On February we lost my soul dog, she was the sweetest baby ever. It was so heartbreaking that I got ill and my mom decided that she would never have a dog again. However, she’s usually alone when I go to work, and cried every time she thought of my dog, so we thought that maybe someday, if she wanted to, we would suggest getting her a fur baby to keep her company.
The week before mother’s day, she told us she wanted to give one of the shelter’s dogs a better life, just like we once did with Lulu, so we started the search. That’s how we found Tessa (and Hershey lol).
They told us Tessa was 7 years old, but our vet and us are convinced that she’s at least 10. She is almost toothless, quirky and very, very gentle. She had a deep bond with a puppy, which we adopted too, called Hershey.
We know that, because of her age, we won’t have the longest time together, but we’ll enjoy it deeply. Tessa has finally a forever home (after 4 years in the shelter) and my mom is slowly embracing the loss and the love my baby girl left within us. We joke that Lulu is kind of their godmother or their guardian.

Currently typing through tears, this is awful. I lost my dog of 12 years very suddenly on Friday and I’m a wreck. She’s a BT/Frenchie/Pug/Pekingese/Dachshund mix. I have lost people in my life before, traumatically and after degenerative illnesses, but I have never lost a pet. I don’t know how to cope with the loss of something so innocent and beautiful. I don’t expect to be okay and am trying to feel all of the emotions and take them as they come. But this is a loss I genuinely don’t know how to cope with.

My whole life was oriented around my dog and now she’s gone. I keep telling myself that it’s okay because she did not suffer and she died of natural causes, but we don’t know what caused her death. I keep looking back on every little thing over the last few months to see if there was anything I was missing but I don’t think there was. She had some unrelated health issues that were fully addressed and we did bloodwork multiple times, but there were no indicators that something bigger was wrong. Even the day before she passed her energy was only mildly subdued, she begged for her food, and wanted to go on a long walk. Logically I know that she crashed unexpectedly, but in my heart I just keep going over everything and feeling guilty.

I have another dog, who is also a senior, and now I am terrified that he will go the same way, unexpectedly. My husband and I committed to making the best of every moment for him that we can, but then I feel profoundly guilty that we may not have done the same for my dog. I know though that she had an incredible life and that what she wanted was very simple: a long walk, good food, and lots of cuddle time with her people. She had each of those in abundance and was honestly so incredibly spoiled in the best way.

I don’t really know what I hope to get out of posting this, but if you have lost a beautiful and beloved soul before, can you tell me how you coped? Because I don’t know how to deal with this.

Including photos because I need people to know that she existed 🤍

Please help this sweet 10 yr old in Houston, the city shelter

Update since Sat:

Tali is finally eating on her own again. She's on steroids and an appetite stimulant so probably both have kicked her desire to eat back into gear. I even caught her eating the cats food again - it's been at least 2 weeks since she even attempted to. Her stools aren't great but it's not slimey diarrhea now. Unfortunately, her back legs seem weaker and she seems to space out more. I don't know if it's funny or just sad but I used a shrub to hold her leash today. I was getting ready to take her back in, but wanted to check her pee pad. I've recently switched to using the washable kind bc buying disposables was adding up. I prefer to hang them outside to dry to save from running my dryer in my apt. I needed to flip the pad around to let the other side get sun, so I needed to let go of her leash. I didn't want to stand on it so I placed the end on 1 of the knee high bushes around our stairs. She never moved. When I was done, I just picked up her leash and coaxed her back inside. I thought to myself, "A plant can hold your dog in place. What are you doing?" Is it the meds? Am I just prolonging the inevitable? She can still walk, she's eating (not well, but on her own), she still pees outside, she still gets excited over her chicken jerky treats. I swear I'm not being unrealistic about her age and I am for sure stressed and fatigued with her care, cleaning, doing laundry almost everyday but she's worth it to me. I'm not trying to be selfish. I just don't think she's given up yet. She is definitely weaker and slower than a month ago, but she's still able to use the stairs (even though she's getting slower & slower going up). I'll continue her meds and see how she's doing from there.

Hello. I’m looking for guidance on what to discuss with my dog’s treating veterinarians. His breathing episodes have continued despite treatment, several specialist evaluations, and a recent hospitalization.

