I have two 5yo toy poodles, one of whom has congestive heart failure and a collapsing trachea. The vet is not sure which one of these ailments will cause us to need to put her down first, but her outlook is grim. We got the dogs at about 7 months apart from the same breeder, and Bandit, the younger of the two and the healthy one, loves Piper, my poor, sick girl, to death. Earlier this year Piper had to go stay at the vet hospital and be put in an oxygen incubator, and Bandit about lost it. He had no gray on him at all, and in that weeks time almost the entire front of his snout is gray. He lost a fair amount of weight and became so needy that my mother had to take him to work with her. When Piper returned, and since, Bandit will not let her out of his sight. Bandit does not leave the room unless Piper does, and for about a month after she came back, Bandit would not leave her side, and I really am not exaggerating. He has now gotten to the point that he will sit on someone's lap and let her sit on the edge of the couch, but he still constantly looks up to make sure she is still there. My mother and I just do not know what to do. With Piper heading towards death's doorstep, should we get a puppy so that Bandit will become attached to it or what? I fear that once Piper has left us, although he is in perfect health, Bandit will not be far behind.

Thanks

Just like a human death, a doggy death is just as heart breaking and stressful for all.

Maybe you could designate a toy for Piper to "scent" so Bandit has a memory keepsake of his buddy for when he is feeling insecure when Piper does pass.

Getting another dog might help out Bandit so he would not be so lonely when his buddy leaves the earthly plane.It's a personal choice for you to decide.You could do it before or after.If it won't burden anybody beforehand that is.