One of two dogs dies, how to tell other one?

[ggreg]

We have two dogs and one is quite sick.  There is a chance she will have to be put down in a couple weeks, although we are hoping she will get better.  The question I have is, since these two dogs have been companions for more than ten years, if we have to let one go, is there some way to let the other dog know what happened?  Normally when we lose a dog, we have them put down at the vet's office, and then bring them home and bury them in the yard.  But we have the two dogs now, and I'm worried if he'll wonder where his companion went.  If anyone else has had experience with this, I'd really like some feedback.

She has pancreatitis, I began a thread recently concerning that, and she spent this past week in the vet hospital getting nutrients only by I.V. and nothing by mouth, in an effort to rest the pancreas, and she's coming home this afternoon.  She may get well and have no more problems, or there's this chance she may go downhill again and the end will be near.  Anyhow, while she's been out of the house this workweek at the hospital, the other dog sensed we were emotional the first day, on account of we don't like her being away at the vet hospital, so he stayed close to us.  But he has adjusted to her not being here very well.  We're thinking if we eventually have to put her down, he will adjust again the same way.

But there is some doubt in my mind about that, if she's put down at the vet office, and then brought home to be buried, normally we would just bury her fairly quickly without bringing her into the house.  But we're wondering if we should let our other dog see that she has passed before we bury her.  We could even bring her up on the porch and let the other dog see that she's died.  We're also considering the idea of having the vet put her down here at the house, so the other dog can see what happens.  Those alternatives sound rather gruesome, compared to just not bothering the other dog with the whole thing.  But for anyone who has indoor pets and has observed how the other dogs do when one goes like that, we'd like to know your thoughts.  We are leaning towards the usual way of doing things, having her put down and bury her when we get home, and not expose our other dog to anything relating to her death.

I'm just not sure, so I would so appreciate feedback from anyone else who has gone thru this, who keeps two or more dogs as pets in the home and has had a similar experience with one dying.  How did the other dog do, not knowing?  Or did you let them know somehow?  Thank you guys SO much.  GG

[Vixx42]

I also have two chocolate labs aged 13 and 10.  Saffy my 13 year old is quite sick now and I know she won't have much longer but I'm worrying more about Boo, her younger sister who will be left alone.  I've had both dogs since the children were young and now I'm divorced and my children are both working full time as am I.  I have a dog walker come in everyday to walk them and once exercised they both sleep well and are relatively  happy.  They receive lots of fuss from us in the evenings when we're home but I'm concerned about Boo when Saffy goes.  She's a busy, active dog and I'm so worried that she won't cope well with being left on her own once Saffy goes.  I've thought about rehoming her so she can have companionship either with another dog or amongst a younger family again.  I have to work full time, which I didn't when I first had the dogs so I'm unable to spend as much time with her as I'd really like to. I've thought about getting another dog for her but feel it would be unfair if we're all out at work.  When I chose to have the dogs initially I was married with 2 small children and working from home.  Sadly, life throws things at you and now I'm divorced and both children are older and not at home so often.  Together the dogs are happy but I'm worried how Boo will cope on her own.

[ldi50]

You give them your heart and soul and they give you all their love and devotion and ask for nothing in return.  We have a 13 yr old chocolate lab that has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the nose. He is still happy to eat (what lab isn't) and still has a little gallop left in him when you tell him it's cookie time. His buddy is an 8 year old lab and she is the mother of the house. She has started acting very sad, laying outside and not wanting to come back in the house. She is craving attention big time and I seriously think she knows what is going on. They are all just so smart. We are just waiting until we feel our guy is starting to struggle too much to continue. I am not planning on taking our girl to the vet with us when the time comes but am concerned as she always looks after her buddy and it is going to be devistating to all of us. I feel for all of you going through or having gone through similar situations. We all know when we get in to these relationships that these members of our families will go before us but it doesn't make it any easier to cope.

[ginger899]

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[navada14580]

put my 14 yr. old maltese down last night due to cancer and she deterriated swiftly,my other maltese navada is heartbroken as i am and i cant stop crying remembering all the yrs we spent together navada came to us 10 yrs ago and was very close to sam and i know i must be upbeat but i also know she is as hurt as i and missing her presence i never used to walk my girls except occasionaly but will now walk nevada to try and distract her from her loss and maybe this will help me grieve as well. god i loved sam and am terrified at losing her sister due to depression thia would drive me over an already deep presipice. thanks for all advice and i wish it was me who passed and not my beloved sam,i shall forever remember how when the needlle was injected her eyes immeditely lost the shine and i knew it was over but this did not make it any easier to take i asked the vet to please close her little eyes and they removed her from the room to do so and returned her to me for some quiet time she will be cremated and her remains returned to me to cherish for all time god bless her and all pet owners please love your little pets with all your heart for when the time comes you know in your heart your friend knows you love her/him

[tobiasschnell]

Occasionally more serious reactions including severe depression hemorrhagic diarrhea collapse hypoadrenocortical crisis or adrenal necrosis/rupture may occur and may result in death.
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http://www.allvetmed.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=Vetoryl

[jules18]

Hi there, Im baulling my eyes out right now.  I have 15mth old staffy x and another puppy 6mths old (different breed).  My husband and i have made a decision to put the staffy down as he is extremelly agressive and attacks other dogs all the time for no reason.  We have done so much training and everything you can think of so we are sooo worried about the other one being distressed.  Do I take him to the vet when the other one gets put down?  Cant stop crying right now - its breaking my heart!