me, these are very hard to justify putting an old friend of over thirteen years through.


As others have said, you made the decision that he needed, setting aside your own pain and loss. I believe this with all my heart.

Oh Sheila, I'm so very sorry.

He trusted you in the end to do the right thing and you did, there's no doubt about that. I know I'm repeating myself but truly sometimes you know that it was the right decision because you do it in spite of the incredible amount of pain it brings you.

Run Free Thor, you are loved and missed.

I am very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.

Sheila, trust that your heart made the right decision for Thor in the end. Your head will second guess every move you make, but your heart won't lead you the wrong way.

When we love them, we have to let our hearts take the lead, and let them go with dignity and grace. You would never have forgiven yourself if you had done the surgery, caused him more pain and the possible indignity of not being able to walk or control his bodily functions.

He is running in the fields at the Bridge waiting patiently for you. He is young and healthy again. You gave him that gift.

Hugs to you Sheila.

I'm so sorry Sheila.

You were there for him each step of the way and when he passed you were right there beside him. That's all he knew.