My head is spinning

Just need a little bit of reassurance that I'm not going to feel this way forever. Or something. I actually have no idea what I need right now...maybe just to write.
   
My little 6-pound rat terrier Buddy had been my constant companion since he was old enough for me to bring home. He moved with me between two states and 4 apartments and always let me know how much he loved me. He was so full of life, never met a stranger and anyone that met him instantly fell in love with him. He was so proud to show everyone that visited his Kong, and insisted that everyone played with him at least for a little while. The joy on his face when you sat down on the floor with him was obvious and palpable.
   
His sickness and subsequent death on Tuesday morning was incredibly sudden. In the span of 3 days he'd gone from my happy little 3 year old to sulking around my apartment and crying out in pain if I touched him the wrong way. A visit to the vet informed me that he'd suffered an intususseption of his small intestine, and surgery for a biopsy was recommended. Wanting to heal my little guy, I opted for the surgery. He made it through ok and I was able to pick him up on Monday night, but the vet suggested I bring him to the emergency all-night vet for observation.
   
While we were waiting to go back, I held him close to me for about 20 minutes. He was in such agony and just laid his little head on my chest, content to be in my arms. I talked to him, and he gazed up at me a few times. I know he knew I was there. I wished initially that I'd just brought him home with me, but I know that if I had, I would have blamed what happened next on myself. At 2:36 the following morning, I got a call with the worst news ever. Buddy was simply too little for his body to handle that kind of surgery. He was the runt of his litter, and was never intended to be as small as he was.
   
A few things have given me some comfort and eased my mind: he only suffered for those three days. I was told that I at least gave him a chance with having the surgery done...if I hadn't, the problem and his pain would have just dragged out and he would have eventually passed anyway. He knew I was there and now I just pray that he knows I did all I could do. It killed me to see him so listless and miserable and I just wanted him to get better. My boyfriend, a dog owner himself, was sleeping over when I got the call from the vet. He's been a tremendous source of support. At 3:00 that morning he got to work building Buddy a casket, and even took care of getting him from the overnight vet so I wouldn't have to remember him in death. Last night we buried him with his Kong and his favorite towel on my boyfriend's family's property.
   
Now I don't know what to do. I framed a picture of him and hung his collar from it and that was the biggest step I've taken so far. All of his things are still laying around my apartment. I don't feel right yet putting them away, but it hurts to see them not in use. My boyfriend suggests saving everything in case I get another dog someday, (which I know I will in a year or two but can't think about yet) but isn't that...sick? To re-use the items from my dead dog someday?
   
My family had a dog while I was growing up, but she's still alive at 13. I've never lost a pet before. How do you deal with the aftermath?
   

i too lost my beloved doggie frosty . it was a month last friday and i am in such pain i cannot bear it . it seems that the more time goes by the worse i get. i cannot stop crying i know exactly what you feel he was my constant companionn he slept with my husband and i along with his other 2 little doggie brothers we were always together along with the other 2 doggies. i had him for 12 years he was a rescue and when we found him the vet judged him to be about 3 years old they can tell by the teeth this was 12 years ago so he was 15 years old and very healthy until the end. i am missing him so much i cant seem to go on even though his doggie brothers need me thank you for listening ana

i know what you are going through i lost my beloved doggie of 12 years his name is frosty and i cant seem to find any consolation. it has been 5 weeks tomorrow. it will hurt for a while but i have been told eventually the healing process will begin. i am so sorry for your loss. i wish there were more i could do but i am afraid all we can expect are words of consolation for now. take care of yourself,ana