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Feeling guilty to euthanized my dog
Hi, i am feeling extremely guilty to put down my dog. He was aggressive and he had bitten me 5 to 6 times and snapped at me multiple times. He also had bitten other people and others dogs. Yesterday he had bitten me on my face and lips area very harshly and it bleeded soo much and hurts. He was an indie dog i adopted him 5 years ago and from start only he was a bit aggressive but as the time passed he became soo aggressive that he started biting people and snapping at them without reason. While i took him to vet for the same he told me he has behavioral issues due to some brain problem. I loved him from bottom of my heart and still will always love him. Vet suggested me to put him down as his aggressive behaviour will not go away and it will grow only. But now today i am feeling extremely guilty and i am feeling my chest heavy and i am crying uncontrollably from yesterday. He was just like my son. I did this cuz if he bites some other person or child the parents will not spare him.help
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Hi,
I understand. Losing a pet is heartbreaking, and when it happens this way, it can feel even heavier.
Please know—you didn’t give up on him. You loved him for 5 years, despite his struggles. This choice was out of care and concern for everyone’s safety, including his.
Guilt is a natural part of grief, but it doesn’t mean you did something wrong. You acted with love and responsibility.
Let yourself grieve. Cry, remember him, and be gentle with yourself.
Ways to Cope:
– Create a small memory corner with his photos or favorite things.
– Remind yourself daily: you made a loving, protective choice.
– Breathe deeply when it feels too heavy—place a hand on your heart.
– Write him a letter to say all you feel and couldn’t say.
Healing takes time—be gentle with yourself.
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Do deep Breathing exercises . .
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Aggression can be bit controlled with homeopathic medicine.
Homeopathic medicine acts best in animals.
You can try ..
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I have been working as a Homeopathic doctor for the last 17 years. You can contact me through an online appointment for further assistance.
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It’s completely natural to feel deep guilt and grief after putting down a pet you loved so much, especially when he felt like your own child. You made an incredibly hard decision out of love and responsibility, knowing that his aggression could harm others and him. It does not make you a bad person or mean you didn’t love him enough; it means you loved him so much that you were willing to bear this pain to prevent further harm. The heaviness in your chest and uncontrollable crying are signs of grief, and it will take time for your heart to adjust to this loss. Allow yourself to feel these emotions without judgment, and remind yourself that you gave him five years of care, warmth, and safety that he may not have had otherwise. It’s okay to mourn, and it’s okay to seek support while you process this loss. You did the best you could with the situation you were given, and that love still remains.
Take therapy. You can connect with me on nine two six six seven two six zero six five.
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I’m really sorry you’re going through this. What you did came from a place of responsibility, even if your heart feels broken right now. You gave your dog love and care for five years, and making the decision to let him go wasn’t cruelty but it was protection for yourself, for others, and even for him, so he wouldn’t live in pain or fear anymore.
Guilt is normal in grief, especially when the loss involves such a painful choice. But this doesn’t make you a bad person rather it makes you someone with a huge heart who did something incredibly hard out of love. Please consider speaking with a psychologist as they can help you work through this guilt and process the grief in a healthy natural way.
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Ms. Radhika
Psychologist
3 yrs exp
Thiruvananthapuram
Thank you for sharing something so raw and deeply personal. I can feel how much pain you're carrying, and I want to say this first: your grief, guilt, and heartbreak are absolutely valid. You made an incredibly difficult decision—one that no loving pet parent ever wants to face. And the fact that you're hurting this much shows just how deeply you loved him.
What you did came from a place of responsibility and love—not cruelty. You chose to protect him, others around you, and yourself from a worsening situation. That is not something to feel ashamed of. That is something only someone with a big heart could do, even at a great emotional cost.
Being a perlt parent myself, I understand that losing a pet is devastating, especially when it happens this way. It's normal to feel guilt, confusion, and even question your decision, even if it was the right one under the circumstances. But you do not have to go through this alone.
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If you are open to it, we can work on processing this grief, finding peace in your decision, and working through the overwhelming emotions you’re feeling right now. You don’t need to carry this pain alone or in silence. With the right support, healing is possible. Let’s walk through this together, one step at a time.
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Mr. Fr Dr John Zachariah
Counselling Psychologist
9 yrs exp
Ernakulam
Consult a psychologist
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consult our psychologist in ernakulam/kochi
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for malayalam consultation 8589*8537*65
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Ms. Pooja Gupta
Psychologist
9 yrs exp
Delhi
Hi,
I'm truly sorry you're going through such a difficult time. Itâs completely natural to feel guilt and grief after making a heartbreaking decision like putting down your beloved dog, especially when he was like family to you. You loved him deeply and wanted to protect others from harm, which shows your compassion and responsibility. The fact that the vet diagnosed behavioural issues due to possible brain problems indicates that you did everything you could to understand and care for him. Remember, you acted out of love and concern for everyoneâs safety, including your own. Grieving this loss takes time, and itâs okay to feel overwhelmed. Allow yourself to mourn and seek support from friends, family, or a counselor who can help you process these feelings. Your love for him remains, and in your heart, you made the best decision you could under difficult circumstances.
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Ms. Smriti
Counselling Psychologist
18 yrs exp
Bangalore
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counseling
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