After a diagnosis of dog kidney failure, when to euthanize your beloved companion may weigh heavily on your mind. How do you decide when it’s time to let him or her go? And what can you do in the meantime to give your dog the best life possible? To help you answer those questions (and more), integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby invites end-of-life-care veterinarian Dr. Dawnetta Woodruff to share her perspective.
Learning that your dog has kidney problems can be devastating. You may wonder what that means or how bad kidney disease will be for your beloved dog. Maybe you knew a person with kidney failure and are wondering if your dog’s journey will be similar. Or perhaps your mind may jump right to the questions “How long can my dog live with this disease?” and “How will I know if it is time to consider euthanasia?”
I do want to address those heartbreaking questions. But first we need to briefly review kidney disease and talk about what the last days of a dog with kidney failure may look like. Then we can get to that difficult decision about when to euthanize a dog with kidney failure.
Kidney failure is a big topic, so I know there are going to be people with different levels of knowledge. Some dog parents are still gathering information because their dog was recently diagnosed with kidney disease. Others may have been helping their precious pup along his or her kidney disease journey for months or even years.
Either way, if after reading my kidney disease summary you still have questions about causes, diagnosis, treatment, etc., I highly recommend you read Dr. Buzby’s article, Kidney Failure in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide.
Now let’s jump to an introduction to the organ of interest—the kidneys.
The kidneys—What do they do?
A dog’s body has natural systems in place to remove toxins and cleanse the body. The liver and kidneys are two organs that are an integral part of doing that and keeping the body in balance (i.e. maintaining homeostasis). The kidneys filter the blood and excrete toxins into the urine, but that’s not all they do! The kidneys also:
- Keep vital electrolytes in balance
- Manage blood pressure
- Produce urine
- Maintain water balance in the body
- Signal the bone marrow to make new red blood cells
- Regulate calcium and phosphorus levels
As you can see, the kidneys are incredibly important to the overall function of the body. Without them, the body would quickly spiral into a state of imbalance that is not compatible with life. Luckily, the kidneys have a lot of reserve, so if they aren’t working at full capacity the body is still able to stay regulated for a period of time.
An overview of kidney disease in dogs
However, when the kidneys are damaged significantly, their reserve is surpassed, and they are unable to keep up with necessary functions. Toxins begin to build up, and the body can no longer maintain homeostasis. Dehydration begins, electrolytes become unbalanced, blood pressure increases, and anemia (i.e. low red blood cell count) occurs.
Sometimes kidney disease has a sudden (i.e. acute) onset. The dog gets very sick very quickly and may be rushed to the ER for an emergency vet visit. Other times, the kidney function declines gradually and the disease progresses more slowly (i.e. chronically). These dogs often just look “off” or “sluggish” in the early stages, but chronic kidney disease can also become an emergency situation where critical care is necessary. Both types of disease can cause a wide range of troubling symptoms.
Symptoms of kidney disease
Often, the first signs of kidney disease (especially the chronic type) can be subtle. To complicate matters, the symptoms overlap with other diseases such as diabetes mellitus or Cushing’s disease in dogs. You may notice that your dog is asking to go out to potty more frequently, and that she or she has increased thirst in dogs. These signs are called polyuria and polydipsia. If you notice them, you should have your sweet pup seen by his or her veterinarian as soon as possible.
As your dog’s kidneys continue to fail, you may see many or all of these symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Reduced appetite
- Drooling
- Pale gums
- Ulcerated areas in the mouth
- A lethargic dog
- Weakness
- Uremic breath (i.e. bad smelling breath due to build-up of toxic waste products)
- Vomiting and diarrhea
Please consult with your vet if you are noticing any of these symptoms in your dog, even if you already know your dog has kidney failure. Your vet will probably want to examine your dog and run blood work to check kidney values and red blood cell numbers. This information is useful for diagnosing and tracking the progression of kidney disease.
Treatment for acute kidney disease
If the vet determines your dog has acute kidney failure (or acute-on-chronic kidney disease where existing kidney disease suddenly worsens), it is common for your pup to require hospitalization. During that time, your dog may receive intravenous (IV) fluids, intensive care, and round-the-clock monitoring.
Fluids help to flush toxins from the body and regulate electrolytes. This can help your dog feel better. Your dog may also benefit from blood pressure and anti-nausea medications, and/or appetite stimulants for dogs.
When your dog is well enough to go home, he or she will require follow up visits to reassess kidney function and determine if chronic disease is present.
Treatment for chronic kidney disease
If instead your dog has chronic kidney disease, it can vary in severity. Sometimes it is very mild. In fact, there are plenty of times when dog parents don’t even know their dog has kidney disease until elevated kidney values show up on routine screening blood work. In other situations, the kidney disease may be moderate or severe and the dog is showing more symptoms.
Either way, after diagnosis, your vet may use the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines to determine your dog’s stage of kidney disease. This information helps guide treatment for kidney disease and influences prognosis.
Sometimes it is possible to manage your dog’s chronic kidney disease at home with medications and/or subcutaneous (SQ) fluids. However, if your dog’s symptoms are significant, or if his or her blood work indicates advanced disease, your vet may suggest 24 to 72 hours of hospitalization. Once your beloved dog’s condition stabilizes, you can usually care for him or her at home. This may include:
- Periodic (daily or weekly) subcutaneous (SQ) fluid administration
- A specialized diet, formulated to be gentle on the kidneys
- Blood pressure medications
- Medication to decrease protein loss
- Phosphate binders
- Potassium supplements
- Anti-nausea medications
- Pain medications / oral rinses to manage mouth sores
At-home methods for improving quality of life
Managing kidney disease is multi-factorial. In addition to the medications and therapies that we discussed, there are also some at-home modifications that can help increase your dog’s quality of life.
Reduce the stress of increased urination
It can be distressing for a dog to have urinary accidents in the house due to increased thirst and increased urination. There are a few options that are good for reducing stress for your dog and making cleanup easier for you:
- Consider placing potty pads around the house in case your dog isn’t able to hold his or her urine during the day while you are gone.
- Find out if your dog is comfortable wearing a diaper to keep him or her clean and dry.
- Cover your dog’s bedding in a water-proof crib mattress protector. Then place blankets and towels on top of the waterproof liner to give your sweet pup comfort.
Find appealing foods
You can offer your dog a variety of kidney-safe diets (dry and/or canned) since his or her appetite varies from day to day and even moment to moment. And you may wish to try adding jarred baby foods to the top of the regular diet as a way to encourage appetite through variety.
Soothe your dog’s sore mouth
If your pup is getting sores in the mouth, rinsing the mouth with green tea can be soothing. Alternatively, your vet may prescribe “magic mouthwash” if your dog allows you to apply it.
Please know that no one set of tools is going to be perfect for every canine patient. It can take some trial and error to find out what is most helpful long-term for your sweet pup.
Prognosis for kidney failure
When managing a dog with kidney disease at home, it is common to wonder “what’s next?” and “how long can we manage his or her disease?” The difficult thing about kidney disease is that there is no consistent and reliable “easy” answer to these questions.
Sometimes, dogs with kidney disease can be managed at home for years after the diagnosis. And the dog can live a very good quality of life in the process. Other times, dogs with kidney failure may progress quickly from mild disease to severe disease, and quality of life declines in a matter of weeks. So how do we evaluate the prognosis?
Well, as mentioned above, the severity of blood work changes can give us an idea of the stage of kidney disease the dog is currently in. This helps us understand how far the disease has progressed. But it still does not tell us how quickly he or she may move through the remaining stages of disease. It is emotionally difficult, but we often must take a bit of a “wait and see” type of approach.
However, sometimes we can get a good idea of a dog’s overall prognosis based on how he or she responds to therapy during the first few days and weeks after the initial diagnosis. As treatment progresses, positive prognostic indicators include:
- Increasing energy
- Good appetite
- Managed nausea
- Improvement in blood work numbers
- Interacting normally with family
- Sleeping well at night and not excessively during the day
Changes during the last days of a dog with kidney failure
Unfortunately though, at some point in the progression of kidney disease, a dog will move from managed disease into end-stage kidney failure. This is when the kidneys have become too damaged to respond to even the best medication and therapy. A dog may gradually progress to this point, or it may happen very rapidly.
It is important to know what is “normal” for your dog and to talk to your vet if your dog’s behaviors and habits change. These differences and the symptoms listed below can be the first subtle signs of a problem.
Lethargy
A pup whose kidneys are failing will be very lethargic. He or she may sleep a lot, and even when awake, he or she may not seem fully “with it.”
Decreased appetite
A dog’s appetite will decrease, or be absent altogether in the end stages of kidney failure. Special treats may still entice him or her to eat a bit, but only little bites of food here and there instead of a full meal. You can try to offer your dog new and different types of food, and it may help to encourage his or her appetite. But often, what the dog enjoys today, he or she may refuse tomorrow.
Your sweet dog may seem hungry, even asking for food—and then when food is offered, he or she may sniff at it, even licking his or her lips or drooling before ultimately refusing to eat. These are signs of nausea. So if your dog isn’t already on an anti-nausea medication, this may indicate a need for additional therapy.
Behavior changes
Dogs with end-stage kidney failure may also seem confused. As toxins build up in the blood stream, it can affect their cognitive function. They may wander or pace, walk blankly into a room, stare at walls, or even seem to get stuck in a corner. A dog who normally loves to be held and snuggled may no longer want to be near you, even wanting to completely avoid your touch. Sometimes, your dog may pant for no obvious reason and seem anxious even in their normally comfortable environment.
Older dogs can also suffer from canine cognitive dysfunction, and the signs of dementia in dogs look very similar to the cognitive changes in end-stage kidney failure. For this reason, it may be beneficial to have your vet check your dog’s kidney values if you are noticing behavior changes. That way you know which of these two processes is likely the problem.
Finally, if your dog is displaying any other concerning symptoms, it is also wise to ask your veterinarian if additional medications or an increased amount of fluids may be helpful. Sometimes adjusting their medications and fluids can help them feel better in spite of their worsening disease. However, if your dog is already on multiple medications, or is already receiving daily SQ fluids at home, these symptoms may be a sign that your sweet friend is at the end of his or her life.
Take care of yourself too
After listing all these things to do and watch for when caring for your dog with kidney failure, I want to address something that all-to-often gets ignored—caretaker fatigue in dog owners. It is real, and it is exhausting. Trying to keep up with your dog’s extensive needs can feel like a full-time job. You are willing to do whatever it takes to keep your dear dog happy…but when his or her joy seems to be dwindling, you may wonder if all of the time invested is truly helping.
When your canine companion is struggling, it feels like you are riding a difficult mental roller coaster. One day he or she seems to be managing ok, and the next your dog may seem close to dying. The process is emotionally taxing, and can be a struggle for you and your sweet pup. It often feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders as you try to make a very important, very difficult decision.
Resources to help you on this journey
But you don’t have to make the decision alone. Reach out to talk with trusted animal-loving friends—especially if they also know your sweet pup and can help you evaluate quality of life. Your veterinarian is there to help you as an objective third party and source of medical advice too. He or she can share his or her observations and will be able to point you toward resources such as a quality of life assessment tool.
There are also many pet loss and grief resources available online. Plus, it may be helpful to talk with a counselor or a therapist who is trained in pet loss and anticipatory grief. For many people, the anticipation of loss is just as difficult as the loss itself. It can be very helpful to have assistance preparing for your dog’s euthanasia in the days or weeks leading up to your final goodbye.
I have also compiled a list of other articles that may give you hope and help in these difficult days:
- Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
- In-Home Dog Euthanasia: Heartfelt Answers to 12 FAQs
- Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
- How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
- Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)
Making the decision to euthanize your dog with kidney failure
You should know too that there is no clear-cut answer about when it is time to choose humane euthanasia. Rather than looking for one “right day” it is helpful to realize that there is a window of time where euthanasia is a reasonable (albeit very difficult) medical decision.
Sometimes, it is best to make the decision at the beginning of the window. And other times we may feel more comfortable waiting until closer to the end. Each situation is unique, and each dog is different. Even if you have been through the kidney failure journey before, this journey may feel completely new and intimidating.
Some dogs may take their medications well and allow you to administer SQ fluids without a fuss. This can allow them to enjoy life a bit longer. For other dogs, fluid administration is stressful and taking medications is a battle, so their days are full of stress. In that case, it may be kinder to set them free a bit earlier.
Our canine friends always try to have a good day, even when they are facing huge medical challenges. So when we see their joy declining, and when we see them struggling through their days, the weight of their decline weighs heavily on our shoulders. We are not ready for their life to be over, or for them to leave us. But we also hate to see them just existing, rather than truly loving and enjoying life.
And at some point, we realize that watching their decline is just as difficult (or even more difficult) than choosing euthanasia. That is when we know that we are as ready as we ever will be to set them free.
What your dog wants you to know about saying goodbye
Rest assured, our dogs are amazing at sensing our love and knowing the intentions of our hearts. After all, dogs are excellent judges of character…and your own dog knows you better than perhaps anyone else in your life! So he or she knows that you are doing your best to care for him or her.
Your dog knows that you are trying to help him or her through each day. And I believe that if your precious pup could speak with us, he or she would tell us it is ok to say goodbye on a good day, before every bit of joy is gone.
When to euthanize your dog with kidney failure is a decision only you can make. But I do hope that this article has helped you gain some clarity and comfort as you wrestle with this difficult choice.
Have you lost a dog to kidney failure?
Please comment below to share your dog’s story or any words of advice for others.
Our wonderful 16 yo Shi-poo little boy Dexter had stopped eating and taking but not eating his favorite treats. Also when I took him out for his walks, he would stop and look around as if he was confused and when he moved, he moved very slowly. He also slept a lot and had trouble moving around. Little behavior changes over a couple of weeks. We took him into our vet who did tests and showed us the results that his kidneys had stopped functioning and toxics were building in his body. He also had developed pancreatitis and he was very uncomfortable. I know the vet wanted to give us hope by saying she could keep him overnight and give him fluids but at this age and the failure, she didn’t think it would change his condition and he was reaching the end of his life. We chose to take him home, hoping that by some miracle he might start eating. However, he actually stopped drinking water which he had never done as well as not eating. We made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize him the next afternoon, as it didn’t appear that there was any hope of recovery and keeping him with his would only prolong his suffering. Also, his breath had the awful chemical smell we had read about as sign of kidney failure. We took Dexter the next day to the vet and wrapping him in his favorite blanket, we held him as he went to sleep. I don’t think I have cried so much in a long time and am crying as I type this. Now in addition to overwhelming grief, I keep asking myself if we acted too quickly, should have gotten another opinion, tried to keep him longer, etc. But from what I have learned from reading and from our vet, we made the right decision, and that at 16 yo he had a good long life. I only had him 10 years, as he was a rescue and I adopted him at age 6. The pain of losing him is awful and sometimes I just sit down and cry. He see the places in our home where he liked to sleep and cuddle with us and I ache to want to see him greeting us with a wagging tale. Despite all the information that it was time, I still question our decision. I had hoped that he might have passed in his sleep and the decision to end his life wouldn’t be ours.
Dear Brian,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved pup. I can only imagine how much you miss Dexter but am certain you made the most loving choice when you offered him freedom from his suffering. What a blessing his passing was peaceful, and I am sure your presence was a comfort. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. Wishing you comfort and healing for your heart. May Dexter’s memory stay with you forever.
We recently discovered our Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd, Dallas, was in kidney failure. He was 10. Last Friday we took him to the vet because he wasn’t eating and wasn’t being himself. They flushed him with fluids and checked his blood. Said his kidney levels didn’t improve. Gave us fluids for the weekend and to recheck him on Monday (today). He declined so fast that we had to put him to sleep yesterday. That was the most devastating thing we have ever had to do. He was so strong, healthy and walked every day! We are so heartbroken and keep questioning what happened! He was fine all week and then Thursday he changed.
Our big boy, gentle giant is now gone and I can’t stop thinking about what went wrong. What signs did we miss? There’s such a void in our home. He was so loved. He followed us into every room. I hope we didn’t fail him.
Signed, Very sad grieving parents
Dear Paige,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved boy. Please don’t let guilt weigh you down. You didn’t miss anything, and it is normal for your mind to ponder all the “what ifs” while grieving. I am certain Dallas knew how much he was loved, and it is clear he lived a wonderful life by your side. May the memories of all the good times you shared bring comfort and healing to your heart. Wishing you brighter days ahead as you continue life’s journey.
Thank you for sharing. I’ve googled often to hopefully find guidance as my sweet Shihpoo, Jedi, is in end stage kidney failure. He’s had Diabetes for over 5 years, 2 insulin injections / day. 4 weeks ago, the Vet shared results from his labs regarding end stage kidney failure. This article explains exactly how I’m feeling as Jedi’s caretaker & his symptoms/ behavior. I’ve administered Subcutaneous fluids, Phosphorus binders, etc.
Better days cause me to question whether we need to keep pushing forward.
The article statement “freeing him while he’s still experiencing some joy” hit me hard. I’m deeply struggling with letting him go & can tell he’s struggling to hang on for me. I simply cannot imagine life without him.
I’m so very sorry for your loss and appreciate the sharing of experiences and support.
Dear Kimberly,
My heart aches for you as you spend these last days with your beloved boy. I am sorry Jedi’s health is declining, and you are facing this emotional decision about his quality of life. I hope you can find the answers and advice you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet boy. Praying for strength and clarity. Bless you. ♥
We released our beautiful boy Gir (13years old) this morning). Live your article, it brought myriad so much comfort to understand the nature of Kidney disease in dogs. It was a home visit and if was heartbreaking but there is no way I could have seen him ‘live’ the way he was: no food, no water, no bowel movement; wetting himself, weight loss, list of back leg mobility, dementia like behaviour and a loss of life enjoyment. Gir (a Staffie Cross Australian Cattle dog) was s crazy lovely dog human and since my retirement especially, had been my shadow, we go everywhere together and he is well known in our shopping village. I keep thinking, many do here, if I had figured that weight loss and back leg weakness and the dementia like behaviour was kidney then I could have prevented this. He had had Kidney disease since June 2023 and late as June 2024 his Bloods were good but between June and now the readings have gone off the charts and his decline has been dramatic(2 weeks to really plunge). I booked s home visit on Saturday morning to have it done today( Sunday) and was pushing it as hd struggled despite the meds.. I slept on the floor in on a mattress next to hud bed lar night and spent the entire night holding him, wetting his mouth and talking to him. I know that he was ready to go and ai know he blessed me for releasing him. I feel less guilt now after reading the beautiful emails here and your article, but I keep getting ambushed by sudden and intense grief when I remember the he is gone and no longer will be be in all the familiar places in our house and garden and no longer will we roam our area and live the life. I have a real belief that we do connect on a more ethereal plane with our pets, and that we WILL see them again in another time anothe dimension, Believe and it will happen.
What follows is s set of musings I penned last night as I lay close to him on letting go, meeting again and. Celebrating his life with gratitude, note he is Not in Pain and letting him go is an act of extreme love. Our pain should be easier to bear when looked at from this perspective. Enjoy the reflection that follows anc s poem I write for my beautiful wise old boy Gir. What a great service you provide and much love to all of you.
Reflections
Tomorrow, we have the vet coming home to release Gir I feel conflicted and sad about this being Gir’s last night here with us in this house and his garden; his beloved garden where he loved to roam unfettered.
And I keep thinking about the life we constructed together, especially in the last 4 years more so than ever, since I retired and we spent most days together, brothers in arms, roaming the street, the creek, Mudgeeraba and its coffee areas, getting to know people and people getting to know Gir.
This perhaps more than anything makes me sad. He is my buddy, and I won’t have him anymore!
And I know I will feel grief and sadness in the coming days, emptiness, the hole he creates by his absence.
This is I will feel and can expect. I am a tad afraid of how I will cope but going from past experience, I know I will adapt and cope. I will have get used to a new life without doing the things I do for Gir, like feeding, walking, coffees, working out in the garden, resting in the Bali Hut together, gardening, watching tv, in our bed, bathing him, vet visits, special diets and treats, talking with dog walkers, holidays, and sooooo much more; giving me time on my hands that I do not want; me needing time with him!
But; and this is the big decisive BUT!
What we are doing and the timing of it IS the right thing to do, the moral thing to do, the unselfish thing to do, the loving thing to do, the compassionate thing to do, and my doing it proves more than anything else, my bond with and love for him. Simply put, If I really love him, I have to release him from a pain that is only going to get progressively worse. That is the proof and evidence of my love, and this action only makes my love greater, stronger, more enduring and nobler. It says to Gir, “I love you and release you from your pain.” And sometimes, love has to do this, that is think not of one’s own sadness and comforts but more of the others wants needs and best interests, even if that best interest is allowing him to pass with no pain or fear. So, this action makes our love richer, stronger and more enduring and unbreakable and will carry on. He will live pain free in his new ‘life’ and speak to me and love me and I will hold him in my heart and body and brain. I will hold his memory strong thru our stories, pictures, his ashes, videos, my writings, poems and the conversations I will have with him and through his protection of me at all times from the spirit world. We will meet in dreams and in another world, another time; this I know and believe it.
