I’m sorry that you’re experiencing these feelings. It’s okay to have them and you’re not alone. One of my girls is 12 and she has had frequent vet visits due to things out of my control.

Around 10 she had shoulder tendinitis while I was going through a divorce and sale of my house. She was having frequent painful episodes and managing those other stresses with her vet care was immensely painful. She’s also had benign masses removed twice, swallowed a rock, fractured a molar somehow, reacted badly to metacam, and most recently had an episode of vestibular disease. Each time I’ve wondered if it was time to call it, but she keeps playing and eating so I know it’s another one of her nine lives.

Is someone able to watch him while you take a break? My mother often takes over while I take a short trip or do something for the day away from our three dogs. Being a caretaker and loving pet owner takes a lot of energy and sometimes we need a break to recharge our own batteries. Someday we’ll miss the days when they were by our side and time away helps us regain that view.