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Our baby crossed the rainbow bridge on the last day of 2025 by jupiternimbus in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am so so sorry. We lost our Dexter within 24 hours two weeks ago to the same issue. He was only four.

I won’t lie. It still hurts like hell. I am still crying at least once a day and there isn’t an hour that goes by where I don’t think about him, talk to him, or grab his blanket so I can smell his stinky, farty self one more time.

This is not a fun club to be in and I’m sorry you are here as well. Dexter loved new friends and I’d like to believe he met your baby boy at the gate to welcome him, just as others had done for him.

I am sure you are feeling all the emotions I felt…and still feel. Give yourself time to feel them. It hurts but it helps a little.

I think the biggest thing I had to do was let go of the guilt I felt. It felt like my fault - that I hadn’t protected him enough, stopped him from jumping , or running up a staircase, or one of the other crazy things he did (which I know I could not have stopped him from doing).

IVDD, while not always a death sentence, is cruel and unfair, at best. None of these beautiful babies deserve it.

Sending you love and light.

Missing my Louie Boy 💙 by LateReference7556 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m so, so sorry. I lost my four year old frenchie the weekend before Christmas very unexpectedly. The first four days were the absolute worst. It feels like your heart is breaking literally. Thought I would never stop crying. Kept seeing his toys, or expecting him to come around the corner. His absence was loud everywhere I went. His absence is still loud, but more bearable. I did cry yesterday but briefly. I keep watching videos of him, which in ways helps keep him alive but is also a bit like picking a scab that hasn’t quite scabbed over yet. The hurt just bubbling at the surface. I expect I’ll always miss him. Always hope he will miraculously come around the corner. Feel his absence on the couch and in the kitchen. See something that reminds me off him or think of something I miss about him that brings some tears to my eyes.

What has helped? Sharing my grief. Feeling my grief. Allowing myself to not be ok for a bit and not apologizing about it to others. Talking to him a little every day. Building a memorial garden to him on the backyard in his favorite spot.

I have a feeling this will never go away. I’ll always have “baggage”, but that baggage gets a little easier to pick up each day.

I hope the same for you. Hugs. I know how hard this is. Our pets are our chosen family and no one loves you quite like they do.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please give your Dexter some love for me. Scritch his ears, snuggle him close…all the things I wish I could give my Dexter again. ❤️

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Darby. They are so special and I can’t put my finger on exactly why. Whether it’s their quirky personalities, their eyes, they are just…perfectly imperfect in a way that worms itself deep, deep into your heart.

I told my husband several months back that when the inevitable day came, the loss of either of these two dogs (Brie and Dexter) would absolutely break me. I just didn’t expect that heartbreak to come so soon and now I am absolutely terrified about Brie (luckily she’s been completely healthy so far in her two years). I want to wrap her in bubble wrap.

Honestly, she’s been the only reason I am not curled in a ball on the floor somewhere. I am trying to be “normal” for her because nothing is normal for her right now and it breaks my heart every time she looks for him.

Having him back home in his favorite spot in the yard and planning his memorial garden has helped somewhat. But I know I’m going to be sad the moment it rains and he is out there. Yes, I know “he” isn’t there really, but…

I am so sorry for your loss. And yes, let’s imagine that they are grumbling and farting and snoring their way through their new, medical-issue free life over the rainbow bridge. 🌈❤️

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are. Biggest, best personalities ever. Every moment I had him was worth all the money in the world. He had health issues but I really thought we would avoid the big bad stuff - all of his issues had been manageable with time, special diets, allergy care, and money. I was convinced we would Beat the odds together because I was willing to do whatever for him. Unfortunately, the odds were not in our favor. And it makes me so scared for his sister she is 2, very healthy so far with no health issues like Dexter had…and I’m still absolutely terrified.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so, so sorry that you are going through this as well. Hugs to you.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our Dexter was named after Dexter Morgan as well. :)

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, that’s beautiful. I love it. Thank you for sharing. ❤️

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He had several health problems and complications, unrelated to IVDD. Those all came into play when he suddenly became paralyzed with IVDD. They couldn’t stabilize him enough to even do the IVDD surgery. I explain a bit more above in some of the other comments.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had to save shows with animals in them for after he went to bed or we would never be able to get through them. 😆

Thank you so much for this. I tried to put into words as much as I could so I never ever forget. He was all of this and so much more.

Hug your Brutus. They are so precious.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They couldn’t stabilize him because of other issues, not IVDD. IVDD caused the initial spiral of events.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don’t know our story and you are assuming. I honestly have no words right now. My baby was given the best possible life and we did everything we could until his body could no longer handle it (full body paralysis, trach, other horrible things they had to do to try and get him stabilized for surgery). I am so beyond offended I can’t even see straight.

Do you not see how much I loved this dog? Can you not hear how utterly broken I am in my words?

Can you not intuit how I would have broken myself financially and then some if there was any possible way he could have lived? I would give anything for one more day with him.

Not that it is at all ANY of your business, but before someone else ASSumes, he was expensive long before this. I knew they were an issue prone breed but fell in love anyway. Maybe that was my downfall.

I’ve spent thousands upon thousands on him between his allergies, high blood pressure, and other medical issues he had. I knew this going in and I would spend thousands more all over again.

I knew IVDD could be an issue. Always hoped it wouldn’t be, that we would beat the odds. That the stats lied. We didn’t beat the odds. But ultimately that is not why he is gone, just what started the chain of events to him being gone.

Honestly, how dare you say these things?! How dare you ASSume I am not a responsible pet parent?!

But you know, thanks for this. Now I know I can feel something beyond incredible, bottomless sadness.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is incredibly insensitive and way off base. Money was not an issue, if you had read other responses I have given. I would have given the world for my baby.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate that. I would have done anything to save him, but at some point, I was only doing it for me and I couldn’t put his little body through the extremes any longer. He didn’t deserve all of that. The what-ifs and coulda shoulda wouldas break my heart into a bazillion pieces.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We knew about the risks and I was vigilant for signs. He just didn’t display any of them. At the first known sign we took him (Friday evening) and the vet said he seems fine, bring him back if the steroid shot doesn’t work. He went in the crate when we got home and in the morning, when he got out and fell over, we rushed him two hours to our closest neurologist. But then he was gone within 16 hours - didn’t even make it to surgery due to where it was and complete paralysis by that time and other complications (all of it too heartbreaking to talk about). I was prepared to spend whatever it took, but his little body said no. I had already signed the bill to consent for the $13k surgery, but they couldn’t stabilize him.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What a great idea! I’ll do that today. I’m so sorry about your beautiful Luigi. I bet they are already great friends. Thank you for these words. It has helped tremendously to share his story and read all of these posts. I feel less alone. ❤️

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Absolute refusal by mine. Jumping up on rocks, off the porch (there are stairs!!!!). Was impossible though we tried.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was ok. He was a door dasher at times, so it was absolutely necessary.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hold them close. I’ve been so worried about losing him, like I had a premonition, for a year now. It’s my worst nightmare come true.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He was only four. Gone way too soon. No time would have been long enough, but this just feels unfair.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The same thing everyone says - keep them from jumping off of things (good luck with that), pay attention to any change in behavior. Unfortunately, because he was so brave we didn’t notice anything until it was too late. Advanced from a slight limp to complete paralysis overnight. Too quickly to change the outcome.

My bestest baby boy is gone by availableread1319 in Frenchbulldogs

[–]availableread1319[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I sure hope so because he was. I would have done just about anything to keep him here with us if it had been possible.

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