So, sadness yes, grief yes, but also celebration of a beautiful wise soul in the body of my cow-spotted Gir boy and in that way, that letting go of Gir will sustain and nourish me and free him.
So Gir, “no more pain for you and gratitude that you came into my life and will continue there and beyond, our souls bound inextricably together forever, defeating times petty artifices”.
Love you beautiful boy Gir!
Dad
My poem dedication to my sweet boy:: a celebration of his life:
God Full of Love
(To our Beautiful Boy – Gir – Forever Loved – Sunday 18th August 2024, looking over the blue mountains in Mudgeeraba)
Thinking about you, our dear boy,
Our beautiful boy, Gir,
So dearly loved by the three of us,
Four if you must ask,
Yoshi, his refrain being,
“Girry, come here Gir”.
Part of our existence
For these past 12 ‘something’ years,
Embedded into our lives,
In exquisite ways,
And at times,
Though lost for words,
Words are also my saviour,
Bringing hope and consolation
And reality back.
Words giving shape and life
And tangible form to the form.
I set the words,
I see the pictures.
I see you in front of me,
Expectant for walking,
Demanding for food,
Insistent for tummy rubs,
Overwhelming in personality,
Letting me know of your immutable presence, not to be ignored,
As you sit, front paws fixed firmly on my stomach,
Me on the floor, down for yoga,
Large soulful eyes,
Fixed on my face,
Reflecting our mutual love.
Wordless, yet more than words could ever say.
Words setting you in front of me,
Creating your presence,
Bringing you to life.
You wrap your presence around me
Like a comforting robe,
Saying, “ dad, it’s ok, it’s ok, this is good,
This is right,
Accepting what is, with grace,
Which is what I do, have always done.
So learn from me, how to love, hold, accept, release.
Thank you for taking away my pain,
For your courage in releasing me.
And I am with you always, whenever, wherever,
Just reach out and I will be there in more than words,
Through words to pictures,
Living in your heart, your soul,
Coursing through your blood,
Surrounding you,
And you can talk to me,
Carry me with you”.
I see you in places and pictures in our house,
Our bed, where you sit, sleep, burp, and fart,
Inching your way up to us,
Where you insist on mum’s hand
Unceasing on your belly.
On your ‘first dad’s bed, as he streams, drums, chills, you chillin’ with him,
And I reflect on the morning when Jay drove you up our driveway,
You strapped in the back,
In your new lead (still current),
Upright, mouth open, tongue hanging out, laughing-it seems- that you found your place in this world,
Vibrant life-full of
First Claude then Gir.
And we loved you when we first set eyes on you,
From then till now and beyond!
I see you at the back, amidst foliage
Soaking up the sun,
Face dignified and solemn,
Tongue, as you have want to do,
In your older years,
Sticking out,
Giving you the sweet idiotic look
We love so much,
But you stay solemn, wise, gentle.
I see you on the pool deck, in the Bali Hut,
On the driveway,
Any place where sun soaks into your cow-spotted coat,
You sit, gaze, slumber taking in the world- around.
I have enjoyed my tryst with you as we walk through your creek,
over the years and years.
You walking me in your zest for life,
Husky like dragging,
Then sudden lurches as you stop, sniff then moves on;
The world so viral, intense, so alive to you.
You’ve imbued every crevice of our lives,
Not with any assiduous effort,
But simply with you doggie goodness,
Your gentle air,
Your buffoonery,
Your wise ways,
Your urgent love of …
The simple things in life,
An absolute, effortless understanding of the nub of existence,
Living when you live,
And accepting end outcomes when they arrive ( as they will for all of us);
No endless nibbling at the fringes of existence,
Fraught with worry,
No clinging,
But simply asking to have a quiet passing,
(In your sniffed-out garden, mountain-gazing, sun-soaking, simply being)
Surrounded by your loved ones,
Ones who love you in return.
And pass from this life with grace, gratitude and acceptance.
And we who are left,
Gift you this passing,
Mourn you, love you, let you go,
Then turn to celebration of your quiet God full beauty and grace,
Forever in our lives, our hearts,
Fixed and forever.
(Finis)
Dear Michael,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Gir. Thank you for sharing his story with us and being willing to write out your feelings for others to read. It is a comfort to other readers to know they are not alone. It is clear Gir was a vital part of your life, and I am certain he knew how much he was loved. May his memory live on and continue to be a blessing to you. Wishing you comfort and peace as you continue life’s journey.
Thank you for writing this article Dr. Buzzby. It was a very difficult decision for me to put down my darling little white Bichon Miley 1 week ago. I feel like a part of my heart is missing. I miss her so much ! I am grieving deeply !
I got Miley when she was 1 years old. She was such a beautiful puppy with the softest white hair and brown doe eyes. She had the sweetest personality, She lovied dogs and humans. She was so intelligent and curious.
Miley’s deterioration started 1 year ago after she got her teeth cleaned and some growths removed from her eyelids. She had a seizure under anesthesia even though her bloodwork and tests came out clean before surgery. She kept walking around in circles,she was temporarily blind and very anxious. We cared for her and then her health improved and she regained partial vision, Then, the seizures started a few weeks later.
Her vet wanted me to watch the frequency of the seizures. He would give her medication if they happened too frequently. She had about four two minute seizures. I realized that when she got anxious, it brought on a seizure. So I limited any activity that would cause her stress. As a result, she was
seizure free for 6 months.
Two months ago, I noticed that she was drinking a lot of water but I thought this was due to the heat.
2 and 1/2 weeks ago, Miley stopped eating her prescription pebbles, She vomited once. I noticed that there was a tree nut in her vomit so I thought that this was the reason she felt sick. I gave her plain chicken and rice. She ate it but vomited again 3 days later. She was also sleeping a lot. So I made an appointment at my vet for that Saturday.
On Friday, she stopped eating her chicken and rice. She would only drink water. She could hardly stand up, She was very weak and constantly trembling.. She kept urinating on the floor instead of her pee pads.. She seemed to be confused and kept looking in the opposite direction when I called her name. I felt panicked because this was her favorite meal and it always solved any stomach issues. Her confusion was very strange.
I went to my emergency vet early on Saturday morning. He gave her fluids, antibiotics and blood tests. By that night, she had a 2 minute seizure from the stress of her illness and the Doctor’s visit.
Our vet called us with bad news Miley’s
numbers were extremely high. She was in kidney failure. Based on the severity, we could put her in the animal
Hospital for 7 days, It may bring down her numbers down a little but he did not believe that it would extend her life.
Miley was 15 years and 9 months old.
He said she was suffering and he suggested that we consider euthanasia as an option. My husband, son and I discussed it. We did not want her to suffer so we decided that we would spend one more beautiful day with her to be around the Lake and the community pet park which were her 2 favorite places. We wanted her to feel happy and surrounded by love. By that time, she was no longer eating food.
I had to give her 4 squirts of water by syringe every few hours plus her antibiotics. If I gave her 8 squirts of water, she would vomit.
We arranged for her euthanasia to be at home at 11 am last Tuesday but my fur baby went into multiple seizures with only two 30 second breaks that lasted for 1 hour. Her body was very hot by that time.
I was on the phone with the nearest animal hospital through the ordeal. As soon as the seizures stopped, I drove her straight to the animal hospital. They said she was dying but not in a good way.
At that point, I realized that I was forced to let her go. It was her time to go.. I kissed her and told her that there would be no more pain and suffering. The vet gave her the injection that stopped her heart while I stroked and kissed the top of her head.
My angel left this world at 5:54 am last Tuesday in August 2024.
I have been working through feelings of guilt. How did I not recognize these signs as being serious 2 months ago. It haunts me. She was deteriorating slowly but she was so strong that I thought we had a few years left together. I try to remember the good times because she was a very happy dog and she had a wonderful life with us. She only gave us pur, unconditional love.
However, her absence in my life has left a hole in my heart and soul. I cry every time I come home and she is not there to greet me. She is no longer sleeping near me in my room every night. I miss the little tap of her feet when she wanted me to get her treat. The 14 years and 9 months of joy she brought to our life was immeasurable.
Thank You Miley for all the joy you brought to my life, Mummy loves you and misses you dearly. I love you my so
Much ,my sweet little pea. Rest is peace ❤️
Dear Lisa-Anne,
My heart goes out to you with your loss of Miley. It is clear she was a big part of your life, and I am certain she knew how much you loved her. I know you would have done anything to give her more time but letting go was the only way to offer peace and freedom from suffering. May the memories of all the good times you shared bring comfort to your heart. Wishing you brighter days ahead as you continue life’s journey. ♥
Thank you so much for this . We lost our beloved beautiful baby Cookie to this horrible disease and we like you wish we had known earlier what is was causing our beautiful vibrant dog to keep throwing up and refusing every food on the market . It’s only been three days and the feelings of emptiness and heartbreak continue but this has helped me massively to understand that my feelings are normal and I’m not going crazy . Thank you once again I’m so sorry about your boy and hope he and our girl meet and are friends in their next lives . Much love from England uk
Dear Sarah,
I am sorry for your loss of Cookie. Praying for comfort and peace as you move through this emotional grieving process. Bless you. ♥
Hi am from India and thanks for the advices. Wa scrolling for advices and saw this page and started researching about Kidney problem in dogs. My female lab MIA is suffering from Kidney disease. She is not able to move at all. She still has appetite. Giving her rice with cooked carrot at the night. Splitting her food to 3 parts. Morning and noon rice with milk. Giving her tablets regularly.
Cried a lot day before yesterday coz she had seizure. Can I put her down. Please give me an advice.
Came to us as an 6 month old baby. Almost 10 years she is with us. Had her uterus removed last year, and my doctor said that the Kidney infection may have started at that time. We cured the uterus problem, but failed to diagnose the kidney. My whole family is depressed by this.
Dear Joshua,
I am sorry Mia is struggling with kidney disease. From what you describe, it sounds like her quality of life is not very good and she is nearing the end of her days. It is ok to say goodbye in order to keep her from suffering and to offer her peace and rest. I can only imagine how emotional this has been for you and your family. Wishing you strength to face the days ahead and praying for comfort for everyone involved. Bless you and your sweet girl.
I was forced to put my little Lue down 5 days ago due to kidney failure like all of you… the thing with my story is I didn’t know he was sick. I began to notice about 2 maybe 3 months ago that he was loosing weight and wasn’t eating. I contributed that to my other dog because he would eat both their bowls. So I didn’t think much about it, but as the time progressed, and I felt him getting skinnier and skinnier I would always whisper to him and to myself there’s something wrong, I know it. So here comes last Friday, out of nowhere I see him tremble and then fall over I freaked out and I attributed it to him wanting to go outside so we went outside. I didn’t notice him doing that any other time that night. The next day I noticed that he was sleeping funny and when I called him over, he stumbled and fell down once again like the night before and he kept doing it over and over again I panicked and I took him to an emergency vet. They did some tests on him and everything came back pretty good so I decided to take him home. They assumed that he got into something bad and his body was just passing it… Here comes Sunday and he is worse than ever, he can’t stand up. He had urinated all over the floor nonstop urinating.. he would have diarrhea, but with blood in it mind you for the past few weeks I had noticed that he had bloody diarrhea,( not all the time) it wasn’t a lot, so I didn’t bring him to his vet… I don’t know why I didn’t bring him in sooner I regret this so much……,
So I rushed him back to the same vet again and we agreed on bloodwork and blood panels and that is where everything came back wrong, that everything was too high things were too elevated. On top of everything they did an ultrasound on his stomach and on his kidneys and they found a large mass on his left kidney, and also that his kidneys were at a capacity of 25%.. i cried I yelled I screamed I asked what can we do to save my dog and they said no amount of money will help his final outcome we can operate to remove the mass but with how weak he was he wouldn’t make it with anesthesia… With all of my mite and all of my soul and power, I made the decision for him to be let go….. to be free of pain. to watch him decline from being the most happiest perfect most healthiest (that I thought) dog to dying within two days….. my heart hurts my mind wanders into what I’ve could’ve done. Why didn’t I see the signs? What could I have done to avoid any situation that happened to my little boy? I will never understand it. He was so perfect. He was the best friend, best dog, the perfect companion that you would wish to want to have he was that dog. I’m so sad to live without him, but I have been because I have no choice so I get every story that is above mine or below me, I hurt for all of you because I know how much this hurts.
Dear Enid,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Lue. I am sorry things progressed so quickly and you were left with making this impossibly tough decision to say goodbye. I can only imagine how much you miss him but what a blessing you were able to offer him a peaceful passing and free him from suffering. Hoping as time passes your heart can begin to heal and you can leave behind the guilt and grief. May Lue’s memory be with you always and bring you joy. Bless you. ♥
I haven’t lost my wonderful girl, Annie, yet. She is a 10 1/2 year old Dalmatian who has slept with my wife and I from the first day we brought her home. I often like to joke that there is no more effective contraceptive than a 65 pound Dalmatian in the middle of the bed. She’s an unrepentant lap dog and insists on sitting in her own chair at the dinner tab wondering why she’s the only one at the table without a plate. Over the past couple of months she has left our bed when we retire and gone to the den to sleep in one of the chairs. She doesn’t sit in her chair at the table but begs incessantly from the floor. She sleeps more than I remember her sleeping, but I attributed that to our hot Alabama weather. Although she seemed pretty alert, she just didn’t seem to have the pep I was used to seeing. Two days ago I decided to take her to the Vet for a check-up and a allergy shot. I asked the Vet do do a blood work-up just to satisfy my fear that there wasn’t something wrong with her that I wasn’t aware of. Unfortunately he came back with the news that she has lost almost 2/3 of her kidney function, in addition to 7 pounds since our last visit in February. He checked her into the hospital for 48 hours of intravenous treatment which will be followed by prescription meds and a new dog food. Our Vet says that given her kidney’s condition that we can expect maybe 6 more months to a year if we’re lucky. Needless to say I’m heartbroken.. Looking back I can probably say that several of the kidney failure symptoms you listed were present, although not glaring. I guess the lousy consequence of sharing a life with a pet is that inevitably you will have to grieve their death. I’ve enjoyed reading some of the comments you’ve received. Reading how others have loved and lost and survived makes what I’m abut to go through a bit easier.
Dear Tynes,
My heart aches for you as you face these last months with Annie. It is clear she is dearly loved and a vital part of your family. I have no doubt you will do what is best for her and offer her a peaceful goodbye when the time is right. Praying for strength and comfort as you navigate this emotional path. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
Hi💗… Our Nellie is an 11 yr old Terrier cross. We were also told 2 weeks ago that she may get 6 more months for the same reason(we had to put her sister… Litter mate… Down when she was 5 because of kidneys.). The decision will be soon. My husband is going to dig the grave this week. Prayers to you and yours ❤️
Dear Lisa,
I am sorry you are facing these final days with your beloved Nellie. Praying for comfort and peace. Bless you and your family. ♥
I’m with you 💔, I had to put down my beautiful boy Otis 5 days ago due to kidney failure it happened in the space of days he lost sooo much weight would eat then throw up would drink so much was wobbly on his feet I rang the emergency vets they told me to watch him why I don’t know I’m so angry , I took him to the vets the day after came back it was his kidneys they done all the things they could but he just kept declining he was only coming 6 I feel so much guilt for what I didn’t do with him in his life , it hurts so much I hate it , I want him back so badly 😭💔
Dear Eirinn,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Otis. I know you would have done anything to give him more time, but what a blessing you were able to relieve his suffering and offer him a peaceful passing. I hope with time the grief will fade and your heart can begin to heal. May his memory stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life. ♥
I am so very sorry. I had to make the decision to let my GSD Freddy go this morning.
I am so heartbroken and desperate to believe I did the right thing.
He was getting fluid treatment’s and antibiotics every day but was down from over 100 lbs to 84 lbs within a short amount of time.
I had noticed he wasn’t eating but had contributed it to the heat. The only thing he would eat were Brussels sprouts and cheese. Once diagnosed I tried all different things to get him to eat. He would love a bit of boiled hamburger and rice one day then wanted nothing to do with it, the chicken again after a day he no longer wanted that.
His numbers were off the charts and did not improve after some of the fluid treatments.
He mostly slept and it was becoming harder to get him moving to go out.
I couldn’t stand to watch him continue to deteriorate and I keep second guessing my decision. After reading this article I want to believe I did the right thing for him
Dear Myra,
I am sorry for your loss of Freddy. I can only imagine how hard it was to make the decision to say goodbye, but it sounds like it was the only way to offer your beloved boy freedom from his suffering. You chose to allow your own heart to break so Freddy could be at peace. I am not sure there is a greater act of selfless love than that. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Wishing you comfort for your heart and brighter days ahead. ♥
Thank you so much for writing this article and allowing us to share our stories. Despite the unfortunate circumstances that brought us together in this space, it is comforting to read everyone’s experience caring for their fur babies.
My 9 year old Welsh Terrier, Charlie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Kidney Disease mid March 2024. He is the sweetest pup, ageless with full of energy and play. People always mistaken him for a puppy.
Just a few days before being diagnosed, he was his good old self – living life large while eating and drinking normally. The evening before going to the Vet ER, Charlie had an incident where he had both diarrhea’d and vomited in the same spot – I knew immediately something was wrong.
Blood work and X rays were taken first.. From there we found values related to his Kidneys (Creatinine 8+, BUN 130+, Protein) were off the charts.. After a few more lab works including urinalysis, it was determined Charlie had stage 4 Kidney Disease, Renal Failure. This crushed my soul hearing Charlie was sick and there was no cure or going back… Our goal was to get Charlie comfortable enough to show us if he wanted to fight this or give up. It would have been unfair to not give him an option if he wanted it, so he took it and fought for his life to meet our expected Son, his younger brother.
We took the Doctor’s recommendation and hospitalized him for about 4 days so he can be on IV 24/7 – this immensely made him feel better and I was glad he was able to get comfortable. His condition and symptoms improved so we decided to bring him home for at-home treatment for the weekend where he had SQ Fluids (200 ml) on a daily basis, supplements (phosphorus binders) and meds for his hypertension. In the beginning, the first 2 weeks at home – we saw improvements slowly trending in the right direction. Despite his initial illness, he was still his bright and charming self. Quality of life was still there as he was still eager to eat/drink and take his meds. He was eating (lean ground beef, zucchini squash and KD kibble), drinking, taking his meds and going for short walks outside, but he was still weak to run the stairs or play.
As we approached weeks 3,4,5,6, and 7, he got to a point where he was “normal” again, full of life and energy – with nothing holding him back. It was a beautiful 1.5 month span that we got our good ole’ Charlie back at home. He even got to meet our first newborn end of March (we gave him the baby’s dirty laundry to sniff and that gave him a jolt of energy). Things were going very well until week 8 (mid May 2024), 2 months after his diagnosis, where his condition started to decline very rapidly. Very similar to the symptoms that got him hospitalized initially, he began to have reoccurring episodes of vomiting and diarrhea, but this time there is blood in his stool and he’s at a point where he needs to wear a diaper because he cannot control his bowel movements. He is also not eating and drinking on his own.
After visiting the vet again and running lab work, the doctor recommended to think about end of life care and considering it sooner rather than later. I must admit, I was in denial of Charlie’s condition and euthanasia was such hard concept to grasp during that time, until I came across this article and the comments people have left to comfort each other:
“You made the difficult decision to allow your own heart to break and give him freedom from suffering and pain. There is no greater act of love than that.”
After seeing his condition rapidly decline, my wife and I have made a decision to break our hearts so Charlie can be free from suffering and pain. We are making arrangements to let him go peacefully before that opportunity passes. I know for a fact Charlie fought as hard as he could to meet our newborn and we are so proud for his bravery and resilience that he achieved that goal. Now that he reached his purpose that seemed almost impossible, I feel that it was his choice to put an end to this fight and accept his next adventure that is awaiting for him. The last thing we want for him is any unecessary pain or suffering, since there is no going back from Stage 4. Everything at this point will just prolong the inevitable- we would rather say goodbye when there is still a bit of joy. We love you to the moon and back Charlie Bear.
Please know your article has brought me peace and reassuring ourselves that we are making the correct decision, although it crushes both our hearts. My condolences to everyone who has lost their fur babies to his horrific disease. I pray you find peace and reassurance that no matter what happened, you did the best for your loved ones and I truly believe they understand and are grateful that we are strong enough to make that decision on their behalf. Stay strong for them as they are our angels.