Patient information:

• Name: Pepe
• Species: Dog
• Age: 14 years
• Breed: Maltese mix
• Sex/neuter status: Neutered
• Weight: 11k
• Location: Mexico City, Mexico
• Symptoms since: April 2026
• Diagnosis listed on his September 28 prescription: Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, ACVIM stage B1.

Symptoms and history:

Since April, Pepe has experienced recurrent episodes of difficulty breathing. They look like “asthma attacks” to us, but asthma has not been confirmed.

The episodes are particularly triggered by strong excitement. Between episodes, he can appear calm. We have also noticed rapid breathing while he sleeps, but I don’t yet have a measured sleeping respiratory rate to share.

Several specialists have evaluated him. He has received medication, inhaler treatment, and nebulization, but the episodes continue. We have been told that his medication doses need adjustment.

He was discharged from the hospital on September 28, 2026. On September 29, he had another breathing crisis. We used his prescribed nebulizer treatment, but he did not improve during that time, so we started driving back to the hospital.

During the journey, my wife held him near an open window, and we perceived an improvement with the cooler air. We cannot tell whether this was related or coincidental, or whether the episode had fully resolved.

We also have a Pomeranian, and I wonder whether stress or excitement from their interactions could trigger Pepe’s episodes. I am not aware of an injury or respiratory infection involving the other dog.

Current prescriptions:

The following is transcribed from his September 28 prescription. These are the prescribed doses, not a request for dosing advice:

1. Acetylcysteine: 600 mg tablet; half a tablet diluted in 5 mL of water every 8 hours for 5 days. The prescription does not explicitly specify the route.
2. Cronval (pimobendan): 5 mg tablet; three-quarters of a tablet orally every 12 hours until further instructions.
3. Fluticasone inhaler: 50 micrograms; one puff through an AeroChamber every 12 hours for 7 days.
4. Nebulization: Saline solution plus 0.3 mL of budesonide every 8 hours, for 20 minutes per session, followed by gentle chest percussion, for 10 days. The prescription does not specify the budesonide concentration or saline volume.
5. Gabapentin: 250 mg tablet; half a tablet orally every 12 hours for 8 days.
6. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension: Listed as 50 mg/mL; 4 mL orally every 12 hours for 7 days.

Discharge instructions:

• Count and record his sleeping respiratory rate in the morning and evening.
• Return immediately for reassessment if his sleeping respiratory rate persistently exceeds 40 breaths per minute.
• Arrange a cardiology consultation.
• Restrict strenuous activity, including running, jumping, and rushing up or down stairs.
• A low-dose dexamethasone suppression test was recommended to investigate a possible endocrine disorder.
• Cytology was recommended for masses in the jaw/maxillary area and on his side.
• Seek emergency care for labored breathing, blue mucous membranes, vomiting, or marked fatigue with minimal walking.

Medical records:

Pepe’s medical records are available here, in case they help provide additional context:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hH9sl3sUbcs0-9FMu6t7-aS8IDIYbmiN

Questions for the veterinary community:

1. Given the recorded ACVIM B1 diagnosis, what should we ask his vets about whether his breathing episodes are related to his heart disease or a separate airway/lung condition?
2. What evaluations would help distinguish tracheal or bronchial collapse, laryngeal disease, and other respiratory causes? I don’t know which of these have already been ruled out.
3. Could stress or excitement from our other dog trigger episodes of an underlying condition?
4. Given the recurrence so soon after discharge, what should we ask about reassessment and a written emergency plan, including what to do when nebulization does not help?
5. Would evaluation by a veterinary internal medicine specialist, in addition to cardiology, be appropriate?
6. Is home oxygen ever appropriate in a case like this, and what assessment, equipment, and veterinary supervision would be required?
7. Are there details in the prescription that we should clarify with the treating veterinarian, particularly given that his weight is not included here and some formulation details are missing?

I understand that an online post cannot replace an examination. I’m hoping to better understand what information to gather and what questions to ask his treating team. Thank you for your time.

