Cocker Specific Discussion > General Cocker Spaniel Discussion

Hi All sad time...

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Gentle soul:
We lost our beautiful boy on 5th December 2023. 11 and a half years old. He had skin issues, allergies and Ivdd. At one stage I bathed him once a day for a year and a half to resolve skin issues and finally got his fur back. He was paralysed at 8 with ivdd and spent 3 months on cage rest. I carried him out day and night for three months to hold him up to do his business, ending up with sciatica myself! He wouldn't wee on anything but leaves so I went with a black sack to to the park to collect and pile in our garden for him, till he could walk again, surgery not an option so it was a last chance effort. We got him through this, and enjoyed three more years.
He slept beside me on the bed, followed me everywhere, he was and is my soulmate!
He was very poorly and we had to let him go.
He was our 5th cocker, never had a house without one, such a beautiful happy soul, every holiday, every where we went he was with us.
I think the close bond is what makes this one hurt so much, I am torn apart by him not being here. Think he will be our last one, cant do this again.
Just wanted to remember him and pay my respects to him, it was a privilege to have him in our lives.
 :rain:

MIN:
So sad to hear of your loss. I have also lost my beloved spaniel this year. I didn't get the chance to fight for my girl like you. You were an amazing pawrent to your   boy. The heartbreak is awful but it's everything else, the silent house, the not going out , dry floors, the collar and lead hanging on the peg. The bedtime snuggles and the constant smudge on your glasses which has disappeared.
But in time these things will make us smile again and the "never again" will fade. 🐾🐾💔

bizzylizzy:
So sorry to hear you‘ve lost your boy, everyone who’s ever been through the same can understand and sympathize with how much it hurts.
I nursed my boy after back surgery and its no mean task, he‘s never completely recovered and I know that as he gets older things will become more difficult and there‘ll be challenges ahead.
However, there‘s always a bright side to everything and I‘m sure, like with us, the difficulties you faced and overcame together increased the bond between you, I’ve viewed having  to care for a poorly dog and trying to tune in to his needs, a privilege. The emptiness you feel now must be overwhelming but you did everything possible to make your boy’s life more comfortable and he knew that. The memories are always there but at some point they‘ll make you smile and laugh instead of cry.
Be kind to yourself, you did a good job in a miserable situation and if you do feel the need to chat to people who understand, stay with us, you‘ll always find a sympathetic ear on COL.  :luv:

Gentle soul:
Thank you bizzylizzy and min for your kind words.
It was a privilege to share his life. He did have a very happy life filled with love, despite the challenges. I would carry him up stairs to avoid back injury, and get him out the car from his blankets on the back seat. I still go on auto pilot to the back rear car door to get him out every time we go out. I have stopped using my car since it happened, we go out in my daughters car lol.
Still got the nose marks on the window where he sat barking at cats. He used to stand at the top or bottom of any staircase, and peer over his shoulder at me, come on dad do your duty! Our vet said he sees us as his servants lolol.
MIN - sorry to hear about your loss too, yes, its everything else, basically, the hole they leave behind!
BIZZYLIZZY- yes, your right, it was a privilege to look after and understand his needs, never once a chore because has was loved. Sounds like your Boy is a lucky boy too, with a great mum. Give him a hug from us!
My profile pic is him. Fully furred lol. We made his own food as the allergy appeared to be anything to do with grass or grass fed. Every two weeks we would make a batch, mackerel, pollack and salmon with fresh steamed vegetables and vitamins added, 5pm he sat and stared at me, then woofed if I wasn't getting the message lol, often tried his luck at 4pm . How do spaniels know the time so well... Mackerel was his absolute favourite, my daughter and I went out to catch it fresh for him whenever we could.
We spoiled him, loved him.
Never considered any other breed, love spaniels and the way they love you back, oh, and the mischief with those sorrowful expressions you can't be mad at.
He was fine, happy, eating, nagging for his food, then not fine! He couldn't stand, was struggling to breathe, and not quite with us, we took him to the vets, and made that decision for him, no tests, no suffering. They suspected a stroke.
I firmly believe that the most selfless gift of love you can give your dog is letting them go peacefully at the end, which we did,  but he is so missed.
Im a 56 year old man, with a wife and daughter, what a plonker to be in this state eh!
He went everywhere with us, canal holidays, walking with his pet stroller, we wouldn't go abroad without him. Our business meant we were able to be with him, everywhere we go, near and far from our home, every corner, he was there, Cumbria, Cornwall, Devon...... which I think makes it harder as everywhere we go now he was also there with us, the hole and pain and sadness is constant, following.
Hope one day this will turn to smiles and fond memories.
The last dog we will have comment , we have had 5 cockers, each one different and loved, but Chester, this last one, I knew would be tough, we had THAT bond. Definitely cannot face this again, cowardly, weak, maybe......
At the end my wife stayed with him in the room to hold him, I couldn't do it, I kissed him and said see you again , but couldn't actually be there. I know I should have been, to hold him while he went on his journey, but it was too much. After all I did for him it felt a little like letting him down at the end, but I didnt want that last memory of him to be the goodbye. So officially, women are stronger than men lol!
Anyway, thanks guys, hug your furry family from us, they really are precious.

vixen:
My heart goes out to you for the loss of Chester.
I lost my soul dogs in 2021, litter sisters Marley who I lost in February and her sister Stevie who I lost in July of the same year.  Even today not a day goes by without me thinking of them.
It truly broke my heart when I lost them and I often wondered how I was still breathing with the holes in my heart.  I actually felt physical pain from the loss.
I had to care for Stevie 24/7 for her last few months as she had dementia and could not be left unattended.
You sound an amazing dad to Chester and as you and bizzylizzy say it is a privilege to care for the old ones.  They have given us so much. 
The next few weeks will be very hard for you as the emptiness can be overwhelming.
I know that you have said ‘never again’ but in time you may feel there is a spaniel size hole in your heart that needs to be filled.  Most of us on this forum have suffered great loss but have welcomed a new one.  I myself have two more cockers, they won’t take the place of Marley and Stevie but they are individuals in their own ways and I do love them.  They get me out and give me so much pleasure. 
I always say the pain of losing them is the price you have to pay for their love and devotion and I would rather have the pain than not to have had their  love.
Take care of yourself.  :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:

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