Forever Charlie’s Daddy,
Huey Tran
Dear Huey,
I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to your beloved boy. Charlie sounds like an amazing pup and I am certain you were a blessing to each other. I appreciate the kind words and am glad the article was able to offer comfort and support as you faced a very emotional decision. Thank you for sharing your experience as your words have touched my heart. I pray for your peace and hope your heart can begin to heal. May Charlie’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
Thank you for this article on kidney failure, it and the comments have been very helpful. My Chloe a JRT was 15 years old. The last couple years she was diagnosed with arthritis and a collapsed trachea. Nine months ago she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and early chronic kidney failure. She was doing fairly well but progressed to stage 4 in three months. I started subq fluids at home 2-3 times a week. She refused to eat any of the dietary kidney food and then pretty much refused anything but treats and some human food but she wasn’t losing much weight yet and was drinking a lot of water. She laid in her bed and slept most of the day. She stumbled backwards often and sometimes needed a little help to go outside and did have occasional accidents in the house. All of the sudden about three weeks ago she could barely stand up. She would walk a few feet and then quickly lay down. She was hunching her back when she did try to walk. I was carrying her in out to potty and she just seemed to just collapse when I laid her back down. I called her vet’s office but it was Friday afternoon and they were closing soon and suggested the ER vet. That night I carried her to bed and she woke up a couple hours later panting and breathing very rapidly. I gave her some gabapentin which after 45 minutes didn’t seem to make a difference so I took her to the ER vet. In the end I made the decision to let her go instead of letting her just keep declining. But now I have such guilt and second guessing. I feel like I rushed in my decision and the guilt is consuming me. I do feel her quality of life was very low and I want to believe I was stopping her suffering and letting her leave peacefully with dignity but I can’t let go of this guilt. I loved her so much and I’m so lonely without her. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Dear Karen,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Chloe. It is normal to ponder all the “what ifs” while grieving, but please don’t carry the unnecessary burden of guilt for how things progressed. The ER vet would not have discussed saying goodbye if they didn’t think it was a loving option. I am sure Chloe knew how much you loved her, and it is clear she had a wonderful life by your side. May her memory stay with you always and be a blessing to you. ♥
You absolutely did the right thing. It would have been cruel to keep her alive when she was in such a bad way. I’m going through this now with my dog (an English Setter) and I only hope she deteriates quickly rather than drags it out.
Dear Lorraine,
I am so sorry you are facing this emotional situation with your Setter. Praying for comfort and peace. Bless you both. ♥
I just want to thank all those who shared their heartbreaking stories of love and loss. My 11 year old Shar Pei named Lucky will be be leaving this earth tomorrow after an in-home euthanasia visit. Your stories were what helped me to make the difficult decision to move forward in that regard. I wanted Lucky to stay with me as long as possible due to my own selfish desires because he’s been my constant companion for the past 10 years and losing him is breaking my heart. He was only a year old when he came into my life. After reading your stories and noticing how much my beloved companion has declined since his CKD diagnosis in February, the decision to euthanize has been so much easier to make. All the things that many of you have described happening to your beloved pets have also happened to my Lucky Boy. The weight loss, chemical breath, rotting teeth, nausea, incontinence, sleeping most of the day and night, weakness, confusion, loss of appetite, etc….Lucky tolerated the IV fluids and medications very well for about 10 weeks and even improved during the initial 6 weeks of treatment. He began declining again about 4 weeks ago and over the past 3-4 days his decline has been very rapid and noticeable. I’m grateful for the past months that we’ve had together and I’ve been able to make the most of every minute, but it’s time now to end his suffering. I don’t think I could have made such a decision without reading your stories so I’m in gratitude to you all.
Dear Stephen,
My heart goes out to you as you mourn the loss of your beloved pup. You absolutely made the most loving choice for Lucky in offering him peace and freedom from his struggles. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us. I hope Lucky’s passing was peaceful and he was comforted by your presence. Wishing you strength as you continue life’s journey. Bless you. ♥
Thank you for this article on kidney failure, it and the comments are very helpful.
My Chloe a JRT was 15 years old. The last couple years she was diagnosed with arthritis and a collapsed trachea. Nine months ago she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart (murmur) and early chronic kidney failure. She was doing fairly well but progressed to stage 4 in three months. I started subq fluids at home 2-3 times a week. She refused to eat any of the dietary kidney food and then pretty much refused anything but treats and some human food but she wasn’t losing much weight yet and was drinking a lot of water. She laid in her bed and slept most of the day. She stumbled backwards often and sometimes needed a little help to go outside and did have occasional accidents in the house. The day after she had her shot for her arthritis she could barely stand up, she would walk a few feet and then quickly lay down. She was hunching her back when she did try to walk. I was carrying her in out to potty and she just seemed to just collapse when I laid her back down. I called her vet’s office but it was Friday afternoon and they were closing soon and suggested the ER vet. That night I carried her to bed and she woke up a couple hours later panting and breathing very rapidly. I gave her some gabapentin which after 45 minutes didn’t seem to make a difference so I took her to the ER vet. In the end I made the decision to let her go instead of letting her just keep declining. But now I have such guilt and second guessing. Why didn’t I ask the ER vet to run any tests first or should I have tried to wait till Monday and taken her to her veterinarian. I also now feel that maybe the shots she was receiving for her arthritis was making her worse and feel so guilty that I didn’t research it more, maybe she could have gotten better when the shot wore off. I feel like I rushed in my decision and the guilt is consuming me. I do feel her quality of life was low and she probably would’ve only had a few months left even without the shots if that. I want to believe I was stopping her suffering and letting her leave peacefully with dignity but I can’t let go of this guilt. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would really appreciate any insight you may have.
Dear Karen,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Chloe. I can only imagine how difficult it was to say goodbye and understand how your mind tends to ponder all the “what ifs” while grieving. Without having played a personal role in her medical care, it is hard to make specific conclusions as to why things progressed the way they did. Ultimately, you made a loving choice to offer your beloved pup peace and rest and I would have done the same for one of my own. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal. May Chloe’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life.
Today I said goodbye to my Maximus Smarticus. He is 10 and was diagnosed with Stage 2 kidney disease in 2021. He was on a kidney diet and lived a good dog life.
He loved to run around an orchard and hunt ground hogs when he was younger, but within the past two years his energy levels decreased significantly. He started sleeping more but would let me know he still had a little play left in him until the last couple of months. He loved to eat and went to completely not eating or drinking. He lost lots of weight and muscle mass.
I made the hardest decision today because I couldn’t see him suffer like he did the past two days. I’m thankful for the great time I had with him and the comfort he gave me during my difficult times. I am confident he knew he was loved and comforted as he took his last breath.
Dear Rebecca,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Maximus. What a blessing you shared 10 wonderful years together. I am sure you have lots of great memories. I know things won’t be the same without your sweet boy by your side, but I pray his memory will stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life. Wishing you all the best as you continue life’s journey. Bless you. ♥
Lost my golden retriever, my best friend of 8 years just 4 days ago. We were aware that he had kidney problems since last year but he was doing so well after series of vet visits and medication. However, last week we have noticed that he was no longer getting up and eating, which was unusual cause he loved eating so much. When we brought him to the emergency vet, it was a national holiday so it was so difficult to find an open clinic, he can no longer stand and he was also positive of distemper so he couldn’t be admitted. His creatinine was 1000% higher than the normal. That’s when everything sank in to me. After 3 hours, we lost my baby. I just went in my room for a while after fixing his IV, then he’s gone. Never felt this kind of pain in my life ever. I just miss him so much. Couldn’t forget how he put his head into my chest even when he was already struggling and in pain.
Dear Andy,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved Golden. I can only imagine how much you miss him but feel certain he knew how much he was loved. I hope as time passes your heart will begin to heal. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I am currently in your situation. Thanks for sharing your story.
I stumbled on this site while looking for reassurance that I made the right decision with putting my 13 year old pomeranian, Melody, down last Monday.
3 weeks ago my dog was showing signs of what we thought was only pancreatitis. However, when we brought her to the vet she had chronic kidney failure and acute pancreatitis. Before we brought her in she was vomiting when drinking water for 2 days, had a decreased appetite, very lethargic and would not bark (Melody would bark at everything even if a leaf blew by her). The vet said she would need to stay hospitalized for a week on fluids to treat her pancreas and stabilize her kidneys. We would visit her every day but when we would visit her we noticed that she would no longer stand on her own once she was hospitalized and her hind legs were lower which would make her slide down. Every time I would put my face near her face she would move away which was not like her because she was a dog who would lick my face constantly.
The vet explained her numbers were going up on the 3rd day of intense treatment which was not normal along with that she had developed a heart murmur. By the 5th day her kidney numbers were down to 120 which were still high given that her numbers were not reading when I brought her in and she was anemic.
The vet said all she would do was lay on her side and not do anything else. At that time we thought she was homesick because we never left her with anyone else in all 13 years of her life. She was released on the 7th day and I would administer fluids under the skin once a day at home. Her appetite slightly increased and was not throwing up however, she would not get up and had a difficult time standing.
3 days later we took her back to the vet to check her blood for her check up which was better but I would need to inject her with B12 shots every week. However, they never told me when to come back to check her kidneys. That night she was panting which her eyes bulging, her tongue outside of her mouth and went limp, when I picked her up her body felt like mush. Later on I picked her up again and I noticed she wouldn’t hold herself up and I had a feeling she had a stroke. The next day I called the vet, they squeezed her in knowing her condition and I made the decision to put her down because the entire night she would only lick her nose while panting and never got up physically. I never had a clear answer if she had multiple strokes or if this was the rig hit decision because I did not want to put her through anymore tests and my vet was in surgery. But the more I learn about kidney failure, I have learned they are prone to strokes.
I struggle with if I made the right decision and if she indeed had multiple strokes over the last week of her life which caused her to stop barking, to lay on her side and her hind legs to be bent lower due to a neurological issue after a stroke because no one ever told me that these were her finally stages. The vet would always ask me if she was alway like this in which she was not. The main thing is that I was never able to explain how she was prior to going to the vet until I came to this site because her behavior changed drastically which was literally over night and never got better after I took her to the vet. I know they did all they could but did I do all that I could for her or was it too soon?
Dear Lindsey,
I am so sorry for your loss of Melody and wish I could take away your guilt and conflicted feelings over her passing. From what you describe, I definitely think you made the right choice to let her go and end her suffering. You may never know the exact circumstances that led to her condition those last days but take comfort in knowing you gave her peace and rest the only way you could. I am certain your girl knew how much you loved her. May her memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I have been reading here and is heartbreaking . My story is a little different because Rollie wasn’t my dog but he was my first grand fur baby and love him very much and even thought for some life events, he was not in our family anymore he was in a loving caring home with amazing people that adored him and Zara ( her mommy) and I kept in contact for the past 8 years she have him, always telling me how happy he is and how much they love him, sending pictures and videos . Then I got a text from her , letting me know he was sick for 3 days , went to the vet and diagnosed him with kidney failure!!! What?!! How can this happen so fast and suddenly? I still can’t understand… She put him to rest yesterday and she have me walking with her through the process at home in the patio with a beautiful sunny weather because that was his favorite spot. I’m devastated, in lots of pain and is so weird because he didn’t live with us, why is this so painful?!! And I’m so afraid now for my two little doxies , because he was fine , eating and running in the park just 4 days before . Please help understand how can I avoid this illness. I do dentals, taking them to the vet and blood test according to the vet are good but one of my dogs have lost weight and they can’t figure it out why!! Sorry for this long post but I’m in so much pain . RIP baby Rollie, grandma love you and miss you already 🌈🐶🙏🏻
Dear Alex,
I am so sorry for your loss of Rollie. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew how much you cared. I am not sure there is really any way to avoid kidney problems. Some dogs are just genetically prone to develop certain conditions while others are not. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to ensure your two Dachshunds remain healthy and happy for as long as possible. Wishing you all the best and praying for comfort and peace.
I am still struggling to come to terms with the loss of my beautiful 13,5 year old Sprocker Spaniel on Friday 22 March 2024. I spent so many hours last week trailing the internet to find stories of owners who had been through it so I’m pleased to have found this site and felt I needed to share my Loo Loo’s story.
Loo was a one off. She gave love like an explosion. All she wanted was to make us happy all the time. I will miss the way her little brown snout would suffocate us- she loved to snuggle so tight. It was one of our concerns when the children were babies, but luckily she seemed to know how small and vulnerable they were and ignored them- Well until they were a bit bigger. Loo would then let the 4 year old put bows in her hair, and always walked sensibly for our 6 year old. In these mourning days where I am crying my eyes out looking through the photos of her throughout the years, I see she was there through everything. She was a huge chunk of our family and I honestly don’t feel I’ll ever get over her absence- and I guess I don’t really want to get over her anyway.
To just go back a week or so to mid February. Loo had started sleeping more. We would notice her little head not respond when we called her, and when we gave her treats, she would miss them- Living with another dog, Loo never missed a treat! But then she stopped eating properly – even treats didn’t seem to interest her. She was rapidly losing weight.
I told my husband to book her in at the vets for the following day. Old age, we presumed.
At the vets, they were just as stumped. Physical assessment showed nothing, ultrasound showed nothing. Just as my husband was settling the fee, the vet mentioned about doing a full blood count. Loo had a dental about a year ago and her bloods were ok at that point.
They arrived home, and I told Loo she was our little mystery. Then, an hour or so later, the vets called my husband and told him the devastating news that Loo’s results were off the charts. There were talks of numbers which should be less than 400 being in the 900s! The vets weren’t sure how she was walking about, wagging her tail. She was such a fighter- never wanting to let us down- not that she ever could. She was in Stage 4 Kidney Failure. There was no coming back from that.
The tears came, then the options. Loo spent Wednesday on a drip. When she came home later that night, she seemed to have her appetite back. So we decided to return her the following day. We foolishly thought we could live a life of giving Loo a morning or afternoon on a drip everyday, and then spend time at home with us. But, when my husband returned home from the vets, he had been given the serious chat from the vet. They had told him that the previous day had not made any difference. They didn’t say the words, but we knew it was time.
I couldn’t breathe. The thought of letting this little creature go. She had been in my life since I was 21- and now at almost 35 she wouldn’t be in my future memories. It was a no from me.
But then I noticed, all the things I had not been seeing. Loo was struggling. She wasn’t just old. She was constantly trembling, refusing all food, and just wanting to sleep.
I took her in the garden and she just stood on the grass, her narrowed eyes just staring at me. I saw the pain she was in. I saw the love I had for her and realised…It was time.
I couldn’t believe that in less than 48 hours earlier, we thought she was just getting old. And now we were saying goodbye. I still don’t think I have adjusted to the shock.
We spent one more day with her. A beach trip where she made us doubt the decision- chasing her ball like a pup! But, when back in the car, the trembling started. We tried to tempt her with a cheeseburger but she just sniffed and went to sleep on my lap.
That night, in bed, I held her so tightly, desperate to slow down time. All night, she trembled in my arms. I knew we couldn’t let her suffer anymore.
The following morning we took her to the vets.
And then, laid in my arms with my husband holding her paw and us both whispering how much we loved her, our sweet, cheeky and loving girl slipped peacefully away.
When the vet checked for a heartbeat and declared it had stopped, my own heart stopped too. I feel in that moment it was broken.
I still haven’t quite come to terms with it all. The fact that I’ll never hold her again, never feel that snout against my neck.
All I know is that my Girl told me. Grief is the price we pay for love….and she had so so so much love- She gave us enough to last a lifetime.
Dear SJ,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your words are so beautifully written and have brought me to tears! It is obvious that Loo was a once in a lifetime kind of pup and her presence was larger than life. I can only imagine how much you miss her, but what a blessing you were able to be with her in those final moments. I am sure your presence was a comfort. I hope with time the grief will fade and you will find comfort in all the wonderful memories you shared. May Loo’s legacy live on and continue to bring happiness to you and your family. ♥
My dog is a jack Russell and is 16. 18 months ago she was diagnosed with kidney failure and given 8 months to live. However she is still around. she still loves to play ball and chase the birds but has dementia moments, which can be really difficult. She has bad days but most days are still good. She has started to cough repeatedly in the night. We have been through stages of no sleep as she has kept us all up but now have a good routine and she now sleeps through the night. Every time I feel that the time has come to say goodbye she perks up. She has had a couple of seizures but I was told when they become regular or she stops eating will be the time to say goodbye. I take every day as a blessing to still spend time together on short walks and playing ball but it is a struggle daily in regards to managing the constant in and out the back door and regularly feeding her 4+ times a day to keep her full and happy. I think the hardest part is the effect on my other dog who has begun licking excessively and has become anxious over some of the dementia behaviour. I am now ready for when the time comes but still waiting for the time when it is more bad days than good. I think everyone who has shared their sadness and story has been very brave as it is not easy looking after a sick animal and being left with out them.
Dear Jo,
I am sorry your senior girl’s health is starting to decline and it is affecting the behavior of your other pup as well. I am glad you are keeping a close eye on her ever-changing condition and trying to ensure she maintains a good quality of life. Wishing you strength and clarity as you navigate this difficult path. Praying for comfort and peace for everyone involved. ♥
My yorkie Bentley was 12 years old and the best boy ever. Came home from vacation on match 11 and he was not acting him self, more mopey, not eating as much, was not excited to get new toys, wouldn’t come when called. This was for a day, so I decided to bring him in. His kidney levels were so high.
Creatinine was greater than 5. Bun was greater than 150. My only option was to admit him to try iv fluids for 48 hours. Looking back over the last 2 years he wanted to go out more at night and would drink more water at night, thought it was just him getting older: 3 weeks before his breath got a foul odor that I didn’t think nothing of since he already had stinky breath.
The first day in the hospital he ate and loved their food there, received iv fluids and iv abx. The night I visited he was so lethargic and only want to lay in my lap. I noticed the trip of his tongue was turning black, I let the doctor know. The next morning I got the call with updates, his kidney levels barely improved with the iv fluids, his blood pressure are now over 200s, the tip of his tongue is now necrotic and they said it will eventually fall off( which he could live with a partial tongue) but this process would be very painful. I guess it’s not commonly seen in kidney failure but is noted as a symptom. He refused to eat that night probably because his tongue was so sore.
On March 14th I had to make the decision to put him down. there was no way I could let him suffer for weeks, without his kidney numbers improving. It was the hardest decision I have ever made.
I keep thinking back what If I caught it earlier could he have lived a few more happy/ healthy years? Was this chronic or acute ? Could something else of been wrong that caused it? There are so many questions that run through my mind.
Not sure when this will get better.
Bentley Scott is dearly missed
Dear Leah,
My heart goes out to you as you mourn the loss of your beloved Bentley. It is normal for your mind to wander with all the “what ifs” but please don’t carry the unnecessary burden of guilt over how things progressed. I am sure your boy knew how much you loved him and am certain he lived a wonderful life by your side. I hope with time the grief will fade and it is replaced with peace. Bentley will never be forgotten and may his memory continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
We found out the day after Valentine’s Day that my Sophie, a Shorkie (1/2 yorkie, 1/2 shi-tzu) was in kidney failure. My heart shattered when I heard this. I’ve been doing so much trying to keep her with us as long as she can but since we found out she has refused to eat the kidney defense food. After her not eating a few days I made the decision to give her organic chicken breast and ground beef because I just couldn’t watch her starve anymore. She ate good until yesterday when she started throwing everything up, which is what I was afraid of. She’s become very lethargic, not even really drinking water anymore. I got home from work last night, she can barely stand and is almost like she’s drunk and very disoriented. I know I have a decision to make and it’s becoming one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made in my life. She’s given me 16 of the best years of my life, I just want to make sure I make the decision at the right time, not too early and not too late because her suffering is the last thing I want. I am COMPLETELY heart broken. );
Dear Kim,
I am so sorry you were faced with this devastating decision for Sophie. I know how hard it can be to make the choice to say goodbye to a beloved pup. I am not sure how things turned out, but am sure Sophie knew how much she was loved and that her life was full of joy and happiness. Wishing you comfort and peace.
7 years ago my wife (gf at the time) brought home a tiny Australian shepherd puppy that has done nothing but bring joy to our lives. Milo was diagnosed with renal failure a couple of months ago. He just got out of 3 days in the dog ICU and looked like he was making a turn but now at home even with IV fluids and all sorts of medication he is slipping away from us. He doesn’t appear to be in pain. Just tired all the time, a little slower and no appetite at all even with appetite stimulants. He gave us the best 7 years I’ve ever had with a pet and I’ve had 6 others. We are coming to terms with the fact that we probably won’t have him anymore very soon, but I don’t know what our lives will be without him. Heartbroken and devastated. They just don’t live long enough.
