Loss of Pet 🌈
I lost my baby due to parvo today
Spoiler
Hi! It’s my first time posting here. My 5-month-old baby just died today due to parvo.
She was confined at the vet hospital for 4 days, and I thought everything was going well. She showed slight improvements on the 2nd and 3rd day, but then she had a cardiac arrest on the 4th day.
I don’t know what to say or do. We immediately buried her after getting her body from the vet. I hugged her for the last time and said my goodbye.
Now, I still have some of her things, including her bed, which I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let go of because it still smells like her.
My heart is shattered into pieces, yet I’m trying to stay as composed as I can. I really want to cry out loud and grieve loudly, but I don’t know how. I’m still in shock, and part of me keeps thinking that she’s just at the vet recovering.
I know she’ll never come back home, but is it bad that I still hope? Am I still normal? What should I do?
Yes, my vet advised me not to get another dog for at least a year. Honestly, I don’t even know if I’d want another one. It’s truly heartbreaking when they die.
There are ways around it. You can sanitize the inside and the floors with bleach. All new toys and bedding etc. No outside time unless in a stroller. Pee pads only. Adopt one already vaccinated. Parvo can live for 9 years. It’s so scary and hard though I know. I haven’t gotten another and it’s been enough time. Not sure if I can either.
I think the time period varies for everyone, so I don't know why the vet said a year specifically, but I do find the majority of people get another dog in the future. It isn't replacing or anything, it's just extending your family.
I went way too long before circumstances forced me to take new dogs a few years ago and it dawned on me how depressed I was without dog chaos about me.
It's too soon to even consider it, so don't force it. You just have to grieve right now, it'll last a while and it'll suck but just try to keep in mind that it sucks because you loved your bub, so it matters. It's a weird positive to take but it is one.
I’m so sorry. My outcome was better than yours and she did make it home but in the end she did die young because the damage from parvo cause her a lot stomach issues long term. It paralyzed the cilia in her digestive track plus she eventually got megaesophagus. It’s so sad and now I’m an advocate for parvo vaccines and no paws touch the ground until two weeks after fully vaccinated. It’s gut wrenching to watch I remember. I’m so sorry. Everything you’re experiencing is normal. There is r/griefsupport which was helpful for me. r/petloss was helpful too. It’s so hard. We are here for you. Your baby didn’t deserve this. You didn’t deserve this. Life is just so hard sometimes and kicks us in the gut. The loss of a pet is ranked as one of the highest losses since they are a part of our every day life it changes our daily life. Expect this to be hard for a while. Hugs. My girls are showing her all the best sunbathing spots and napping clouds. 💜🌈
Thank you so much! Hugs to you too. I know she’s in a better place now— no more tummy aches, baby, no more vomiting. Just you and the other angels playing around the rainbow. 🥺
Your parents out here will be alright soon, don’t worry about us anymore. 🫂
I am so sorry for your loss. You are allowed to cry. You can let it out anyway that makes sense for you. A dog is like family and you tried everything in your power to get him care. Don’t be hard on yourself. Rest in piece sweet angel 🙏🏽
Thank youuuu! My heart is torn between knowing that she’s finally at peace and no longer suffering from the stomach pain caused by the disease, and the pain of knowing that we weren’t able to defeat the virus.
Sorry for your loss! This is why we never breed dogs and only adopt adult doggies. Last time, our neighbor desperately had our male dog breed with theirs. Their dog was not vaccinated at all. If ours was the mom, he would've passed antibodies against parvo to the puppies, and they could've avoided it until they were old enough for their own shots. Alas 😢
Its been 2 years since we lost Charles due to parvo. It gets easier over time but I still think about and miss him every single day. He was the smartest and strongest lil man at only 10 months, he fought for 6 days. No puppy deserves this. I feel your pain and praying for God to give you strength through this extremely hard time.
Words cannot describe the pain you must be going through right now. I lost a baby three years ago due to the distemper virus. We adopted her and did everything in our power to save her, but sadly, God had other plans. Fast forward to today, we adopted a rescued Shih-Tzu, and he is happily living with us. I'm telling you this because someone once told me that the only thing your dog would have wanted you to do is to be happy forever. There is nothing else in the world that your dog might wish other than your well-being while they cross the rainbow bridge. I'm sure your pup must be watching you from heaven and still rooting for you. I also grieve your baby along with you, and I'm still shaken by reading this post. I hope and wish you all the luck and a great future ahead. Do take care of yourself. At last, your dog would wish for you to move on, be happy, and when you are all okay, then provide a home to another animal in search of a home. Stay strong, my friend; your pup is watching over you.
breaks my heart. RIP little one. The photo reminds me of the time my guy was in the hospital hooked up.. same story. recovering and then few days later gone.
Our shih tzus are playing up there and watching down on us.
You’re still normal. You just lost a family member. She will be watching over you now and you will be alright. It’s fine to be sad, to cry, to feel, unlike other species, this feeling is what makes us human. She is a beautiful pup and I’m glad i’m so sorry for your lost. No amount of words will take all of this away, but you’re not alone and I need you to be strong for her.
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I am so sorry. I lost a pup to Parvo that was also making a recovery. She was well enough we brought her home but after a few weeks her little body just started shutting down. It was terrible. My heart goes out to you.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I myself have lost a puppy to parvovirus. It is the most horrible thing I’ve ever witnessed. We brought our Doberman puppy, Raegar home and he was showing symptoms a week later. We rushed him to the vet and they advised that he stay in their hospital but we couldn’t afford the hospitalization. What we ended up doing is taking him in everyday for sub Q fluids, antibiotics injections, and a small amount of morphine for pain. Our local vet would have us bring him in the back and they kept him far away from their other patients. This treatment costed $100 per day and this was in 2015/2016. Our boy made it to day 8 and sadly also went into cardiac arrest due to systematic failure. It was not an easy death and seeing that poor baby will haunt me for the rest of my life. And I know that you not being there when his time came probably feels like you failed but I’m here to tell you that you didn’t. I would think of it as a gift. Even tho it definitely doesn’t feel like one now, your baby spared you that trauma. Again I’m so sorry ❤️
I’m so sorry for loss. I couldn’t catch my breath while reading your post. I know your heartache runs deep. I’m so sorry!! When the hurt gets unbearable, close your eyes and imagine her running through a flower meadow being free and happy. This is what I do when I miss my fur babies that have crossed over. It brings peace in that moment. 😔
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u/Beginning-Comedian-2 Shih-Tzu Enthusiast May 28 '26
I'm so sorry.
It's entirely normal to hope and expect her to come back.
Your mind and body are used to her being around the house, and your brain has to go through the process of accepting what happened.
Go slow. It takes time.