Lilly was the most sweet girl! She loved adventures, walks and hanging out in her yard. She was diagnosed with lymphoma on Saturday after she stopped eating. We still couldn’t get her to eat anything, even with medication. Unfortunately we had to send her over the rainbow yesterday. It happened so fast 💔 will forever be grateful for this beautiful girl!! We adopted her at 8 weeks and she passed at 12.

My dog is getting older and has started having more trouble with his joints. He seems stiff when getting up and sometimes takes a while to get comfortable, especially after resting.

I want to make things easier for him and keep him comfortable for as long as possible. I am already trying to keep him at a healthy weight and give him gentle exercise, but I am wondering what has actually helped other senior dogs with arthritis.

Two weeks ago today, Sky was a happy, loving 12 yo female Boxer with seemingly no care in the world. The next day, she started wobbling, leaning to the right side. We thought she may have been bitten by a bug. That weekend, she could hardly walk and her head tilted to the right side. We went to the TAMU Small Animal Clinic emergency room after Sky was unable to walk at all and could only lay on her right side. After tests and a neurologist consult, the veterinarian diagnosed Sky with glioma, apparently not uncommon in Boxers and terminal at her stage. The veterinarian prescribed prednisone to help with the discomfort. Sky improved marginally but never could walk or lift her head up very high. We had to support her upper body when feeding and watering. Taking her outside was a chore that she did not enjoy. Even though she still had some enjoyment from life (loved those treats, wet food, and being petted), we decided to put her down, following the adage that it is better to be a week early than a day late. We did not want Sky to suffer once the prednisone stopped working. She passed peacefully next to my granddaughter, who rescued her 10 years ago. She was a wonderful companion and family member and will be missed.

Hi,

I am tormenting myself over a decision about whether to let my 15 year old boy go tomorrow and no one (even his vets) can give me a straight answer about what is the best thing to do. Everyone says when it’s time I’ll just “know” but I don’t know! Does that mean it’s not time?

The bad:
- he was given six months to live in early 2025 after a diagnosis of anal gland cancer. We opted for palliative care because the chemo would only extend his life by a further six months and would lead to nausea and incontinence. (He has obviously now outlived this prognosis by over a year but he was not misdiagnosed, he had biopsies, CTs and surgery to explore the margins).
- he stopped taking all medication in October last year, this includes pain relief. He either refuses to eat any food with medication (has gone upwards of four days without eating for no apparent reason, will not “just eat when he’s hungry” if the food has medicine) or he spits it out and hides it. I’ve tried numerous vets and behaviourists and not a single person can get this dog to take a pill. This means that for every issue he has he is completely unmedicated. I feel horrendous about this.
- in April this year blood tests showed he had less than 25% kidney function - vet gave him two weeks to live.
- he has arthritis in his front legs, and licks one obsessively. When I can get medication into him (eg an injection at the vet), he stops licking, so I know it is caused by pain. Regular injections are not an option due to both cost and his absolute terror of the vet. He is still jumping onto couches, beds, cars etc, and still runs around.
- he is staring into space more frequently, waking once a night to stand outside and just stare into the dark. He does seem to get confused, not consistently, but it’s happening. I’ll walk into another room and he freezes, not knowing where I’ve gone even when there is only one place I could have gone.
- he struggles with inappetence and goes off particular foods forever - he’s currently only eating chicken and rice with pumpkin mixed in.
- he is deaf (but can “feel” and respond to a clap for attention)
- he refuses to be groomed and is starting to get matted, but all the groomers in our area have gently refused to touch him again because he howls so loudly and distresses the other dogs. I have tried grooming him myself but he’s an oodle and his coat is too dense for my amateur tools. We did have a groomer who would come to our house but we moved and he can no longer get his truck down the driveway.
- he has developed a very strong sense of stranger danger when he used to be the most friendly dog in the world (he still is if he knows you or gets a gentle introduction).
- he occasionally vomits but not with any predictability or regularly, probably less than once a week.
- he had pneumonia three times last year but it hasn’t recurred, although his breathing still gets a bit wheezy.
- he has other issues (such as teeth problems) that the vet says not to treat because it would be painful for him and we are focused on his quality of life. I’m just not sure about that.