Dear Chris,
I am so sorry Milo is not doing well and you are facing some difficult decisions about his quality of life. Is sounds like he has lived a full and happy life, and I am certain he knows how much he is loved. Make the most of these last days you are gifted. Praying for comfort and peace. ♥
Hi Chris,
Just read your story about your four legged baby. I’m in the same position, my beautiful boy is only 6 and is the love of my life. 2 days ago I was given the devastating news that he’s in Stage 4 Chronic kidney failure. My kids and I are absolutely devastated and heartbroken as you are.. We are now having to make the tough decision of when the right time is to call things – he’s still happy with his big brown eyes, desperate to chase his ball and swim in the sea but so thin and lethargic and not eating much. Our amazing vet has told us that fluids and anti-nausea pills may help him for a but sadly the outcome is still going to be the same. Thinking of you and wishing you well in what is an awful journey.
Dear Nique,
My heart goes out to you as you face these end-of-life decisions for your boy. Hoping his final days are full of happiness and joy. Wishing you comfort and peace as you navigate this difficult path.
Tammy just turned 11 in October she was a Doberman mixed , had her since she was 8 weeks old , she was my first foster failure dog as I knew there was something special her, She was my world. It started with going to the toilet outside and would stay in the that position , I knew something wasn’t right then . A month or 2 went by I noticed blood dripping from her after she been to the bathroom , I race her to the emergency vets , they said it could be an UTI and that’s what happens to older females dogs. The antibiotics from them did nothing . She was still eating but I noticed she was drinking a lot of water by then she was peeing on the couch where she slept , I took her again to my normal vets they did some urine sample and it seems to be normal and focus more on the possibility of bladder cancer cause of her age . . By then she would race out all hours to go to the toilet. Back to the vets in January and we did an ultrasound . All came back clear but her bladder was inflamed and painful , terrible hips ( vets words) and you probably have a dog that probably be dead in a few months ! I didn’t believe it cause it’s Tam she a stoic kind of dog , . It took her a few days to come back to after the sedation which was very scary. I knew her body was weakening just put it down to old age , She started to eat and drink again . Gave me hope , They gave me pain medicine for her seem to Improve her moods but I started to notice she was in different spots in the house or sleeping a lot on the couch which I put it down to getting older trying to get comfortable . The weather was getting hot here too so she would find cool spots around the house she even dug a ditch under the bushes too keep cool which was unusual as she hadn’t done that in years. I notice she wasn’t eating which again wasn’t that usual for her. Her last days I knew something wasn’t right , the Saturday night when it cooled down I geared the dogs as I own a pug as-well to go for a walk , Tammy loves walks . She didnt want to go alarm bells went off , I encourage her to come out with us as she been stuck in the house all week with me back at work during the day and the hot weather ,we got to 2 houses down and Tammy just stoped and lay down and didn’t want to get up. My neighbour helped me get Tam in the car cause I raced back to get the car cause she refused to move. She went back on the couch and stayed there mostly. I did hear her panting a lot , dry reaching here and there. Next day Tam seem off still , I knew she hadn’t been drinking as her lip started to sag and a lot panting, I was not well . I keep an eye on her as she would hide around the house to rest, I saw when she got up she started to stagger, I thought oh no, I found Tammy in her ditch she couldn’t moved labour panting , looking very sick, I had pick her up and get her into the car and race to the emergency vets I knew my dog was dying. Got there I asked for IV she not well , the examine her and said I have a very sick dog and no promises she will make it through the night and they had to say it will cost thousands of dollars with no promises. They did a quick check of it was diabetes , Before I made the decisions I had all these flash backs of Tams conditions, from the ultra sound the vet words running in my mind about the terrible hips and bad arthritis which she was on pain management for. Her gums were pale , she been depressed and just looked miserable the past month/ weeks , eyes were sunk in , wanted to do what was best at the time with her condition and with the vets advice . I regret my decision to be honest and I have cried everyday with the guilt that I could of done more . I had to educate myself about kidney disease as it wasn’t the main topic at the time and I feel that’s what made her go down hill. I got Tams ashes back yesterday and I’m still in disbelief she is gone , I live alone and have no real support over her as I live in a different country to my family. I’m in my head all the time about what I could of done , did I over dosage my dog on pain meds , did the UTI tablets make things worst and advance her hydration I knew she was getting older and it is another level caring for a senior dog and I wasn’t prepared. I was exhausted from washing towels every day from Tammys leaking , I was worried sick all day and wasn’t focusing and not being on the present moment, Myself and my pug are depressed I ugly cry a lot and blame myself , I lost my buddy the only thing I truely loved and I felt like I killed her.
Dear Kylie,
My heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of your beloved pup. It is clear that Tammy was dearly loved, and I can only imagine how much you miss her. I understand how your mind tends to run through all the “what ifs”, but please don’t continue to carry the unnecessary burden of guilt over how things happened. You and the veterinary team did the best you could and sometimes the outcome is just out of our control. I hope as time passes your grief will fade and your heart will begin to heal. May Tammy’s memory live on and always be a blessing in your life. ♥
Our Pomeranian mix baby turned 7 on Sunday. She has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives. Her kidneys never formed correctly at birth and we have faced CKD from the beginning. She is currently end stage CKD with anemia and not eating since yesterday. Tomorrow we must face very difficult decision if time to euthanize. Just cannot accept this. Heartbroken and devastated do not begin to describe how painful losing a beloved pet is. They definitely do not live long enough. I am so sorry you are also dealing with losing your beloved pet.
Dear Kim,
I wish you were not facing this emotional decision for your beloved pup. But I know you will make the most loving choice and ensure your sweet girl does not have to suffer. Praying for a smooth transition and peace for everyone involved. Bless you and your family. ♥
Hi Chris, so sorry to hear of Milo’s condition, its heart breaking, praying he can pull through. We had the difficult decision today of euthanasia for our 16 year old dog Pip. she was diagnosed with kidney failure 2 years ago and has gone on to lead a full life until last week, unfortunately the disease got the better of her. I contacted dignipets after a recommendation from a friend and I can honestly say, heartbreaking as it was, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Her passing was so peaceful and dignified, we couldn’t have given her a better send off. lost without our 4 legged companion but so grateful she is now at peace and no longer suffering.
Dear Nichola,
I am sorry for your loss of Pip. What a blessing you gained 2 extra years together after her diagnosis. Thank you for sharing the information about dignipets. I am glad you had such a good experience with their services. Wishing you all the best as you continue life’s journey. Bless you.
Our precious Buddy, a rescue, was with us over 14 years and estimated to be around 2 when we brought him home on Valentines Day. He proved to be the love of our lives and the heart of our home but he had multiple medical needs over the years including splenectomy: surgery for bladder stones, a benign tumor in the liver lobe, cataract surgery then became blind from SARDs anyway. The last two years of his life one of us was with him every minute and it was like having an invalid but we didn’t care he was the sweetest dog ever and we loved him so much.. The he began drinking copious amounts of water and losing weight and started refusing food. He saw this Vet many times but continued to decline until finally she diagnosed him as dehydrated and kept him over the day of July 3 this year to rehydrate him however, when we came to pick him up, we found him limp and unresponsive which she said he’d been all day. His kidney number was over 200 and she told us he was in kidney failure. He had lost about 9 pounds over the past few weeks and was down 4 more pound that day which was a lot for a doggie his size., he was normally around 30 pounds. She wanted us to sign to have him euthanized and I did it. I had promised Buddy I’d never do that to him but I SIGNED THOSE PAPERS and while waiting for her to come back with the shots I asked Buddy did he want to go home with us. He softly made the little squeal he always made when he recognized my voice then put his little paw on my arm and immediately seemed to relax and go unconscious. The Vet came back and I, usually very vocal, felt like I was in a trance and just allowed her to kill our boy. I have had great difficulty handling this decision since and cry every time I try to talk about it. His ashes are on the mantle now but everyday I regret doing that.. My husband won’t get another dog *which my cardiologist said to do as I ended up in the ER with heart issues the week after this happened.. I understand how he feels though and I know another dog would never take his place plus like my husband I don’t think I could ever go through the euthanasia.ever again. If I had that to do over I would not do it even though his Vet said that would be a mistake.
Dear Ann,
I am sorry you are still grieving so deeply for your beloved Buddy. I remember reading and responding to your two other posts from this past July. Saying goodbye to your sweet boy in the clinic that day may have saved him from a tragic passing and suffering at home later that evening. Allowing your own heart to break so Buddy could find peace and rest was the ultimate act of selfless love. Hoping your heart will heal and you can find joy in the memories of all the good times you shared. Bless you and take care. ♥
Ann, I am still haunted by euthanizing my soulmate, Mollie Mae, three years ago. She had lymphoma but I feel like I gave up too quickly. I will never forgive myself and wish I had gone with her. I understand how you feel, and I’m very sorry for your loss.
Dear Michele,
My heart goes out to you as you continue to mourn the loss of your beloved pup. Wishing you comfort and peace. Bless you. ♥
Dear Ann,
I read your post and if it helps ease your pain, I think you did the most loving thing you could do for your baby. We lost our precious 10 year old Wheaten in 2020 to late stage kidney failure. She was diagnosed on a Saturday night and by the next Tuesday she was gone. We tired to find someone to euthanize her in our home but no one was available and by the time we decided to take her to the vet it was way too late. She passed at home naturally and it is not something that I would ever want another beloved pet of mine to experience. The fear and pain she must have been experiencing while she was going through end of life seizures was devastating and I vowed that I would not let that happen again. End of life kidney failure is not a natural peaceful passing. So now, we are facing it with another of our beloved pets, a 7 year old Bull Terrier that has been diagnosed this past weekend. She is right now in the vet hospital getting treatment to lower her kidney values but we have been told that her time is limited. We hope to bring her home and will care for her and love her as long as possible but we will make the decision when the time is right to let her go peacefully without suffering. Its one of the hardest things you will ever do but in the end it is the biggest act of love you can do for them.
Dear Mark,
I am so sorry you are facing this tragic situation with your Bull Terrier. Thank you for taking the time to offer comfort and support to others while navigating a difficult path yourself. I hope your girl will be able to improve enough to come home and spend her final days surrounded by those who love her most. Praying her passing will be peaceful and smooth. Bless you and your family.
This was so sudden yet so expected at the same time. I lost my beloved Coco exactly 24 hours ago from me writing this. Coco was 18 years 2 months and 5 days old and lived a very healthy and pampered life, barely ever needing to go to the vet and all the people working there would always be so surprised at how old and well kept she was. Coco’s health declined so suddenly and rapidly with her loss of appetite, constant peeing around the house, and unresponsiveness in less than a week. I asked my mom to bring her to the vet since I had to go to work and a few hours later I get the call that her kidneys were failing and even aggressive treatment wouldn’t guarantee that she would be ok afterwards. My sister who worked in the vet field for a long time made a 3 hour trip to get here to be with Coco in her final moments. as the doctor said she only had a few days left but it only turned out to be 15 hours. Out of everyone in my family, Coco’s passing has affected me the most out of everyone since we got her when I was 3 and I became very attached right away and would always cry if she got even a little sick with nothing serious. I’m 21 now so I’ve lived such a huge chunk of my life with her being around to see me finish pre school, elementary, middle, and high school, and even the 2 years of college that I did and the last 2 years that I’ve been working. She was around to see one of my sisters get married and meet all 4 of her kids, and to see my other sister get married as well. She got to meet my soon to be wife as well and it’s almost as if her mission was to keep us company until we found people who would love us and take care of us the way she would’ve done. Coco would always run in excitement whenever I would get home from school or work and loved to sun bathe in the backyard, and I’m really glad that she was still healthy to enjoy her time outside this year while the weather was still nice. I knew she was old and that she could leave us at any moment so I would sometimes pray that her passing would be painless and in the comfort of our own home and that we would be able to say goodbye one last time instead of a painful and unnatural death where she would be alone which is exactly how it happened yesterday. During her final 13 hours I held her and talked to her, telling her of all the good times we had, thanking her for her time and company, telling her that we did the best job that we could to take care of her, keep her safe, keep her happy, telling her that she’s the most special and unique dog and that I wouldn’t trade her for anything else. I also thanked her for letting me be her dad for so many years as I was the one who took care of her and showed her the most love and affection in my family and spoiled her all 18 years of her life, and that if she wanted to give up already that I would understand and not be mad. I told her she made us all very happy and proud. It broke my heart to remember the day we picked her up from the pet shop and how hyper she was when she saw us versus how I saw her in her final moments, still and unresponsive and grey fur mixed in with her brown fur. Coco passed away peacefully and painlessly surround by the ones who loved her most, exactly how I had prayed for. As her breathing slowed and she became colder and more still, she passed. My sister and I sobbed for what felt like an eternity, realizing that she was finally gone and all of the great memories I have of her replayed in my head, and I reminded myself that we treated her so well and pampered her, babied her, and did everything we could for her to always have a comfortable life even in all the times she was healthy. There won’t be a day that goes by where I won’t be thinking of her which is what I told her as she was in her final minutes. No other dog will ever compare to her. She was never a pet but she was always family. I miss her so much and I’ll continue to miss her every single day. We now have her paw prints, nose prints, and pieces of fur to remember her by. I may have gone all over the place with this comment or maybe not have all the right punctuation, grammar, or spelling but I’m still so disoriented that my mind can’t focus on anything else right now. I’ll be getting her ashes in about a week and she’ll be back in my room with me again where she won’t ever have to leave. Thank you for everything you’ve done for my family and I, I love you so much Coco <3
Coco
September 27, 2005 – December 2, 2023
Kevin,
What a heartbreakingly beautiful tribute to Coco. She was there for so many important parts of your life, and for the lives of everyone else in the family. Those dogs we grow up with will always hold such a special place in our hearts, and losing them is devastating. I’m so sorry for your loss. I have no doubt that she knew how much she was loved and that she loved all of you dearly too. Praying that you find some measure of comfort in the days to come and that writing such a lovely tribute to her has helped a bit in the grieving process. ❤️
I lost my Masha just day before yesterday. She was just 1.5 yrs old. cutest baby ever. She was diagnosed with rubbery jaw syndrome in March which was due to underdeveloped kidneys. She fought and survived medications for nearly 3 months.Earlier this week she started vomiting blood and had fits . Finally she was put to sleep. Loss is heart breaking but will relish the golden time I spent with her. My fighter Masha.
Dear Anku,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Masha. You did the only thing you could to offer her peace and freedom from suffering. I am certain your girl knew how much she was loved and that you gave her a wonderful life. Praying for comfort and healing for your heart. Bless you.
We lost our Sienna Bean January 12th 2024. I ask myself what could have we done differently. She was just 7, full of life. A Doxipin we adopted from a rescue .It started 12 days before with accidents in the house, which she never had. So we tested her urine and were given antibiotics for uti. She became larthgic, not wanti.g to eat and them vomiting. We thought it was the antibiotics. Took her in 4 days later aftet she lost interest in eating. Awe, she loved to eat. Sienna Bean would spin as you placed her food down. What joy that gave us. Vet took blood and told us to stop meds. Appetite stimulate was given too. She ate a small bit and was still feeling bad. Checked on her that am before work
She seemed the same, I can In a few hours later and she couldn’t see me. Her eyes had filled with blood, she was blind. Rushed to vet. They went over results, did ultrasound. Her levels were elevated a little. Gave her steroids told us her blood I’m eyes would ho away In a week. I took her home, but didn’t feel right with what I was told. Took her to ER vet, her blood pressure was over 200 and blood levels were off the chart, her heart slowed to 84 and she began having seizures. I knew then she was in pain and dying. My family & I made the decision that still breaks my heart to ease her pain ans let her go. I whispered I loved her in her ear & held her close rocking her as meds were given. Our other dog howls for her and we all take turns not letting him be at home alone.
Dear Timeka,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Sienna Bean. I know you would have done anything to keep her with you, but think you made the most loving choice in offering your girl freedom from her suffering. I am certain she knew how much you cared and that your presence was a comfort during her final moments. May her memory live on and continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you healing and peace. ♥
I also lost my baby lab of kidney failure few days back he was just 7 years .I am very upset crying daily cannot forget him .I don’t know what to do I lost interest in life .plz help me
Dear Harjit,
My heart goes out to you with the recent loss of your beloved pup. I can only imagine how much you miss him. Sometimes the only way to lessen the grief is to talk with others and share your feelings. Here is a link that provides many resources for pet loss support and bereavement: https://www.humananimalbondtrust.org/pet-loss-support-hotlines.html
Please don’t walk this emotional path alone. We are all here for you. Wishing you comfort, healing, and brighter days ahead. ♥
What kind of dog was coco?
Kevin, my heart is broken for you. I think the attachments we have when we grow up with a dog is almost like growing up with a sibling. I noticed you wrote your’ comment at 1:30 a.m., Writing helps with the grieving process. . I’m nearly 72 years old and I still think of my first dog as a child, Tippy, who will always hold a special place in my heart. Sure hope I see her on the other side🌈. Blessings to you and all the others who commented here. We’re in the process of loosing our 16 year old dog to kidney disease. Guess, as the saying goes, it’s the cycle of life….
Dear Rondi,
I am sorry you are facing the last days with your senior pup. Thank you for being willing to offer support and comfort to others when you are in such a difficult situation yourself. I hope you will be able to make the most of the time you are gifted. Praying for peace. Bless you. ♥
My Pit/Lab Domino (9 yr) is only days away from crossing over. It has only been 3 months from his diagnosis. He has declined pretty quickly. We are. just spoiling him with his favorite foods (when he will eat) and very short walks. It is more sad, as we know he is our last dog. We are retired and will not be able to afford veterinary bills. So sad to think of life without furbabies.
Dear Fran,
My heart aches for you as you face these final days with your beloved boy. Hoping you can make the most of the time you are gifted. Wishing you and Domino comfort and peace. ♥
This article has been very helpful to us. We are currently going through the kidney failure process with our Havanese. He is currently hospitalized to have fluid therapy and introduce new medications for him. The vet contacted us today and said he had vomited again overnight but did eat well today. He has been going through renal disease for about a year and it is progressing pretty rapidly now. He has most, if not all, of the symptoms listed for end stage disease. His blood test numbers have doubled in 4 months. The vet told us that we are facing some tough decisions with him now. I think overall we have decided to see how he responds to the current treatment before we make a decision. We love him so much, but don’t want him to suffer either.
Dear Cindy,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your little guy. It seems like you have a good partnership with your vet, and they are trying their best to give your pup some extra quality time. Praying for your strength and comfort as you navigate this unknown path ahead. Bless you and your sweet boy.
i just had to put my 5 yr old Snoopy down because of Sudden/Severe Kidney Issues. I am absolutely heartbroken because it was so fast and came out of nowhere.. But what hurts so much is he was in so much pain before passing.
* Wed and Thurs Nov 22 & 23 Snoopy started to do Bum Scoots for 2 days and I thought it was just constipation, and I watched him and he would not eat, but would still drink water.
* Then Friday came along, and he did not look good at all and by Sat morning he worsened, and was walking around then would stop in middle of floor and just stand there. After about 5 minutes, then move little more and stop and stay there. he could barely open his eyes and also looked like he was sleeping. When I would ask him for Kissees, he would just touch my face with his mouth but could not open his mouth.
Keep in mind since Friday I have been non stop crying throughout this whole ordeal. Watching my babies whole life suddenly change 100% was so awful to watch. I did not realize the pain he was in and thought he was just groggy from the meds.
* Sat around 1:30pm I had taken him to Vet and they gave him fluids and some nausea meds and another to make him eat.- this was in afternoon and when I had taken him to the car, he vomited everywhere and it was orange/Rust color.
The vet adv to monitor him at home and if any changes bring him back. that night he slept and then would get up to try to go to bathroom every hour or so, And would drink water.
* Sunday morning, he could not barely move, did not want to go out, he would look straight ahead and did not respond to me. I asked for Kissees and he just stared off into space.
He then went to get water and he was standing over the water bowl and then his face dropped into the water and that was it, I pulled him out of water, and brought him back to vet.
Sunday around 12:30pm I think. and they had done blood work, x-rays, and given him more fluids and pain meds. They went to lift him up to move him and he vomited everywhere.
They found that all his blood works regarding his kidneys they said all the parts of blood count or kidney count ( sorry not sure ) but all were elevated 11 times the normal count should be. and long story short, they adv he is in so much pain and body wont accept anything and he also would not open his eyes.
they adv they could keep him overnight or few days, but its so severe he will be in pain because he cant keep anything down and I need to consider putting him down.
