My condolences, and though it might seem difficult right now, congratulations to your vet. The prospect of surgery for your pooch would have reduced her quality of life; to deal with that after being ill, the prolonging of her life would not have been a humane option, even if it might have spared your heart a little. I think you would have found that you were already mourning her potential loss, during the surgical phase and in the face of her increasing discomfort.

You made the right choice, for both of you, as difficult as it was.

SRS