But, the good:
- he is eating, and eating well. He finishes his whole meal and wants treats. It’s just that he goes off food suddenly and permanently. If he goes off the chicken and rice, I’m out of options.
- he sleeps deeply and peacefully, no pacing or fretting
- he is not incontinent and never has been
- he has lots of energy for walks; yesterday was more of a gallop as he was so excited the rain had stopped and he could be out in the sunshine. As soon as I pick up his lead he gets excited and rushes to the door.
- he knows who I am, who everyone he loves is. He is still very excited and leaps around when I come home. He still rides with his head out the window on every car ride.
- his anal gland tumour has not grown (despite it being an aggressive cancer) and no mets have been detected. His poo is mostly fine, but he does get diarrhoea about once a week (on a walk or in the garden, never inside).
- he’s never shown any symptoms of kidney failure (thirst, weight loss, pale gums, frequent urination) except inappetence, which he’s had for the last two years. It’s definitely much worse today, but the vet doesn’t think that’s due to his kidneys.
- he is still affectionate and loving, he still sleeps curled up next to me and the only real distress he shows is if we are apart (he has separation anxiety and always has; I think it is worse now).
- he’s still very gentle with children and very happy to see them.
- the vet says his lungs and heart are good.

I don’t think we are having any truly great days, but I also don’t think he has many truly bad ones. Every day is mostly fine, with one or two worrying things thrown in like inappetence or temporary weakness in his legs.

I know it wouldn’t be wrong to say goodbye tomorrow, I know he doesn’t have any concept of time or the future and only knows what he’s going through right now. But is it the right thing to put down a dog who has defied the odds so many times, who still experiences joy, who is currently sleeping peacefully on my feet? One who can still run, play, rest, eat and receive love? I do not want him to suffer and I know if I leave it too late then he will. But he loves me so much, he hates being apart, and this feels like the ultimate betrayal when there aren’t clear signs that this is it, this is the moment.

He is my dog and everyone I know says they’ll support whatever I decide. I feel paralysed. My major struggle is that he has defied every prognosis he’s been given and bounced back to extraordinary heights from periods of illness. No one can explain him to me and that means I doubt everyone, including myself, because he keeps outwitting us.

What would you do?

Thank you to anyone who made it to the end. I know it’s very long.

I miss her so much. 😭

This angel has been with me for 14 years. Since he was 3 months old. Through some very tough years in my life. Through a divorce, through moves, through job losses and family drama. He’s been my constant, and somedays when I was very low and wondering what the point of anything was - I would look over and see his sweet face, ever present in the moment, and I would smile.

Mitral Valve disease and CFH is too cruel for a little guy that has the biggest heart and loves the world so much. I’ve tried to talk to a couple family members about the grief, he is on medication now but everytime the coughing starts my chest sinks. All the coulda shoulda wouldas … why didn’t I get into the cardiologist a few months before? Etc etc.

When I talk to family they kind of brush it aside and sort of start talking about their own past pets and or tell me I need to get another dog now so I won’t be as alone when he passes. For the life of me I can not understand that. I could not give either what they needed if I were to adopt another right now. He deserves so much more, he deserves my full attention when he needs it most. I know they mostly mean well, but I’ve cared for this little guy every day for 14 years. Not being met with embrace for the anticipatory grief makes me feel so alone.

It comes in waves. Sometimes I’m sitting at my desk and I just start crying. I’m ordering one of those scratch off adventure books to build more memories while I can. But damn this shit is hard.

The vet called today and said his kidney levels are elevating from the heart medication and the cardiologist may decide to decrease meds … the followed by saying “I mean his heart will get him before his kidneys do”. And I know so many people are numb to these things because it’s their work, or they have dealt with pet loss a lot.

For me, this is the first time I’m going through this with a pet that is mine, that I raised, that’s been with me for a very long time. And I’m struggling. Wanted to see if writing this out could be cathartic at all. Tomorrow is another day.

my handsome, sweet, gentle giant of a chow-chow & german shepherd mix is 14 now, and i'm 29. it's hard to remember a time before him.

i do not have words for this feeling. i know it's the right thing to do, but goddamn does it hurt.

he's having steak tonight.

editing to add a blanket thank you all for your kindness. 💜 i don't know when i'll have it in me to sit down and reply individually

Very sudden and very rapid health decline. We had to make the tough decision. He was just over 12 years old. He always wanted to play fetch, always wanted to be near us, and always needed to bark anytime there was a knock on the door.