* There was no other way, Snoopy had not eaten any morsel of food now for 5 days and hes drugged up and keeps vomiting. I had to do it and I’m so heartbroken. I love him so much
I have his mom and his 2 brothers at home, and now the sadness continues into watching their behaviors and they keep looking for Snoopy and when we go to bed, Snoopy is not here, and Foofi and Frankeeeigh his brothers started whining, and I’m sobbing and all of us are just sad.
Snoopy was 5 yrs old and was so perfect before Wed….. I don’t know how this happened so fast and severe.
Dear Laura,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Snoopy. I am so sorry things progressed so quickly and you had to make the decision to say goodbye. I know you would have done anything to give him more time, but letting go was the most loving choice and only way to give your sweet boy the relief and peace he deserved. If your girl pup is Snoopy’s mom and Foofi and Frankeeeigh are truly Snoopy’s brothers, I highly recommend you have them evaluated and make sure their kidney function is normal. Many times, conditions like this can be genetic and I would want you to have the option to catch this early if your other three could possibly be affected. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and your other dog’s will be able to overcome their grief as well. May Snoopy’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life.
Dear Dr. Buzby, your article has been a source of comfort during this heartbreaking time with my 8.5-year-old miniature poodle in kidney failure. She’s been in the hospital since Monday, struggling with a heart murmur and increased kidney levels. Your insights and the shared experiences in the comments have been both comforting and saddening. We’ve known about her kidney issues for a year, treating her with prescription food and meds, but recently, her reluctance to eat escalated, leading to a diagnosis of end-stage kidney failure.
Despite her anxiety in the hospital, she’s shown improvement after fluids, yet her levels aren’t where they need to be. Choosing the right food is a challenge; she dislikes the prescription renal food but has shown interest in chicken breast, veggies, and low phosphorus treats. It’s a tough decision on how to proceed, torn between her preferences and what’s best for her health.
Like others, I can’t adequately express the ache in my heart. Having her away is disorienting, and the thought of saying goodbye is overwhelming. Thank you for providing this space, Dr. Buzby, where shared stories and information offer solace during this difficult time.
Melissa, Forever Callie’s mom.
Dear Melissa,
My heart goes out to you that you had to face this difficult situation with Callie. I am glad the article was helpful, and you found comfort in the experiences of other readers. Hoping Callie was able to keep fighting and gain some extra quality time with you. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying all is well and wishing you the best.
I lost my 6yo terrier mix Turner 2 days ago to kidney failure. He was positive for lyme disease. Little signs here and there,but Friday when we woke and he wasn’t waiting for me I got the worst feeling. He was on the couch panting looking confused and in pain. I sent my son to school and called the vet. Turner progressed so fast couldnt walk started drooling. We tried to give him antibiotics and take him home. My mom came to say her goodbyes he tried to make some noises but it was miserable. He stopped breathing on my couch right as my son was getting off the bus. I didnt see or hear breathing put my head on his chest and his heart was beating hard for a few seconds then nothing. I miss him so much Im in disbelief. Please use prevention for lyme disease.
Dear Stacy,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Turner. I am glad you were by his side during those final moments as I am sure your presence was a comfort. May his memory live on and continue to be a blessing to you and your family. Wishing you happier days head as you continue life’s journey. ♥
This article and comments have helped me so much. My beloved RUDY rescue dog who was just shy of 17 years old (they think) 14bs in the end lost his fight with kidney disease last Monday. Oh yes I tried everything I knew how to help when i got the kidney disease diagnosis in Jan. And I’m sure I missed things too. The end was so fast – like so many. But just maybe all that i did kept him healthier a little longer. I had the weekend to say goodbye. No it was not long enough but it did help prepare me for seeing his decline. Not eating, disoriented, sleeping or just laying there staring into space. I took videos and pictures. His passing was at home very peaceful and full of love. I realized I wasn’t looking for a miracle cure. I was looking to turn the clock back 5 years – wasn’t going to happen! So when I have one of those crying spells (often) when I expect to see him I lean in. I cry my heart out. Then I look at pictures of how he was in the end. I realize I DID release him from his pain. Pure act of love. Then I look at those earlier pictures of my sweet happy funny Rudy – and smile.
Dear Cindy,
I am sorry for your loss of Rudy. I can only imagine how much you must miss him but am grateful you were able to give him a peaceful goodbye. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew. I am glad the article and comments offered some comfort during this emotional time. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. May Rudy’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
I have written to you here on Oct 6th about my 16 years old jack russell.
Well we had to have her euthanized on Oct 9th.
In 3 days she rapidly declined.
She started by vomiting once a day, so we got her on medication but the meds couldn’t help her and she kept vomiting her meds and anything she would eat or drink. The last two days of her life was tough. She was extremely lethargic and she had tremors. Her feet were swollen. We took her to the ER , she was given anti nausea meds and IV . They told us it would give her a boost but it did not. Eventually the last 2 days of her life she stopped drinking and eating. I had to syringe feed her some water but eventually she just wasn’t swallowing.
We knew it was time. We called our vet to have an in home euthanasia.
She had been sleeping all day, she could barely open her eyes. But when she received the first injection , she opened her eyes wide open to look at me. The look she gave me has haunted me ever since. It was sadness scared perhaps.
Our last night together she was just trembling and she couldn’t sleep. I held her all night .
I cried so much, I cry everyday, the pain is unbearable. I have loved her so much. I feel so lost without her. I got her ashes last week. I just can’t believe that she’s gone forever and that I’ll never get to hold or kiss her ever again. Her body is now ashes. Completely shattered. The grief comes in waves. When it hits , it takes my breath body away. I will miss her forever.
Dear Marianne,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your beloved pup. I am sorry her condition deteriorated so quickly, and you had to say goodbye in such a short period of time. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am confident you made the most loving choice. May her memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
I just lost my Baby to kidney failure this afternoon. We did IV drip and four other medications. Today was the seventh day of treatment and nothing was working. I was with her, my Savannah, when she collapsed in the backyard gasping and body shaking, then her body was still. I am struggling. Vet said she was in the early stages of kidney failure. With meds & special food she would survive longer, but you just don’t know how your baby will react to the treatment. I am heartbroken and I can’t stop seeing her struggling in her last moment. Thank you for giving me a place to mourn my Baby.
Dear Josie,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your beloved pup. I know her final moments were not the peaceful ending you would have hoped for, but I am certain your presence was a comfort to Baby, and she knew how much you loved her. May the memories of all the good times you shared be a source of comfort as you grieve her passing. Wishing you peace and healing for your heart. ♥
I came across this article as I’m trying to make sense of what happened to my beloved dog, I still feel shocked by her loss. My Stella (a Bichon Frise Maltais mix), passed away almost 4 days ago. She was 14 years and 1 month, and the light of our lives. Her absence left a void that feels horrible, insurmountable and surreal. Aside from some very minor issues she had through out her life, she remained a very healthy, youthful dog until just about two weeks ago. Her eyesight was still good and she didn’t even have arthritis. She behaved more like an 8 year old dog than 14, which gave the impression I’d have more time with her.
Around 2 weeks ago, I noticed a change in her behavior and energy levels which I attributed to the changing weather and first signs of aging. She showed slightly more difficulty climbing the stairs and showed more hesitation when it came to jumping. She also appeared clingy at times, as if she were frightened by something but I made sure to give her all the attention she needed. Sometimes she’d linger in one spot and just stay there as if frozen. She trembled more often than in the past but didn’t think too much of it as the weather was getting colder and I put it down to getting older. Now that I look back, that’s when I realized it was something I should have taken more seriously. She started losing weight although it wasn’t too obvious and her backbone seemed to be protruding more, though I wasn’t sure if it was due to being groomed 2 weeks ago. Turned out she was eating less while still seemingly having an appetite and nothing else struck me as being too out of the ordinary since she still climbed stairs and jumped on sofa. Those may have been warning signs but they were not too obvious, aside from bad breath which we planned to bring up to the vet to have 2 teeth pulled out. Her deterioration happened in about 8 days, where the vet noticed nothing wrong during the physical examination.
It was the blood tests that showed she had advanced kidney failure. Her creatine levels were very high and she had anemic as well as other abnormalities. She became more wobbly, unsteady and lost strength in her legs at a pretty fast rate, on top of excessive lethargy, She would no longer leave her bed and basically hide in a corner. My heart broke when I realized something was seriously wrong (as the blood tests had revealed) and she’d lost interest in everything she used to, like going for walks and car rides. The vet recommended euthanasia, which was out of the question.
I’m not sure when her kidney disease started exactly but it deteriorated quickly. We’d had a great summer together, with lots of walks and car rides, so I wasn’t mentally prepared to lose her the way I did. The hardest part was seeing her eyes become so lifeless and her weakening legs which were strong – how she could barely stand up and stare into space as though she were lost. Once she refused food and water, and needed help to stand, I knew it was her time to go. Even though she was always cared for, I still wish I’d done more. Nothing prepared me for her loss.
Dear T,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Stella. It is clear she was dearly loved, and I am certain she knew. It is normal after such a big loss to ponder all the “what ifs”. But please don’t allow yourself to carry around the unnecessary burden of guilt. As soon as you realized there was a problem you acted quickly and did all you could to ensure Stella was comfortable. Even if you had been able to detect this sooner, I honestly don’t think it would have changed how things progressed. Hoping with time your heart will heal and you will be comforted in knowing she lived a wonderful life. May her memory be a blessing and bring you joy as you continue life’s journey.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m currently going through similar with my yorkie, Tink. she was a rescue, they told us she was 2yrs old, we took her to the vet and they estimated her at 6 to 8, which was back in 2017. So, my Tink is anywhere from 8 to 14yrs old. Back in the summer, she started having seizure type episodes, where multiple vets told me it was neurological, and gave gabapentin for pain, which seemed to help a decent amount. She had a good summer, lots of car rides and outside time. This past week, she got sick. She wasn’t eating her food, which isn’t uncommon, she gets tired of certain foods and I’ll make her scrambled eggs, or boiled chicken instead. I assumed this was just one of those times, until she started puking. I’ve never seen a little dog puke so much. The vet we went to done x-rays and blood work, revealing her liver is huge, and she is in chronic kidney failure with a BUN or creatine level of 200. She isn’t eating much, no matter what is offered, she is still drinking and peeing a lot. She is mostly laying sleeping, but can’t get comfy and is constantly switching her laying spots. her front legs are starting to fold, as would a little lamb, I compare it to. I just don’t know if it’s time to let her go, or if I have a while longer. she’s been my best and my only friend, actually, for the past 6 years and I’m struggling with the thought of her being gone so bad it physically hurts.
Dear Rikki,
I am so sorry Tink is not doing well and may be nearing the end of her days. It sounds like you gave her a wonderful life and that she knows just how much you love her. Please reach out to your vet for guidance on how to know when it is best to say goodbye. They can give you their honest opinion and make sure your sweet girl does not suffer. My heart goes out to you as you navigate this emotional situation. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you and your little pup.
I just lost my spunky 10-year-old Carin Terrier to Polycystic Kidney Disease, and I am devastated. It’s very hard still for me to talk or write about it, but I am commenting here incase my experience can help enlighten someone else who has a dog with this terrible disease.
At age 5-6 he had a blood test warning his kidney values were more like that of a senior dog. No symptoms. By 7 1/2 he was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney failure and put on a kidney diet. He still showed no symptoms. I cried for a week after his diagnosis, but after a month or two with no symptoms, I decided to not think about it, feed him his special diet (he loved the food), and enjoy having him as my pal.
Well, a year went by, and still no symptoms, and then another, and while his kidney values inched up, they were still stage 1 to beginning 2. No symptoms. I was beginning to think, the SDMA values in the blood tests were a mistake, or he was one of the lucky ones whose KD would not progress further. Now, I realize I was in denial. But I had to be, or I would have been consumed with worry every day for 2 ½ to 3 years.
Nine months after his yearly check up, one month after his 10th birthday, my boy, who 2 days prior jumped off the kitchen table when he was “caught” scavenging food, refused his treat and heartworm pill covered in peanut butter. My little boy was a doggy who never missed a meal. No one’s food was safe left unattended. He lived and breathed food, so I knew something wasn’t right. That night he began acting sick–sleeping so hard he was hard to wake up. He was lethargic and he worried me so that if he wasn’t better in the morning, I was going to an emergency vet. The next day, a holiday, he wasn’t right, but a little better, so I took him to his regular vet on Tuesday, the next business day.
The vet ran blood tests looking for kidney malfunctions, and on Thursday we got the results, he was well into stage three of kidney failure. He went from 18 SMDA in December to over 35 SMDA in September. On that same day, he lost his appetite. He would not eat his dog food—maybe take three bites and walkaway–and I went crazy trying to feed him anything I could that was kidney friendly, carrots and watermelon one day, rice with low-salt broth the next. I also was giving him entice and subcutaneous fluids every other day. (Yes, I learned to do it myself.)
For the first week after his present diagnosis, I saw improvement. He was more alert. He begged for my food, he started following me around some again, but I soon lost hope when the next weekend, he quit eating. The vet said to try baby food. He scarfed it down, and I had hope once again, until that night he got very sick. He threw up anything in his stomach and some horrible smelling bile, afterwards. Of course, the next day, he refused to eat the baby food chicken he’d eaten so well the day before.
He was prescribed antinausea meds, but still, that day he only ate two baby food hotdogs and had two licks of low salt broth. He would drink water, thank goodness. He would eat a little bit of a certain food for a day, then when it made him feel sick, he’d refuse it the next.
His backbone became prominent, and while he lost only a little over a pound in a week (He was 20 lbs healthy), his backbone stuck out. I read later that KD causes dogs to lose muscle tone in their back. He shed a lot, and his hair changed texture while growing slightly darker. My poor baby visually looked so sick it hurt my heart. His expression was strained. His tongue was gray and his gums white. His pretty pink tummy had turn white all due to anemia caused by non-functioning kidneys.
I made the decision that if by Thursday of that week he showed no improvement after anti-nausea meds, I would set him free. I wish I could tell you differently, but he only got worse. By Friday afternoon, I had to carry him out to use the bathroom (which my good boy only did outside all through his illness). He would not walk for more than a few steps.
I scheduled an appt. at the vet for Saturday morning and took Friday off work and spend the day with my little boy in my bed. He snuggled with me all day. I took pictures, He looked cute in some, and in others, very sick. I did not want to take the sick photos, but they now remind me of why I chose that day to free Scamp despite the fact my heart was, and still is, breaking. (It’s so easy to forget and 2nd guess my decision.) I carried him on his last walk he only walked 5 steps, me about 1500, and then around the backyard, so he could have one last look at his home. The next day we drove to the vet with the windows down. My son held him up so he could enjoy the breeze and strange scents.
I held my sweet boys head in my hand while his soul left this planet. It has been almost 4 weeks, and I still cry every day, and second guess my choice, ect. But I know I did the right thing. I have pictures to remind me.
Did I have prior warning? Apart from kidney value tests, the month before he got sick, I noted him sleeping more. I kidded him about having bedhead when he woke up because he slept so hard. I remember thinking, I’m late with his mid-year checkup, I will make an appt. after Labor Day. For a month or two prior, he had slowed down a bit, but I figured he was 10. Oddly, earlier in the year I noted his younger brother starting to steal the alpha role. I suppose, that was a sign too. Four days before he got sick, I caught and stopped him from eating dirt out of one of my planters. I later found out they eat dirt because it contains iron, something he was gravely lacking. My little boy went from a ball of energy to acting like a 15-16-year-old dog in a matter of days. From when I noted symptoms to his last day on earth was 21 days. FYI: Carin Terriers life span is 13 to18 years.
Breeders, there is a low-cost test for the gene for Polycystic Kidney Disease that would stop the spread. If either parent is a carrier, they can pass it along to offspring. Please be kind.
Dear Susan,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your beloved pup. I am glad you were able to be with him during his final days and hold him during those last moments. I am certain your boy knew how much you loved him and that your presence was a comfort. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. This may be exactly what someone else needs to hear to help them along this difficult path. May your sweet boy’s memory stay with you always and bring you joy. Bless you. ♥
I’m going through the same thing now my heart hurts and breaking she is still with me but I am so sad and know the time is coming. I want Lap of Love to come over. Deepest sympathy to you my friend. ❤️🐾
Dear Valerie,
Wishing you comfort and peace as you face this emotional decision for your sweet girl. Bless you. ♥
Im going through the same thing now- stage 4 kidney dz with my 15.5 year old coton de tulear. About a year ago I noticed she was drinking lots of fluid and peeing more including peeling in her sleep. She stopped doing that about 6 months ago. I noticed she was losing weight feeling her bottom rib cage – thinking she could lose the extra weight since I was told she was overweight by the vet in the past. I’ve also noticed my dog was eating a lot less over the 1/2 year. I started feeling more prominent spine bone, leg and hip bone. I attributed sleeping more due to old age. She had occasional body jerks over the last several years but this last month has occasional trembling. 2 weeks ago she stopped eating- including her favorite treats after giving her meds by syringe. She still drinks some water. She would go to the vet for IV fluids during the day, anti-nausea med, antibiotIc, pain med, syringe fed, appetite stimulant for 3 days – we would bring her home each night. Labs on kidney function got even worse- I had the weekend to cry. I’m not going to force feed her at home or force syringe meds since she’ll probably just throw it up. She went from 24 pounds to 13 pounds. She won’t eat. She looks so calm and peaceful laying next to me Just wondering if she might pass away peacefully via sleep vs taking her in to be euthanized.
Dear Katherine,
My heart aches for you as your senior girl is nearing her final days. It is possible she may pass quietly on her own, but choosing to give her a peaceful goodbye with euthanasia is also a loving option. I highly recommend a hospice veterinarian. They can help ensure your girl is comfortable for the time she has left, and they can arrange in-home euthanasia so she can stay where she is most comfortable. But even if euthanasia is done in a clinic setting, your vet can offer sedation prior and ensure the process is smooth and free from fear and pain. I always think it is better to let go one day too early rather than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. Make the most of each day you are gifted. Praying for your strength and comfort. Bless you both. ♥
1. In-Home Dog Euthanasia: Heartfelt Answers to 12 FAQs
2. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
3. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
I am in tears. My dog is sleeping on my foot right now. I think he will pass soon. He doesn’t seem to be in pain. I think his body is giving out though. He ate tonight, he has been drinking like crazy all day. But, his back legs have not been working for days and he will often fall over, but I just couldn’t take him in to be euthanized. That was the plan and I went to S. Texas for that purpose, but couldn’t. He seemed so nervous. Hhe would follow me around and bark if I left the room, so I decided against it. I decided to bring him back home to die.
Two and three years ago I lost two other senior dogs. One to renal failure (like BowTie) she was 17 and I had her put down and I thought that was the worse way to ever feel. Then I lost her sister Maryann who died from Caner at 18. And the last few months I think were horrible for her, but I couldn’t put her down and I think I regretted that even more. But now it is BowTie and I just couldn’t decide so I decided to wait until he stopped eating, His eating has been sporadic but he was eating some.
As mentioned I even drove down to family in S. Texas so that my brother could take him in to have him euthanize but couldn’t because I needed to be there. The trip was hard on him, he did seem to be in pain in the car (his breathing was rough). but he was eating (just not walking). I got home he immediately laid down and went to sleep. He seemed comfortable here. But, a few hours ago he woke up and was dragging himself across the room so I gave him another fluid therapy. He laid down on my feet at that time and I left him there while I watched TV and then I had to get up. I tried to get him to move but he hardly woke up. After multiple attempts to get him up, he will lift his head several times but will eventually just lay down again. I don’t think I will sleep tonight, I want to be here with him all night. If he makes it through the night, I guess I will take him in to be euthanize. Please pray that he is not in pain. He just looks as if he is too tired to do more than lift his head.
Dear Laura,
I am so sorry BowTie isn’t doing well and is nearing his final moments of life. I can only imagine how emotional and hard this must be for you. If getting to the vet is too difficult and stressful you may be able to reach out to a house call vet for in home euthanasia. I hope by now you have found the help you need, and your sweet boy isn’t suffering. Praying for peace and comfort. Bless you both. ♥
In addition to having congestive heart failure and a collapsed trachea, our 12-year-old terrier mix named Miles was (after blood work) diagnosed with moderate to severe renal failure. During the vet visit Miles was injected with a diuretic and prescribed gabapentin pain reliever. He had been in noticeable decline for his last two weeks and in particular his last two days. After giving him his 2nd dose of gabapentin and letting him out to do his business, he collapsed in our yard. As it was, we were carrying him up to bed his last couple of months. Miles stopped eating and even drinking water those last two days, so we made the hard decision to euthanize. While my wonderful spouse has no doubt it was time and I don’t necessarily disagree, I am totally beating myself up for us declining a senior blood panel two years prior when he began losing small amounts of weight. (he was once 20-lbs and died at 15-lbs) Without exaggeration, we are in indescribable emotional and even physical agony. We lived for that little boy, if we went away on vacations, we always rented pet friendly places. If he couldn’t go with us, we wouldn’t go. Today was our first full day without Miles and our hearts are as empty as our home is without him. Thanks for allowing us to write this.
