Dealing with grief over lost pet
The story
Hello. I lost my pet pig almost a year ago and am still dealing with feelings of regret and guilt, as well as loss. He was the closest thing I could call a child and a big part of my life for three years.
He was sickly a few times before he died, with loss of appetite and energy. I took him to both a clinic and got a vet to look at him, but didn’t get a lot of answers and was just told to try to feed him. So I did, and most of the times he got better, but then got sick again.
Then he one day after getting a lot better (I thought) got REALLY sick and I panicked since I was sure he was dying. I still lived with my parents then, but they weren’t as panicked as me and said they would help me take him to a clinic in the morning. The vet on call (night shift) also said we probably could wait till the morning. It was Sunday night and I was thinking more about the money than I now wish I did. He died after a few hours of me trying to keep him warm.
I am now learning after researching what I think was his cause of death, that I could have saved him if I gave him early treatment. And pretty easily at that. That has been haunting me since he died, and I can not stop feeling like a horrible human being, and selfish person that cared more about the money than take him to a clinic again after a unhelpful experience.
I felt like I was dying the first week and literally could not sleep because I was crying so much and saw him every time I closed my eyes. I still cry when I see his photos, and more than anything feel like it’s my fault that he died, and that he would have had it better if someone else was his owner.
I’m mostly here to vent, since I don’t really feel like I have anyone to talk about this with. It’s my first time using this site, so I don’t know if this is the correct way to post. If anyone has some tips for getting over mostly the guilt, I would appreciate it. Thank you for reading.
Stories in the same category
Points of view
Hey, I'm really sorry to hear about your loss; it's clear you cared deeply for your pet pig and did what you thought was best at the time 😘
It sounds like you did everything within your means to help your beloved pet at the time; have you considered that perhaps questioning what might have been done differently is a part of processing your grief and not necessarily an indication of failure?
Yes, It’s probably a natural feeling and part of processing. I just feel that it has lasted a bit longer than I expected. But there is no set time to grief, so I probably just have to let it take the time it needs. Thank you for commenting
Losing a pet is tough, and it's clear you really loved your pig. It's easy to beat yourself up with hindsight, but dwelling on "what ifs" isn't going to change the past, right? Have you thought about channeling those feelings into something positive in memory of him? Maybe volunteering or learning more about animal care could be a way to honor his life?
I do have a new pig, so I hope to give her the best life I can. I am also studying veterinarian medicine, so I hope not to do the same mistake I did before and hopefully helping others in the same situation I was:)
wow, losing such an important companion like your pet pig is indeed profoundly painful and i totally vibe with the intense emotions you're grappling with; it's so easy to fall into the trap of hindsight, thinking about what could have been done differently, but trust me when i say that you did your best with the information you had at that time.
Thank you:) It helps to get someone other than me to say it, since it feels like a lie when I tell myself😅 Thanks for responding
hey there, i'm so sorry to hear about your loss; it sounds like you did everything you could for your pig. it's completely normal to have those "what if" thoughts after losing someone or something we love. sometimes our minds like to play tricks on us, magnifying guilt when we're already feeling vulnerable. i've lost pets before and felt a massive wave of regret too; it's important to remember that no one's perfect and we can only do our best with the knowledge and resources we have at the time; maybe acknowledging your efforts and forgiving yourself might be a step towards healing. take care and give yourself some grace in these tough moments.
Thank you❤️ I will try to be a little kinder to myself. Thank you for responding
Losing a pet is really tough, and it sounds like you're carrying a heavy load of guilt over your pig's passing. It's easy to get caught up in those thoughts about what could have been done differently, but it's important to remember you did try to help him with the resources and information you had at the time. Have you considered if there was something specific that made the vet not push for immediate treatment? 🤔 That might help you see things from another angle and maybe ease some of that guilt you're feeling.
I think the clinic just hadn’t really dealt with many pigs before, so maybe they just didn’t find anything since they’re normally dealing with cats or dogs. I find it a bit frustrating myself. He most likely had some underlying infections, so the vets said that he most likely would have died no matter what we did his last days:/ It had to be found and treated early to have any effect. I am studying to be a vet though, so hopefully I will be able to spot anything if something happens to my other pets:) Thanks for responding
You know, it's tough to carry that kind of weight on your shoulders; it sounds like you really went above and beyond for your pig, doing the best with the information you had at the time. Remember, hindsight is always 20/20, and even though you're feeling guilty now, it's important to remember that you acted out of love and concern. Sometimes things don't go as planned despite our best efforts, and that's just a part of life we have to accept;. It might help to focus on celebrating the good memories you shared with him instead of dwelling on what could've been different. Maybe creating a little memorial space or scrapbook could be a comforting way to honor his memory?
Thanks:) Maybe I'll try making something. Thanks for responding
I'm sorry for your loss and I get how it feels to carry that weight of guilt; maybe consider that the time you gave your pig, despite how things ended, was filled with love and care, which is what really counts.
Hey there; I’m really sorry for your loss and understand how you’re feeling, but remember that caring about your pig so deeply shows what a loving owner you were, which is honestly more than many animals have.
man, it sucks to lose a pet, especially when you feel like maybe things could've been different 😢; sometimes we get caught up in all the "could haves" and "should haves," but you're human: it's okay to make mistakes or not have all the answers at that moment.
hey, i'm really sorry to hear what you're going through; it takes a lot to open up like that. i completely understand how tough it is to shake off those feelings of guilt because it's such an emotional rollercoaster. maybe consider connecting with others who have lost pets in similar situations? sometimes hearing other stories and support can be comforting because you realize you're not alone in this struggle. remember, grief isn't linear and it's okay to feel all sorts of emotions as you navigate this journey. hang in there!
yo, it sucks big time losing a pet and feeling like you could've done something more; trust me, I've been there. but seriously, beating yourself up over it ain't gonna change what happened or make you feel better: it's like punching your own shadow expecting it to stop following you. sure, hindsight can be a real jerk sometimes making everything seem crystal clear after the fact. what's really essential now is figuring out how to heal and let go of that guilt weighing on your chest. maybe try writing down all the things you loved about him and remember the joy he brought into your life instead of constantly replaying those last moments in your head; it'll give you some positive closure eventually.