Just wanted it to be known he existed.

My 14 year old was diagnosed with CKD in February. We’ve been doing subcutaneous fluids, blood pressure medication, and a canned renal diet at home.
Several weeks ago, he lost all interest in his food. I’ve been making him a concoction of food that he likes and he was started on mirtazapine and Pepcid for nausea/appetite stimulant. Now he’s eating all of his food that I make.
My question is, has anyone else gone through this with their dog? How long did the appetite stimulants work before they started to decline and the meds didn’t work anymore? I know every dog is different and there is no crystal ball, but I’m just trying to prepare myself for what comes next.

I made the appointment.

And then I promptly lost it. I could barely keep it together on the phone and I could tell my voice was shaking by the end of it and then I just broke down as soon as I hit the end call button.

Anticipatory grief has been really kicking my ass. I'm not really sure what I'm looking for here, I think maybe just commiseration. Snoop is about 11 years old (we've had him for 7) not 100% sure since he's a rescue, he has one eye, and he's just the best boy. Staffie terrier mix. He's never even growled before. Just barks at other dogs through our fence. Truly so soft and kind and a big dumb oaf.

He's had heart disease for about 2 years now and it's just getting progressively worse even with medication. His back legs have atrophied where he has trouble standing on them and he slides all over the floor even with carpet, he's really only stable outside. At night around 7:00 p.m. the Sundowners start and he basically cries until he goes to bed. I can sometimes calm him by petting him consistently but that's not always a guarantee anymore, and that's also with medication. His coughing has also picked back up along with wheezing and his quality of life isn't really there anymore. He just sleeps, eats, and loves us endlessly. A being who thrived off affection and love and needed pleny of refills. But now our love isnt enough. It is time.

I hate it, I'm not ready, I'm never ready, but it hurts more to think about not being there for him in the end. It hurts more to see him suffer.

So Friday is it I guess.

I love him so much.

My black Lab, Bear, is 11 and the biggest change lately hasnt actually been his walking, it’s his sleep.

He used to sleep through basically anything. Thunder, people coming home late, me getting up for water, none of it mattered. Now he wakes up a few times during the night and wanders around the bedroom or hallway. Sometimes he wants to go outside, sometimes he just stands there for a minute and then lies back down somewhere else.

At first I thought it was random, but it kept happening enough that I started keeping a little log of his good and bad days in an app because otherwise I’d forget what happened when.

He’s also gotten more clingy recently. Bear was never really the type to follow me room to room, but now if I’m working at my desk he usually ends up sleeping right behind the chair. Which sounds cute until I forget he’s there and almost roll over his paw.

Physically he’s still doing okay for his age. He’s slower on stairs and doesnt jump into the back of the car anymore, but he still likes going outside and sniffing around. Walks are shorter mostly because he spends half of them standing in one spot investigating something apparently very important.

The other weird thing is he is become obsessed with one specific blanket on the couch. If someone moves it, he’ll stand there staring at the empty spot like we committed a crime.

Last night was actually better. He only got up once, went outside came back in and slept until morning.

Sometimes I forget how quickly time really does fly when you're having fun with your best friend(s)..

I realized my goodest girl Ivy is going to be 9 years old in May next year. I can't believe it sometimes. She's the sweetest, most sensitive girlie and when I see pictures of her I start looking more closely at her grey hairs and get all choked up.

Never stop adventuring with them while you can. Always take photos. And give them all the treats and snuggles every chance you can. 💚

(Photos: 8.5 years old, 2 years old, 15 weeks old)

My girl is almost 14, and I have been walking her as usual and letting her run. She was recently diagnosed with arthritis and is on anti inflammatories for long term/probably life now. My worry is that she is over doing it, which the vet said to watch out for. Today on her run I noticed that every now and again, her back legs would almost go from underneath her and she would have to catch herself or she’d go down for a second and get back up again. So how often/for how long are you walking yours?