Dear Dommy,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Miles. I know you would have done anything to give him more time and restore his quality of life. Ultimately, you made the loving choice to allow your own heart to break so your sweet boy wouldn’t have to suffer. Please don’t carry around the burden of guilt over how things progressed. It is very possible that the weight loss was not all due to the kidney disease and even if you had pursued lab work 2 years prior it may have looked very normal. Kidney failure can develop quickly with little to no warning. You didn’t do anything wrong and hear me when I say you did not fail your boy. You gave him a wonderful life and I am certain he knew how much he was loved. May his memory live on and be a blessing in your life.
I let my Simon go, black and white maltipoo, yesterday at 4;55am. I’m heartbroken. I have moments when I relive losing him and it takes the wind out of me. He was my best friend for 16 years. He was diagnosed with Renal failure two years ago and until about two days ago acted like his usual cheery self. He started to dry heave and it progressed very quickly after that. I held him all night and then suddenly he pulled away from me and lost his ability to stand and control of his bladder. He was looking around the room confused and I held him for a couple of hours- he had labored breathing and I saw the light go out of his eyes and I sobbed all through the night. At 3 am I decided to take him to the ER and I had to let him go. I just want to know- was he in pain when I held him for the 2-3 hours before going to the ER? Should I have taken him sooner – like the day before when he started dry heaving ? Did I make him suffer unnecessarily? I can’t sleep because of these doubts and regrets. I miss him terribly.
Dear Jane,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Simon. I understand your worry and the need for some comfort as you ponder the “what ifs” of his last days. From what you describe, it doesn’t sound like your boy was painful. It does sound like he was growing weaker and may have been a bit confused but what a blessing you were able to be by his side the entire time. I am certain he knew how much you loved him and that your presence was a comfort. I do not think you caused any suffering. I pray you can allow yourself some grace and leave behind this burden of guilt you are carrying. You did a good job making loving decisions for your sweet boy and offering him peace and rest. May Simon’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
Our Bella is a 6 year old mixed pup we rescued at a very young age from a shelter. On Wednesday 9/27/23 when I arrived home from work, I noticed she was shaking. And later noticed she couldn’t jump up in the couch. On Thursday we took her to the vet. They took X-rays to rule out any injuries or blockages., but all looked good. There was no apparent issues so they did bloodwork. Bella is already on Telmisartan for slightly elevated protein in the urine. Friday we received the call that changed everything. Bella had elevated creatine, BUN and phosphorus, which put her in stage 4 kidney failure. We were shocked. She also had high blood pressure. They hospitalized her the next day and gave her IV fluids for 3 days. On Sunday 10/1 Bella turned 6 and spent her day hooked up to an IV. When the bloodwork was run again on Monday 10/2, the numbers had gone up So she went home on a prescription diet, phosphorus binder and blood pressure meds. She had been breathing very rapidly and we noticed swelling starting I. Her legs, since we brought her home, so on Thursday she went back to the vet for X-rays to check her lungs and heart. All was good. We got the “quality of life” talk from our amazing vet, but I could not see that she was ready. She was still eating some and no vomiting. So she came home. Over night the swelling got so much worse. Her neck and face were now swollen. She was losing her ability to walk because her legs were too swollen. We knew it was time to let her go. So on Friday, just one week after her diagnosis, we took her to the vet and laid with her while she passed on to her next adventure. It was so peaceful for her but heartbreaking for my husband and I Bella was my baby, she was so young and this was not supposed to happen. We still had things to do, hikes to go on, places to visit. We just did not have enough time with her.
Thank you for these articles.
Dear Patsy,
My heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of Bella. I am sorry her condition progressed so quickly, and you had to make this difficult choice to say goodbye. I am glad her passing was smooth and peaceful. What a blessing you were able to be with her in her final moments. May Bella’s memory live on and bring happiness to your life. Thank you for sharing her story with us. Bless you.
My sweet jack russell who will be 16 on Oct 28, was diagnosed with end of stage renal disease.
She was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy two years ago and she was fine beside slowly losing mobility. She’s been deaf for over 3 years now and we managed. She’d had such a full life. We moved her around the world to be with us. She’s an integral member of our family.
We just got a diagnosis for kidney failure 6 weeks ago or so and it’s been tough.
She’s been declining drastically on top of all the other disease and you know old age.
I went to the vet twice to consider putting her to sleep but twice the vet refused and told me to go home and to think about it.
He said she’s still got sparks in her eyes. But I know in my heart it’s time.
She still eats but very little and I have to hand feed her which I don’t mind. She drinks a lot and she still can hold her pee to a certain point. Even with her condition she still manages to drag her little body to go pee and poo outside.
We’re really trying to make her life easier. Lately she’s had bad breath, her breath smells like her urine and no sores in sight. She’s been battling constant UTI. I asked the vet if she’s in pain and he really said no she isn’t and to enjoy the last few weeks or months we have with her.
She’s my everything. I’ve had her since I was 19 and she means so much to me.
It’s so hard to make the decision and it took me all the courage in the world to bring her to the vet and to be turned down twice !
I’m happy to be able to have some extra weeks or months with her that’s for sure. But sometimes I feel so selfish. I know she only wants to be with me.
It’s been quite humbling to care for her as she’s getting older. How can I euthanize her when she saved me countless of times. I have two young children at home , one 10 months old. It’s been challenging to say the least. But I would do anything for her. People see me and they think I’m selfish for keeping her in this state. But I truly give her the best of care. I’ve been on maternity leave back to back so I’ve been home caring for all my babies. I got her wheels, I bring ber to the Physio and chiro monthly. I take her out under my stroller. I’m all in and I will be until the end.
Dear Marianne,
I can only imagine how hard it is to see your girl’s health slowly decline. It sounds like she is well taken care of and loved dearly. You know your girl better than anyone, and if your intuition is saying it is time to let go then I think you should follow your heart. It may be a good idea to contact a hospice/in-home euthanasia veterinarian to come assess your pup. They can let you know if euthanasia is the most loving option and guide you through the process. I applaud you for providing such a high level of care for your senior girl while also taking care of little ones. That is SUCH an undertaking. You are amazing! Praying for your strength as you navigate this difficult path ahead. Bless you and your family. ♥
My sweet girl is lying next to me sleeping as we speak. We picked her up off the street some 7/8 years ago and we never found her family so she just stayed. she become my shadow, my family always call her my spare kidney because she was always where I was. She was diagnosed with a heart murmur a few months ago.
She went on meds and about a month ago, she didnt look great so we went back to the vet. New regimine of meds which worked for about 2 weeks. I had to go away for work and she stopped eating that week, my mom just thought she was pining for me. 3 days after I got back I took her back to the vet where they diagnosed kidney failure. We tried for 2 days in hospital but today the vet said it was time. I’m devastated. I feel like this progressed so quickly, other dogs with heart murmurs live for years – we got 2 or 3 months. I feel like I should have done more, taken her to the vet as soon as I got back from my work trip and not waited 3 days. I’m grateful that the vet said I could take her home for the day, I didn’t want the cage to be the last thing she remembered.
Could I have saved her if I’d taken her in sooner? I guess we’ll never know. All I know is that she’s sleeping peacefully next to me until we have to go back to the vet tonight. She was so excited to be home, that she didn’t look sick and I needed to remind myself that I’m not the professional. My sister always says rather a week or day too early than a week or day too late. It’s not about me, it’s about her and I don’t want her to suffer.
My heart is broken and I don’t know how I’m going to do this and get through it after 🙁
Dear Natalie,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your beloved pup. Please don’t continue to carry the burden of guilt for how things progressed. You absolutely didn’t do anything wrong, and I honestly don’t think you could have changed the outcome even if you had acted sooner. I am glad you were able to spend that last day together at home. Hoping her passing was smooth and peaceful. Praying for healing and comfort for your heart. ♥
We live in the U.K and lost our baby boy Buddy in April he was ten. He had kidney failure and was diagnosed twelve months before. He deteriorated at the end over about a week, stopped eating and lost 3kg, He was our world and my heart is crushed from losing him. He was the most beautiful King Charles Cavalier he was a Blenheim and he looked like a handsome teddy bear.. He was my soul mate and we never left him for a holiday ( vacation) if he couldn’t come we didn’t go. He slept on our bed he came first in our household we all adored him. When my mum died three years ago he sat up with me at three am whilst I cried and he stayed by my side. On that fateful morning that he rapidly deteriorated his breathing was different so we knew it was time. The rest is a bit of a blur but his euthanasia was very difficult. The vet put the first injection in and Buddy started gasping for breath, he looked sedated but it was horrible to watch, his mouth wide open gasping, the vet said once the final injection goes in he could start twitching and it can be hard to watch but entirely up to us. if we wanted to stay but please know Buddy was asleep. I kissed his face a thousand times and told him how much I loved him, to wait for me when it’s my time but to run free over rainbow bridge. The vet carried him out to give him the final injection, I was so inconsolable crying to the vet nurse to please not leave him she says she wouldn’t. I ran outside and I dropped to my knees my husband was as bad. The pain five months on is still indescribable. I can’t get over how traumatic his passing was I just didn’t expect it. I thought he would have a needle and go peacefully asleep. Thank you for your article, it felt comforting and was more heartfelt than a lot of others that are so medical with just facts, so thank you x
Dear Marg,
Goodness my heart just breaks for you with the emotional experience you described. I am so sorry you had to see what looked like your boy gasping for air. Please know this was just his body reacting and he was in no pain and was not scared or worried. It is clear your pup was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew and was comforted by your presence. I hope with time the grief will fade and be replaced with peace and comfort. May his memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
I’m devastated, heart broken and miserable to say the least. sorry for the novel but I lost my heart and soul dog 2 weeks ago just after her second birthday. I made the decision of euthanasia at the time I felt was right but now I don’t know, I am her breeder, she was a fraction of the size of her litter mates and never caught up, under half the size and weight of her sister who I also have.. I know she wouldn’t have survived past 2 days old had I not tube fed for the first 3 weeks of her life and given around the clock intensive care I should probably be grateful I could give her 2 years but I feel she and I were robbed of 12+ years. she was diagnosed at 7 months old with 25 percent kidney function, IV fluids didn’t bring down her levels and I was told she had a kidney injury. she was the happiest, sweetest, smartest most loved dog ever. I dedicated every day and aspect of my life around making sure that she could have the best life EVER since she couldn’t have a long one. I was never not by her side, I never spent a day or a night away from her, she slept with me (my little spoon) she was always right by my side when my other dogs were off doing doggy things she would rather be right by me. she came everywhere with me and got so excited for our adventures. I showed her as many places and things this world has to offer as I could in her 2 years. I refused to even date because she was more important to me and I would never give her side of the bed to a man. she was never told ‘ no’ once, her entire life unless it was in a sentence like ‘ do you know you’re the most beautiful thing in the world, do you know you’re an angel” and she didn’t have to be told no, she was an angel she never did a thing wrong in her life she didn’t chew, dig, anything, she was more like a human than a dog, she was literally my daughter and I do have an actual child as well. she always got the front seat, no matter who else was in the car. we understood each other so much, I understood every one of her barks and she understood over 100 words and sentences, Ive had a lot of dogs but never a bond so, so strong she hung off every word I said with her little head tilts and never took her eyes off me. she even said I love you back to me 🥺 in barks but the same 3 barks every time I said it. 3 weeks ago, she got sick. a week before that she had 3 coughing episodes I think she could have choked a bit on a kibble I’m not sure, she would burp up water after every drink her entire life so it’s possible she inhaled something but at the time I didn’t connect the dots. I lost a dog previously to kidney faliure and her symptoms were so similar I assumed it was that. she got weak in her back end, struggling to get up, and hunching her back at times in pain, she had been dealing with a persistent UTI for months, so I was hoping it was a kidney infection and that antibiotics would help. her bloods showed that she was in end stage kidney faliure the vet said her levels were ‘ right up there’ and that it could be a kidney infection due to the white blood cell count, but that she didn’t find enough bacteria in her urine test to think it was a UTI. But that’s what we treated for, a suspected kidney infection. she wasn’t coughing but did have a clear drip from her nose every now and then. she was on antibiotics for about 3 days and the pain in her back end seemed to get better although she still wasn’t herself and needed help to get on/off the bed or couch she was now able to use the stairs to get outside she was still excited for drives and would jump up to come on school runs and to the river. she ended up taking a turn for the worst she stopped wanting to play, just wanted to cuddle me, one night, she was breathing so loud I could hear her from the other side of the house, it sounded like she was in pain, whining with each breath and was really struggling, the past few days she was peeing in tiny amounts and pooping in tiny amounts, but still only outside. she stopped drinking water all together the afternoon her breathing changed and didn’t sleep the entire night, neither of us did. when I took her out the next morning she didn’t pee at all just looked so, so sick and tired curling up in a corner of the yard shed never done before ..I know what that means .. I couldn’t let her suffer and die a painful death, I took her in at 8 am in the morning the second the vets opened so she could pass peacefully. the lound harsh breathing didn’t stop but she still jumped up to get in the car to go for a drive (head to the vets) broke my heart. I took her for one last river drive and she still stuck her head out the window but she was weak, and when I pulled over instead of wanting to jump out the car she laid down struggling to breath. I can not stop running over everything in my head, she wasn’t vomitting like the previous dog I lost, the vets told me her body is shutting down when they looked at her gum colour. But the more I look back on her symptoms the more I think it may of been pneumonia and not a kidney infection, not her kidneys completely failing, I wonder if I could have saved her if I had suspected it sooner. or would she have passed away in hospital having pneumonia and end stage kidney faliure? would she have had a chance at a few more months of life?
Dear Abbey,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your young pup. She sounds like a once in a lifetime kind of girl and it is clear she was dearly loved. From what you have described, this does sound like end stage kidney failure. Even if your girl also had pneumonia, I do not think she would have been able to recover from such advanced kidney issues. You absolutely made the right choice to give your sweet girl peace and freedom from her suffering. I cannot think of a greater act of love than to allow your own heart to break so your beloved pup could find rest. I hope with time your heart will heal and her memory will be a blessing. Wishing you comfort as you continue life’s journey.
July 22,2023 I lost the better part of me, I lost my best friend of 16 years,my day started out as normal, I took her and her sister to work with me, the day before around 9.30 that morning she began to throw up, she had never done this before, but after she threw up she would gulp water, i thought she just had and upset tummy, i took her home that afternoon, and morning of the 22 got up and she seemed alittle better but was lathargic. i work out of town and times, so i began calling around trying to get her in to an emergency vet, i knew somwthing wasnt right, she coildnt stand, she had quit peeing all day and just laid around, the vet done blood work and xrays and confirmed her levels were very elevated, red blood cell count was high, so came in and told me that she was in kidney failure and I could try medications and see if that pulled her out of it, i knew in my heart she wouldn’t make it- we drove her home to ky, before the next morning she still wasn’t improving and had a couple episodes where she was in pain, I held her all night and took her to out vet the next morning, where he advised me it was time to let her go, we love on her and made the decision to put her to sleep- she has a sister her same age, I’ve never had to deal with a grieving animal until now, so sad! my heart is broke and it’s been over a month and I’m still having issues! prayers to each one who has dealt with this!
Dear Kim,
I understand your grief and am so sorry you had to say goodbye to your senior girl. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It brings comfort to others knowing they are not alone. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you will find peace. May the memories of the good times you shared continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you happier days ahead. ♥
I know exactly the pain you suffered, because is the same pain I suffering right now my poor dog is 17 years and he is being diagnosed with kidney failure a month ago. We have feeding him his prescription food but kibble is too big for him so I grinder the kibble in a blender mixing with wet food he was eating for a while but lately we noticed he eating less and less he is very lethargic and he sleeps almost all day. We noticed he is vomiting and we took outside to do his business and we have to carry back home because he is to weak to climbing the stairs is being very hard to say goodbye to my fellow companion. I’m struggling internally if I doing the good decision to let my puppy go. Is a heart breaking I’m very very sad and depressed too. I know how much pain you suffered I’m sorry for you lost.😥😥😥😥😥
Dear Gloria,
My heart aches for you as you face this difficult decision for your senior boy. I know you would do anything to give him more time, but sometimes letting go is the most loving option. Praying for your strength as you navigate this emotional path. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
I am so sorry you are going through so much pain and what ifs. I am in the same condition for 2 months now 🙁 My 14 Years old Labrador Mix, was slow and had signs of arthritis but never showed any signs of kidney issues or tumor. One day he started drinking a lot and peeing a lot, had a couple of accidents at home and the next day could not get him up from the floor/bed. As he was a large dog it was quite a struggle for me to deal with that but i did manage to get him to his vet. And the bacterial test showed that he had anaplasmosis and babesiosis. So his vet started treating him with antibiotics made a couple of IV and i continued the treatment at home. He was not eating or drinking on his own, so i was feeding him from a syringe and giving him different types of fluids including electrolytes. In several days he got better, started eating from my hand but only the cooked meat , and was drinking water on his own. However i could see him licking his legs intensively and panting. and drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot. He still could not get up.
The next day he refused to eat again and i called his vet and we decided that he needed to continue the treatment but with the doxycycline this time. After giving him doxycycline he had a fever and i got scared. So i took him to the alternative clinic as his vet was on vacation – which i think was the most terrible mistake i have ever made.
When i brought him in he had 42C, they took him to ultra sound and found a 15 cm mass in his tummy that was not connected with any of the organs and it was not really clear what type of a mass it was.( mixed tissue and cysts) The only thing they said was that the mass was too big and could be interfering with the organs and this causing this condition he was in….They also said that in the condition he was it was not possible to operate to find out what was that tumor. I do not know why they did not do the biochemical blood test to check on his Kidney function, but decided to put an IV and add several unti -inflammatory medicines. I noticed a clear drop in his nose during this procedure and i asked what it was and they said it was nothing to be concerned about. It looked like he got a bit better as his fever went down.
When i brought him home, he was very lethargic and in the very evening he started vomiting, in the morning it was vomit with dark blood, i called the vet and she said it was just a reaction to the medicine and prescribed the anti nausea med. He stopped vomiting but still was kind of off. He has had such accidents before when he had shots , so i though he would get better as the vet did not think anything was wrong. The next day he got worse and when i called she said he is getting worse due to his tumor as it hurts. i was trying everything i did in the beginning but nothing helped and i think i was wasting his time for survival and should have urgently taken him to another clinic or the hospital,
I really did not know what was going on and the vet mislead me. If only she told me that he needed an urgent help 🙁 well the next day it was too late, i took him to the wet and he said he was dying and in a lot of pain , so i had to put him to sleep.
Since that day i have panic attacks every morning and can not let go of those 3 days when i think i could still save him but i did not, cause i trusted the veterinarian who mistreated him. I can not be more sorry, The guilt is a huge burden to carry and i do not know how to let it go 🙁 and find piece.
I feel that he had an acute kidney failure after reading a lot during this 2 months. But without the blood test it is really not possible to say, right?
Thank you for reading <3
Dear Melody,
I am sorry for the loss of your senior guy. I understand while grieving it is normal to ponder the “what ifs” and try to make sense of how things progressed. From what you described, it does not sound like the vet mistreated your pup or intended to be misleading in their recommendations. I would be very surprised if the original lab work that showed the presence of babesia and anaplasmosis did not also include a chemistry panel with kidney values. Have you asked your vet for a copy of the lab work? I know you would have done anything to give your sweet boy more time and it sounds like the veterinary team did everything within their power to make that happen as well. It is clear your boy was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew, and your presence was a comfort during his final days. I hope with time your heart will heal and you can think back on all the wonderful times you shared and be comforted. May his memory live on and be a blessing in your life.
Oh how my heart aches for all of you that have started or ended through this journey with your fur baby. I’m thankful I found this site as we are just beginning the journey. I fear it will be a quick road to the other side for our 15 yr old mini doxi, Midas. He has lost most of his eyesight and hearing too, but enough to function and still enjoy himself. The family has become his guide as he will follow close. He started having accident in the house, but I thought more because of his loss of eyesight. He has a full appetite and will eat everything, yet loosing weight. I’ve noticed lately he wobbles when I put him down outside, I carry him down the steps. It takes a few steps and he is fine. My husband took him to the vets & they said there was no medicine they could give him and gave us fluids for the long weekend so we could decide what to do. He has thrown up a couple times this past week too. I don’t know his levels as im at work. This is my son’s childhood dog & he is in the service and won’t be able to say goodbye. I don’t know what to do.
Dear Nancy,
I am so sorry you are facing this emotional decision for Midas. It sounds like you are doing what you can to ensure he is stable for now. I always think it is better to say goodbye one day too early rather than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I can only imagine how difficult this choice will be. Praying you can find the advice you need to make a decision that is best for everyone involved. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you all. ♥
My 9 year old lab Oakley is in the midst of renal failure. I brought him in two months ago after noticing uremic breath, polyurea, and a refusal to eat anything. Prior to that he seemed so happy and healthy; much like children, pets compensate for so long without our knowledge. He’s been on multiple meds and daily SubQ fluids since then but despite a slight improvement in presentation his bloodwork recently came back showing pre-treatment levels of BUN and creatinine. I know our time is drawing short and this article made it much easier in helping me realize that I should be looking for a window, not a specific day that tells me “okay, now.” A window where he still has good days, enjoys rolling in the grass, and shares so much love with the people in his pack. This decision never gets easier and the pain is universally miserable. You’ll either wonder if you short-changed your pet by saying goodbye too early or feel guilty because you waited until they showed serious signs of distress. For those struggling with this decision, your pet trusts and loves you for signing up to be their life-long caretaker. The best thing you can do for them is be vigilant in watching for any advancing symptoms and give them a final gift of peace. How fortunate we are to have the luxury of helping end their suffering rather than letting them naturally (and painfully) succumb to the disease process. In spite of their absence, they will always be a beautiful, irreplaceable part of your story. Hold them while they’re here and tell them over and over how much you love them. I promise if they were to do it again, they’d always choose you to be their person.
Dear Caleb,
Your words are beautiful and truly touched my heart. I wish every reader could see your comment and be encouraged in the way I am today. I am sorry you are facing this difficult decision for Oakley, but I am certain he knows he is dearly loved. Wishing you strength to face tomorrow. Praying for comfort and peace for you and your sweet boy. ♥
t was very comforting to read all the messages, especially Julie Buzby’s. My beloved Jack Russell, Chico, is almost 14 years old. He plays, interacts, eats well, and has no symptoms. We went to the vet for a dental cleaning because his mouth is in a very bad condition, and it was all very quick. The smell coming from his mouth is also not good. A blood test was done, and his creatinine and urea levels are twice the limit, which would be stage 4 in kidney failure. What should I do in this case? Is it possible to have an idea of how much time we will have together? In two weeks, we are moving to Paris, where I dreamt of going with him to cafes and just seeing the streets (we did it when he was a puppy, he is French). I want him to have quality of life, and I will do fluid therapy, even though it is not commonly done in Sweden. Thank you very much for sharing your stories!
Dear Roberta,
I am so sorry Chico’s kidneys are struggling and he is facing a very uncertain future. Here is a link to another article with more information about the stages of kidney failure and it also discusses prognosis: Kidney Disease in Dogs: Stages and What They Mean For Your Dog
I hope the move to Paris went smoothly and that Chico is still by your side. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
We said goodbye to our sweet Maltese Bichon mix, Niko, 2 days ago. He was diagnosed with kidney disease 3 years ago. With meds and a kidney diet he did really well for quite a while. The last few blood tests, however, showed that the disease was getting worse. Niko was having more and more days with little energy and not wanting to eat. He no longer took long walks or initiated play time, no more zoomies. He started having more accidents in the house, his back legs were having trouble clearing stairs, and he had a few fainting spells. Then his breath started having a sick smell. Despite all of this we had no idea how bad it was. He was trying so hard to be himself, and we had almost forgotten how he used to be. We just settled into a new normal. But then, only 2 weeks ago, his final bloodwork was really bad and he went from 10 lbs. to 8 lbs. That’s when we realized how sick he’d actually been. Looking back at photos and videos of Niko when he wasn’t as sick made us realize it was time to let him go. We had in-home euthanasia. It was a beautiful, peaceful experience for our whole family, including Niko. The only regret I have is not noticing all of the changes in his behavior sooner. I just didn’t realize how bad it was. I’m not sure what more I could have done, but I feel bad that I didn’t know. I miss my sweet boy so much but I’m grateful for 10 years of unconditional love 💕
Dear Vicki,
I am sorry for your recent loss of Niko. It is clear from your words that he was dearly loved, and I have no doubt he knew. Please don’t carry around the unnecessary burden of guilt over how his last years progressed. You didn’t do anything wrong. When a dog’s health starts to decline, there is a definite “grey area” where it can be hard to adequately assess their quality of life. You made a loving choice for your pup as soon as you knew he was suffering. I hope with time you can allow yourself some grace and your heart will heal. May Niko’s memory be a blessing in your life.
Thank you so much for your kind words. This article was so helpful for me and my family. I referred to it multiple times during these last couple of weeks. I also read through everyone’s comments. Thank you for allowing us to share our stories.
Truly sorry for your loss. I too lost my Shadow who was a 10 year old lab/pit mix rescue last Friday August 11th 2023. He had 2 bad weeks just sleeping all day,, really thirsty, didn’t want to play. I am angry because two visits, labs, bloodwork, check ups and we were told he was fine, clearly he wasn’t. I miss him so much because in reality he rescued me and my heart is broken. The last 48 hours of his life were the worse & I kinda knew then but was still devastated to wake up to him gone. My only solace was that he was loved, spoiled and was happy for 7 years. We miss you Shadow 💔😓
Dear Carmen,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Shadow. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew that as well. Wishing you comfort and strength to face each new day. Bless you. ♥
Carmen, I’m so sorry for your loss too 😢. My heart is broken as well. It’s been almost 3 weeks since we lost our sweet boy and the pain is still overwhelming. I am going to attend a virtual pet loss support group this week. I hope that sharing my grief with others will help.
I’m so so sorry for your loss . Rest assured you will meet again in gods timing 🙏 love peace and blessings Susan Sussex UK 💙 x
Thank you for your educational article. I have just received the shocking news that my beloved carer companion lab Bear, at aged 4 has early stage kidney disease. After 2 sets of bloods and urine he is going to the vet tomorrow for scans so that we have a line in the sand to work with. I can’t imagine I am facing a shortened time frame with him – he is my all.
I also dont think I can draw out treatment if it means no enjoyment of life for him or with him. He deserves the best from me.
I want to know the prognosis and plan a van holiday doing the things he loves and making grateful memories before reaching his rainbows end.
Wish me luck and strength to be a brave warrior for him…
Hi Michele,
I am so sorry Bear has received this terrible diagnosis. It is good that your vet is thinking the kidney disease is still in the early stages. There are so many treatment options available that can help prolong your pup’s life. Don’t give up hope yet! I will attach links to a couple other articles with more information about kidney disease and what you can expect. Praying you and your sweet boy will still have many happy years to come. ♥
1. Kidney Failure in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide
2. Kidney Disease in Dogs: Stages and What They Mean For Your Dog
on june 11th my lab moose was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure. we missed the early warning signs and now he is going to die. moose was one year and 11 months old when he was diagnosed. he is now two years old. on june 11th he was given about a month to live. his numbers for BUN/Creatine have fluctuated and given us some false hope. his appetite is slowing down and he has bad days here and there. most days are good days, he still gets the zoomies and will initiate play time. i just feel like i made the wrong choice bringing him home from the emergency vet that day. after we found out he was sick, we found out my other lab pup was pregnant. she gave birth a couple weeks later to 10 puppies. my heart is broken but i can’t help but feel like he left something behind on purpose. i’m struggling now anticipating his final days and not knowing when it is time to euthanize him. my heart is so broken
Dear Paige,
My heart aches for you as you face this emotional situation with Moose. I know you would do anything to give him more time and can only imagine how much he will be missed. Praying for clarity in all the decisions that will need to be made in the days ahead. Wishing you comfort and peace. ♥
I am sorry you & your fur baby are going through this. Prayers for strength & comfort.
So grateful to read from other dog lovers like me. Sophie, our oldest Sheltie just turned 14 and was diagnosed with renal disease almost two years ago – numbers were off the charts.
Started SubQ fluids but ended up at the ER with her soon after. She did better without them. I don’t think the vet thought she would last this long, so I know we are doing the right thing diet-wise and supplement-wise.
Had nutritionist calculate appropriate home cooked food for her – I had been feeding way too much protein and I feel terrible that I may have caused this kidney failure through my well-meaning diet. Have fed home cooked for years and other 3 Shelties are mostly OK.
Sophie also has some vision problems and cannot judge distance so has a hard time going up steps – even low ones. We are carrying her upstairs and halfway down which I thought was related to her vision. But now she is floundering on hardwood floors and has fallen twice today, crying softly to be rescued. We now have wall to wall throw rugs (and of course, she manages to walk AROUND them! LOL).
But I am scared that the end is closing in. She has terrible breath, terrible teeth but a hearty appetite so far. Hate what I know is coming. And I continue to question whether euthanasia is right or just convenient. Can’t we treat for pain until the very end as in human palliative care? Or maybe that is what I am already doing. Conflicted after decades of loving dogs and yes, putting most of them down at the end. Horrible position for humans AND dogs. Hearts and love to you all.
Hi Linda,
My heart goes out to as you wrestle with the best course of action for Sophie. Everyone has their own views on euthanasia, but for me, I see as the chance to give our dogs the merciful gift of skipping over the worst of the pain and suffering that may come at the end of life. It means that we can set them free when they still have some joy and dignity left, and (in cases like this where you know it is coming) on a day that is filled with some of their favorite things, people, or activity.
It may be worth reaching out to a veterinarian who offers hospice care for dogs (and checking out the link below) since it sounds like that might be an approach that you would like to explore. Hospice care may still end in euthanasia rather than natural death, but does incorporate some of the elements of human palliative care.
Sending love during this challenging time.❤️
Here is the article I mentioned: Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
We had to let go of our 5 year old beagle due to sudden kidney failure… our first and really only sign was him losing his appetite, something a beagle never does. After two days of trying to get him to eat off and on (he ate some here and there which made me think he was coming around) I took him into the vet when he didn’t eat dinner or breakfast the next morning. By noon I was told my baby was in kidney failure and it wasn’t looking good. My husband and I struggled to determine at what point we would put him to sleep and after 24 hours of iv therapy his numbers only got worse which made the decision easier for us. We had some time at the vet with him before they did the procedure and it was heartbreaking to see how tired he was. He was ready to go but it was still so hard. It was shocking to lose him at such a young age. He had been playing and running around the house just a couple days prior. He was my baby. My shadow. The most loving dog I’ve ever had. It’s been 3 days now since we laid him to rest and I can’t seem to let go of this grief. Every moment is heavy. I cry and I sigh through the day. I just hope I can recover soon. I loved him so much and my life feels barren without his constant affection.
Rebecca,
My heart goes out to you on the sudden loss of your beagle. I know it probably doesn’t make it any easier, but it sounds like you made the right decisions for him. You tried 24 hours of fluids to see if his kidney failure would respond, and then when it didn’t, you made the heartbreaking but merciful decision to set him free. He was clearly a special and well-loved dog, and I have no doubt that he loved you too. I hope the grief lessens some over time and that you can start to smile through the tears as you look back on the wonderful memories you made together.
Good morning from Germany.
this is by Far the best article I’ve read on kidney failure or kidney disease.
I am dealing with CKD on a 16 1/4 year old Pom and just within a week my 8 yr old beautiful girl pom had developed kidney failure and has progressed rapidly after being spayed last week July 18. she also has infection somewhere in body. was at vet yesterday. got all kinds of meds, fluids, injections. blood values are bad all over. She came home and hours later after feeding she vomited 5 times, and again in the wee hours. she is to get SQ fluids at home for the next week. this is a young dog who never had a litter. she has always eaten low protein food and her snacks are fresh fruit.. I am at a loss and in total shock at her sudden and rapid downward spiral. my senior is doing great on sq since his diagnosis early November 2022..
I am in active chemotherapy and this is making me sicker by the day.
will sq help her stabilize like my senior boy has. my vet suggested Euthanasia last November, I managed to help him to stablize and he’s old, but doing fine on daily sq, He ats and drink well has normal potty habits and loves his mamma.and cuddles. I can’t even think of euthanesia at this point. for my sweet young full of life girl. the constant vomiting is new. she hadn’t vomited before vet visit.
thanks
Anne
Hi Anne,
I always enjoy discovering where my readers are from, but I’m sorry to be meeting you under such difficult circumstances. How stressful to be caring for not one but two dogs with kidney failure while also undergoing chemotherapy yourself. That is wonderful that your senior boy stabilized and you have gotten so much extra time with him! However, I’m worried about your little girl, and I’m sure you are too. Unfortunately, sometimes vomiting does go along with kidney failure because the build-up of toxins can make a dog nauseous. I think it makes sense to keep giving her the SQ fluids and other medications and keep a close eye on her. If she continues to vomit or you have any other concerns, it would be good to check in with your vet again. He or she may want to recheck bloodwork, add on an anti-nausea medication if she isn’t already taking one, or make other changes to the treatment plan. Fingers crossed that your sweet girl rallies and that your senior boy keeps doing well!
Thank you so much for this wonderful article. Based on the numbers, my dog is an end stage kidney failure. I have been really struggling with knowing when the right time is to say goodbye. Up until this past week, she has been eating a variety of human foods and going for short walks. She had a drastic reduction in the amount of food she would eat and is barely eating now. She tries to eat but spits out her food. She is on Cerenia and entice plus gets fluids multiple times a week through her vet. She does not like to go for walks anymore and is having a very difficult time staying steady on her feet. She seems a lot more out of it lately. This article helped me realize that her quality of life is no longer there. Her magnificent, beautiful spirit is trapped inside a body that is no longer working for her so it is time to set her free. I appreciate all of your articles and all of the wisdom you are willing to share with us.
Hi Kiddo,
I’m so sorry to hear that your sweet pup declined rapidly with end stage kidney failure and you had to make the decision to say goodbye. You summed it up perfectly when you said that you realized that her beautiful spirit was trapped in a failing body so you knew it was time to set her free. ❤️ I hope you were able to have a sweet goodbye with her and that you will find comfort and peace in the midst of the grief.
I want to thank you for all of these articles. They helped us make the difficult decision to assist our dog, Drake to the other side. Easily, the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make. I cried and cried while reading with my little buddy near by, but everything said rang true from symptoms, finding the right time, and assisting with the traumatic experience of grief afterwards. Thanks!
Dear Mike,
I am sorry you had to say goodbye to Drake. I know the decision wasn’t easy but was a loving act of kindness your sweet boy so desperately deserved. I am glad the article was helpful and offered some peace of mind. May Drake’s memory be a blessing in your life.
We had to put our 2 year old Bull Mastiff down today due to kidney failure. Everything I read in this article was him. My biggest fear was that he was suffering for a long time and I did nothing to help. I keep thinking about first noticing the symptoms but brushing it off as something else. I never once thought in a million years it would be so serious. Now I have all these what if’s popping up in my head. Only comfort I have is knowing he crossed that bridge with his family.
Dear Sam,
I am sorry for the loss of your young dog. Please don’t blame yourself for how things progressed. It is clear your big guy was dearly loved, and I am certain he lived a life full of joy. You made the difficult decision to allow your own heart to break and give him freedom from suffering and pain. There is no greater act of love than that. I hope with time you will let go of the unnecessary burden of guilt and allow yourself some grace. May your sweet boy’s memory be a blessing in your life. Wishing you happier days ahead as you continue life’s journey.
Thank you for this article and for all of you who have posted about your dog. My little rescue, sweetest, gentlest dog ever at 3 years old diagnosed with kidney disease the vet said likely from leptospirosis. She was in the hospital for three days on a drip but then I ran out of money. It cost thousands. She is home but fading quickly. I tried sub q fluids but she hates the needle and it’s really hard, She will only eat chicken and broth non of the special canned food. I fear that putting her to sleep in inevitable. So so sad it’s awful…
I’m so sorry to hear that your sweet little dog was diagnosed with kidney disease while so young. It sounds like you did everything you could to help her when she was in the hospital and right after you brought her home. Thank you for being there for her and supporting her. Sending support to you.
Thank you for this article. My 5 year old husky/retriever cross has been in the hospital with kidney failure since yesterday. He is not doing well and they are still working on getting him back.
I am ok letting him go if he cannot improve. Unfortunately I am stuck 2,000km away doing cancer treatments and cannot be with him. I also cannot expect his caregiver right now to treat him for this on his own. I am going to talk to the vet later today to see if he has improved and if not, then maybe talk about letting him go peacefully. I will ask his caregiver to facetime me so I can be there with him.
I am so sad, was sad to leave him for treatments but I also have to save my own life. I wish I could care for him right now but I also know the right thing to do for my sweet boy.
So thank you again for allowing me to accept this decision, if it comes to that.
Hi Lynda,
Wow, you had a lot going on in your life at once. I am so sorry to hear that you were going through all of that. How are you feeling? And what was the outcome for your Husky/Retriever cross? It sounds like you were giving so much thought and love to him and the situation. I am glad this article could help you and bring you peace. Praying for healing and strength for you.
Thank you so much for writing this. I put my little boy down two weeks ago. He was 16 1/2 years old. A cute cockachon. Such a sweet dog. His name was Kody. I found out he had kidney disease in May 2022 and I learned all about how to cook low sodium, low phosphorus meals for him. He improved when I got him on this diet but he was an older dog and the diet only slowed the progress of the disease. In the end, it progressed quickly in a weeks time. Everything you wrote about their last days, is what my little Kody was experiencing. We moved quickly to put him at peace. I read this article after we euthanized him as I searched for comfort. What you wrote in the section “making the decision” and also the section “what your dog wants you to know” has brought me so much comfort. It’s not that I had any doubt or regrets in the decision we made. But just going back to your words in those two sections of this post has really helped me through the grieving process. Thank you.
Hi Nicole,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of Kody. It sounds like you took amazing care of him and he had a wonderful life with you. I’m so thankful that this article helped you in the grieving process and brought you comfort. Your kind words mean so much to me, and I’ll be sure to pass them on to the rest of our blog team. ❤️
I have also lost my pug dog from kidney failure. He was 6 years old but one day he started vomiting and become very lethargic and unactivate i immediately took him to vet and doctor said me to take blood sample and in this report (Bun) and creatinine levels get very increased. However i took my pet to vet for daily treatment but at last 5th day he has become very weak and tired at last 6 th day pet get losted his life due to acute kidney disease that cannot be cured or reversed 😭💔💔.
Dear Dilbag,
I am sorry for the loss of your Pug. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to see his health decline so rapidly. I hope with time you will be able to think back on all the good times you shared, and they will bring you joy. Wishing you comfort and peace.
A trip to the Vet showed our Buddy was in kidney failure. Having endured several days of his not eating and crying most of the night we were exhausted and when the blood test showed over 200 we were alarmed. They kept him over the day hydrating him with an IV but when became to pick him up we were told he had been unresponsive all day allowing the Vet to do anything she needed to do without complaint which was totally unlike him. food and water offered was refused. We decided to euthanize him right then but today I am beside myself with sadness and guilt thinking I might have been able to protect him and he might have gotten well. During the procedure we stayed with him holding his paw and stroking him speaking to him and I asked him to give me a sign if he wanted to go home. He weakly lifted one paw and placed it on my arm, turned his head just a tad and. made a low sound. The procedure continued and he was gone but I was left wondering if those small gestures was him saying I should take =him home. I have cried all day.
Dear Beverly,
My heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of Buddy. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to make the choice to say goodbye. From what you describe, letting go was the most loving option and probably the only way to offer your sweet boy freedom from his suffering. I cannot think of a more selfless act than to allow your own heart to break so that Buddy could find rest. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew and was comforted by your presence. You did exactly what I would have chosen for one of my own. I hope with time your heart will heal and you can allow yourself some grace. May Buddy’s memory live on and be a blessing in your life. ♥
I just found out today my 6-month old golden retriever puppy has stage 2 kidney disease. We are going to do our best to give her as many years as possible but I think that hardest thing is knowing we won’t have enough time with her especially with her being so little.
Dear Mckenna,
My heart aches for you as you face this uncertain future with your Golden puppy. Hoping you can partner with your vet to find the best treatment regimen and make sure your sweet girl has the longest life possible. Wishing you both nothing but the best. Bless you. ♥
I lost my sweet girl, Abby on Monday (June 12th). She got diagnosed with kidney disease in February after a routine physical and bloodwork panel. The diagnosis came as a surprise since she had been eating and drinking normally and eating all her treats too. Two weeks after her diagnosis she stopped eating her dog food. We resorted to giving her yogurt, cheese and baby food. We added epakitin to her yogurt and baby food and she ate those and she would eat the occasional treat. She occasionally would eat noodles and chicken and rice but, those times were few and far between. She would often try and bite me if I tried to feed her anything she had to chew so I stopped trying after a while to lower her stress. She continued to eat by licking the baby food and yogurt off my fingers. She stopped wanting to be held, which was a huge adjustment because she loved to be held.
In March we started subcutaneous fluids every other day and they significantly helped her so much so that one day in April she tried eating her solid dog food again. She couldn’t keep the food down and didn’t try solid food again.
She kept losing weight and we probably should have made the call sooner but, she was still present and walking and drinking and eating. She didn’t seem to be in pain and was still enjoying life.
The weekend before she passed she started falling when I put her on the ground and was wobbly when she walked but once she got past the first few steps she was fine. Sunday she took a steep nosedive and was barely able to walk and wasn’t interested in water. Monday she couldn’t even stand without falling so we made an appointment at the vet for later that day. While we waited for the appointment I held her and loved on her and told her how much I loved her. I took her outside to lay in the grass and feel the breeze, that was the first time that day she actually relaxed and closed her eyes. Shortly after that she started having seizures. I held her during her seizures and she passed away in my arms.
I miss my girl so much but, I know we did everything to help her. I definitely felt the caregiver fatigue but I would do it all over again to help my girl. I am thankful I was there for her last moments and that I had the day with her to let her know she was loved and would be missed. I felt at peace with the decision to euthanize her but, I will be forever grateful she chose to leave and we didn’t chose for her.
Kidney disease sucks!!!
Hi Lori,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of Abby. It is clear how special she was to you and what good care you took of her, right to the very end. She had a great life with you and I have no doubt that she knew how much you loved her. I’m glad you were able to have that last day with her and that you are at peace with how everything turned out. Thanks for sharing her story with us.
Thinking about you as you grieve the loss of your special girl. ❤️
I am struggling with my decision to let my baby go and I’m hoping you might see this in time. I scheduled her to be euthanized tomorrow due to kidney failure. She is 16. Right up until the vet called she was eating and drinking and seemed ok and the vet was stunned to hear that based on the bloodwork. Now she is hungry, eats a little, but throws up. What’s killing me is she still has an appetite and follows me around. She doesn’t seem like she’s dying but she is. But she won’t get better either. I don’t know what to do. I’m so scared, please help.
Hi Diane,
I’m so sorry that I didn’t see this in time to give you guidance. Making the decision to euthanize your dog is always so difficult. It’s ok to be scared, sad, and conflicted. Most people are when faced with saying goodbye to a beloved dog. I hope that you were able to get some closure and feel confident that you were making the right decision for her. It is clear how much you loved her, and what a special bond you had. My heart goes out to you. ❤️
I’ve been reading this blog over and over for a few days. I have to put my 14 year old yorkie, Gizmo down tomorrow and it is the hardest decision that I am constantly questioning myself. He has a TBI, so no surgery could be performed so he was losing weight and an eye infection, but then he was diagnosed with kidney failure in that March appointment, we changed his diet and supplemented. 2 weeks ago he began having an increase in “snot” from his nostril, could not stop the eye infection, holding his mouth open and excess fluid from his mouth. I took him to the vet and found out he has deep infections in the roots of his teeth and that “snot” was actually infection. We did antibiotics for 4 days with pain meds until he decided he didn’t want to eat anymore. I called the vet, absolutely torn and made the appointment. She said to only do the pain meds and let him eat whatever he wants. He’s been sleeping and finally ate some baby food. Learning about kidney failure and the connection it has to the body and mouth from this blog has truly helped me ease my mind that I am doing the right thing. Thank you so much for the resources. This has been so helpful.
Hi Morgan,
I’m so sorry for the loss of Gizmo. Based on all of his recent medical problems, you absolutely made the right choice to set him free from his failing body. I have no doubt that he knew how much you loved him and that he loved you too. Thinking about you as you grieve the loss of Gizmo. ❤️
I remember reading all the comments here 2 months ago and now I am ready to leave my own comment. On April 21st we found out our 10 year old girl Sevie was in the end stages of kidney failure. We took her in because she wasn’t eating and was overall pretty lethargic, but in hindsight I can see there were possibly some other symptoms along the way. She got some IV fluid treatment at the vet for 48 hours and her numbers did not improve. They offered some home care options so we could take her home and have a little more time. I gave her fluids, anti nausea meds, phosphate binders, appetite stimulant, and a special food. She did okay for the first week. The second week, she started going downhill pretty quickly. She went back to not eating. She was having diarrhea, large amounts of yellow vomit, and terrible drooling. I already knew she wasn’t going to get better, but these symptoms really pushed me to make the decision. On May 7th, barely over 2 weeks since we found out she was sick, my wife and I and our other dog spent some time outside on a blanket with Sevie. We loved on her under the pine trees while we listened to the birds chirp and felt the wind in our hair. Sevie was so relaxed and so tired. We drove 40 minutes to the vet and soaked up every last minute with our girl. I was able to hold her on my chest telling her everything would be okay as she took her final breath. It’s the hardest and worst thing I’ve ever done. She was 1 month shy of her 11th birthday and we never thought her life was anywhere close to being over. It’s been 5 weeks and I still cry every day. I’m not sure how or when things start to feel less heavy, but we are slowly falling into a new routine. I’ve started volunteering at a boarding facility and seeing so many happy puppies makes me feel a little better even if only for a moment. Hugs to anyone reading this and being faced with a similar situation.
Hi Ally,
My heart goes out to you. I can tell from your post how much you loved Sevie and what great care you took of her. Although I’m sure it didn’t feel like nearly enough time, I’m glad you were able to have another good week with her and that you could have that special time under the pine trees before you said goodbye. I have no doubt that she knew how much you loved her, right to the very end.
Thinking about you as you continue to process the loss of your sweet girl. It is going to take time, but I believe that one day the joy of the great memories you made together will balance out the grief you feel. Much love to you! ❤️
When I was reading your comment, it made me think about another article that Dr. Woodruff wrote about ways to remember your dog, so I’ve linked it below.
Dog Memorial Ideas: 10 Ways to Honor Your Dog’s Legacy
These stories are heartbreaking, I found out today my dog Molly is having kidney failure, she has been vomiting a couple of days, very lethargic and not wanting to follow me around the house as usual, she is my constant companion so that is a major red flag something is wrong. I am heartbroken and know I will have to face a tough decision, she has been the best dog ever, so loyal and protective of me. I rescued her from the pound 12 years ago, she was on deathrow, it helps knowing she had a good full life with me but only a little because I still don’t want to say goodbye. I will treasure my days with her knowing they are few. So sorry everyone.
Hi Gayle,
My heart goes out to you. It is always difficult to hear a diagnosis of kidney failure and to be unsure of how much longer you will have with your beloved dog. It sounds like she has had a wonderful life with you and is so lucky to have been rescued by you. I hope that she defies the odds and you have many more days together. But even if you don’t, I hope the days you do have are sweet and memorable.
My baby Boo is in the final stages of Kidney failure. She also has heart failure. She’s been on a kidney diet for over a year and recently she became picky with food. I changed her food multiple times and was cooking up to 6 different full meals a day to try and get her to eat. We started SQ fluids last week and her appetite has gotten worse. She’s on antibiotics, anti vomitting meds, blood pressure pills and Vetmedin. I got a nutritionist for her so she is going to break down exactly what Boo needs to be eating and we started syringe feeding her. The vet said I can choose between continuing the SQ fluids and keep her comfortable at home or she spends 3 days at the hospital and gets IV fluids. Her hydration has been really good since we started the fluids, but I don’t know what to do. She’s never been in a cage/crate before and I feel like being in the hospital for 3 days will stress her out and I don’t know how much time I have left with her so I want her to be at home and comfortable with loved ones, but I don’t want to feel like I didn’t try everything I can do. The vet said that after hospitalization the prognosis could likely be the same. She is 16 years old and my whole world. I’ve been a mess all week and am just devastated by all this. Some days are good days and some days are awful.
Dear Ashley,
I am sorry Boo’s health is declining and you are facing some difficult decisions about her quality of life. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to ensure she is comfortable. I hope when the time comes to say goodbye, Boo is surrounded by love and things will be peaceful. Praying for your strength. Bless you both. ♥
This was the most amazing post I’ve read about kidney failure in dogs. My 7 year old pitbull has kidney failure and is declining rapidly. You nailed everything you said and brought me comfort during such a difficult time. Thank you for writing this. It’s not only brought me education on this situation but peace. My dog is so loved and I just can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate your post.
Dear Erin,
Thank you for your honest thoughts and positive feedback about the article. I am glad to know it was helpful for you and this stage of life you are facing with your sweet boy. I’ll be keeping you both in my thoughts. Wishing you strength and peace as you face the days ahead. ♥
Thank you for such a great article! Our Jack Russell was a rescue who we have loved dearly from first sight. He has fortunately been one lucky pup since that day! We have been going through this battle with specialty vet care, lots of love, as well as frustrations and anguish facing us. We are heading into the end of the journey only to do what is the humane thing for our very loved JR. It hasn’t been an easy ride, but we are trying to do what is best for him. We are heartbroken….
Hi Marsha,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of your JR. It sounds like he had an amazing life with you and you have taken great care of him from the moment he entered your life. I have no doubt that he knew how much he was loved. Thinking about you as you grieve the loss of this special dog.
Unfortunately we are going though the grade 4 kidney failure with our 16 year old dog ! It’s been such a very rough year for us as we lost a daughter last year ! A niece last month and now we are losing our sweet companion!💔😢I have been crying a lot over the last year ! It just doesn’t seem fair!
Dear Wendy,
My heart aches for you with all the loss you have endured over the past year. I am sorry your senior pup has received this devastating diagnosis, and her health is declining. Please know you are not alone, and I am praying for your strength and peace. Bless you and your family. ♥
Agreed! Our Pippa, age 11, is currently in the hospital with severe renal failure. This is so hard! It’s comforting knowing others understand and have had similar experiences. I’m so grateful for any time we have left with Pippa.
Dear Lori,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Pippa. You are definitely not alone, and I am praying for your sweet pup. Wishing you comfort and strength. Bless you both!
Hi, anyone reading this who has lost or has had their fur baby diagnosed with renal failure my heart goes out to you. a month ago I had to let my 16 year old shih tzu go due to renal failure, I found out 10 months ago she had stage 2/3 renal failure when she stopped eating and I had her bloods checked. I thought I’d share what I did to help keep her having a happy life for those 10 months. the renal diet was no good for her she wouldn’t touch it so I resorted to putting ipakitine powder in her food to bi d to the phosphorus. the vet will prescribe this but you can buy online cheaper as it is a supplement not a drug. I also gave her salmon oil once a day to help keep her kidneys healthy. and to keep her comfortable and relaxed I gave her cbd paste (only buy good cbd) towards the end she was getting 3 doses of cbd a day and I truly believe it helped her a lot. love to you all and your dogs Paul 🙏
Dear Paul,
I am sorry your pup lost her battle with kidney failure, and you had to say goodbye. Thank you so much for being willing to share your experience with our readers. Your advice may be exactly what someone else needs to help their beloved pup. I hope with time your heart will heal. May the memory of your sweet girl bring you joy as you continue life’s journey.
Sorry about the loss of fur baby. Thank you for your comments. I have a 14.5 cockapoo realizing she had very bad breath Dr gave her antibiotics and found out she has kidney disease. but don’t see any changes. her bad breath is gone after antibiotics. dr wants to put her on renal meds but i know she won’t want anything todo with them being on her food.
I will look into your tips thank you
Joy
We lost our dear Charlie on April 9, 3 months from his 15th birthday. He’s had diabetes for about 6 years but despite losing his eyesight, he’s been doing well. For the last few months he’s had issues with walking, mostly with his hind legs, but he still got around well. We just figured it was from age and his condition. He’s been eating normally up until 2 weeks ago, where he started getting more picky, although he would still eat, just less than before. On April 9 (Easter), he was having severe issues walking, but he ate all his food in the morning. He was being more vocal with whining and I felt I would have to make an appointment with is vet. While holding and discussing with my wife, Charlie starting convulsing and was having a severe seizure. I rushed him to the ER where they found signs of renal failure in his blood tests. On top of that, he was still having seizures, despite being medicated. We finally had to let him go. As much as I wanted to see about treatment, when they brought him in for our last goodbyes, it was obvious we make the best choice for him, as he was still having seizures, even sedated. We just wanted him not to suffer anymore. Thank you for allowing me to share this.
Dear Michael,
I am sorry for your recent loss of Charlie. I am certain he knew how much he was loved and that your presence in his final moments was a comfort. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers and letting others know they are not alone. May Charlie’s memory live on and continue to be a blessing in your life. Best wishes.
I got my German shepard put to sleep 3 days before Christmas, her vet diagnosed her with kidney failure just over a month before, though in hind sight there had been signs for at least 6 months before this, but I wasn’t to know to now. she was a few weeks off her 13th birthday. she wasn’t put on any medication or treated for kidney failure apart from. being advised to change her diet I got no other advice, I put my trust in this vet but this past few weeks I’ve really started reading up more about the treatment she could have received to make her final weeks more comfortable.. I’m completely overwhelmed by guilt and pain knowing so much more could have been done for her, she took sick very quickly and couldn’t stop vomiting even after I requested antisickness medication for her… a strong smell of toxins was coming from her body and her Teeth rotted overnight. she was that unwell I made the decision to put her to sleep. now I can’t forgive myself for not realising that her care from the vet was inhumane and I should have got a second opinion.. I’ve a long road of healing ahead and feel I got it wrong.. her end of life care is haunting me, I know in my heart I done everything to the best of my knowledge at that time but now I know more about what care she could have got I’m wrecked with guilt . do you think I made the right decision for my girl as ot was clear she was so very unwell and I didn’t want her getting any sicker or suffer anymore than she had in four days. she was only getting worse
Dear Karen,
I am sorry for the loss of your Shepherd this past December. I know you must miss her terribly and are grieving her absence. Try not to let yourself be weighed down by guilt and thoughts of all the “what ifs”. You did everything you knew to do for your sweet girl and when the time came, made a loving decision to free her from her suffering. I am certain she knew how much she was loved and that your presence in her final days brought comfort and peace. May her memory live on and be a blessing in your life. Wishing you hope for brighter days ahead.
Dear Karen, as a former GSD owner, I truly believe you did what was best for your baby. They are such intelligent and proud animals, whose job is to protect their family so I believe that if you proceeded with options just to extend her life, it would have been hard for your girl to feel like she couldn’t do her job, as her health declined. I now have a Border Collie female in renal failure. I see the joy leaving her eyes. It has gotten to the point that she doesn’t trust me to feed her since I’ve had to administer so many medications and have started giving her subcutaneous fluids. She won’t eat anything unless it’s small enough that she knows I can’t fit a pill into it. She has started putting her ears back when I approach her so I’ve just limited her meds to just her arthritis pill and give her anything she will eat, even mashed potatoes. I want her last days to be filled with love and affection, not stress. You truly did the right thing.
Dear Michelle,
I am so sorry your senior girl’s health is declining. Your choice to limit her medications in order to improve her quality of life and decrease her anxiety is the BEST idea. I hope these last days will be peaceful and filled with love. Wishing you the best as you navigate this difficult path. Bless you and your sweet girl.
oh honey, I am feeling the same way you are describing and my sweet little Bella, 12 yo shipooh is in her last days, I know I am going to be making that horrible visit for the last time with her soon. she was diagnosed with kidney disease, remarkably almost 3 years ago. she did very good up until about 6 months ago when she got a big pot belly, drinks about 2 liters a day, and had to urinate all the time. I did not let them put her in any meds because the side effects were too much for her so I chose cbd for dogs, melatonin at night, adrenal support drops from Pranab pets, probiotics, lignan melatonin. I also made great changes to her diet. I added pumpkin to her food to help eat m ease the bloat. all these things have helped her, her panting stopped, I’ve been hopeful, until the past few days. she is acting very strange past couple days, kind of confused. I have to pick her up at the bottom step as she appears to not be able to take the steps and tonight while acting very confused I noticed her back legs sliding out from her while walking on the hard floor. my heart is breaking. I feel like I have left her d down by choosing the non vet prescribed meds to treat her. I’m so guilt ridden that I have not done the right thing or else she would be ok. I’m an dreading so much the trip I am getting ready to make to the vet. she is like a child to me. I got her in 2011 at 1, and I could never have asked for a better dog. my heart is broken. God bless you!
Dear Sheree,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult decision for your little pup. It is clear Bella is dearly loved and has lived a wonderful life. She is lucky to have someone like you advocating for her health and well-being. I don’t think you did anything wrong by choosing to pursue more natural treatments and therapies. There is no one specific way to do things and you have to go with what you are most comfortable. I pray you will know when it is time to say goodbye and give your sweet girl her final peace and rest. Until then, make the most of the time you are gifted and give Bella a hug for me.
Hello my doxie is 13 yrs old she has lost a lot of weight and not eating as much. I took her to veterinary clinic they though it was liver . He came back and said she had kidney failure and her blood work was on very high levels he told me maybe a couple of months to a year. He told me to give her a special dog food dry/wet mix together and give her some Aventi kidney I mix it with her food she can go almost 2 days before she finishes a cup of food. She sleeps a lot and her breath smells terrible. I read what you wrote and I find it ver interesting and comforting. My little doxie stares at me a lot and I don’t know if she is in pain. The vet says she has a strong heart and he lungs sound good. I’m just wondering what she would do if I leave her for a few days. I’m in a wedding she has never been in a kennel before I wouldn’t know if the stress of not being with her would be okay. My son said to leave her with him but he has 4 dogs 2 big ones and 2 other doxies. I’m trying to keep her comfortable but should I just treat her as before? She has been with my sons dogs before. Can you help me
Hi Emily,
I am so sorry your senior girl is dealing with kidney problems. I understand your worry about leaving her and wish I knew what the right answer was for this situation. Unfortunately, there is no way for me to know if her condition will deteriorate or how this change to her daily routine will affect her health. I pray you find the answers you need to make a choice you can feel comfortable with. Hoping your sweet girl will find peace and comfort in her final days. Bless you both.
I had to put down my 8 year old Pom/Shitzu today. Just like you, my baby went from good to worst within a week. And reading this article was comforting cause I knew my baby looked at me and her eyes was telling me it was ok to let her go. It was so painful and I can’t stop crying. I wanted to be selfish and keep her with me but my heart was breaking over the last week seeing her not eating or moving. I miss her so much already.
Dear Chrisann,
I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to your pup. You made the loving choice to allow your own heart to break so you could free her from her suffering and pain. May her memory be a blessing in your life. Wishing you happier days ahead.
My 10 yr old poodle, Max was diagnosed with kidney failure on Monday and Tuesday I had to let him go. His numbers were off the chart and he was gasping for breath. I could not allow him to suffer after the vet had tried everything possible including hospitalization hoping he would improve.
I am devastated and can’t stop crying, I feel so lost. Just last week he was running around and playing. How could he get so bad so quick? Did I not recognize the warning signs? Could I have done something to save him? I’m so confused and don’t understand how fast he declined. My heart is broken.
Dear Cindy,
I am so sorry for your loss of Max. I know you are grieving and are running all the “what ifs” through your mind. Please don’t carry around the burden of guilt thinking you should have done something differently. Kidney failure can happen very quickly with little to no warning. It is likely there is nothing you missed, and you did everything you could to give Max more time. I pray you can allow yourself some grace and be comforted knowing your sweet boy lived a life full of love and joy. May his memory live on and continue to be a blessing in your life.
Same here Cindy. While I wish you NEVER had to experience this, your questions make me feel more normal as I have all the same doubts and concerns going through my mind. We put down our 16yo dachshund. it has been over a month and I still feel like something could have been avoided.
Thinking of you 🙁
Dear Josh,
I am sorry for the loss of your Dachshund. May the memories of the good times you shared bring comfort to your heart. Bless you.
Hi Cindy,
The same thing happened to the love of my life, Tiny. I am sobbing as I write this. She was my best girl, happy and playing and within 72 hours she was gone (Dec. 2022). The worst part is that I noticed some weight loss for a few weeks prior but she was otherwise so happy and seemingly healthy I thought it was fine to wait for her vet appt coming up in a couple weeks. She had just been to her routine visit 3 months prior (Sep. 2022) and the vet said she was “disease free”. And I believed her! She didn’t make it to her upcoming vet visit, instead we drove 6 hour round trip to put her in the best hospital we could get to try to save her life. The vets there worked so hard to help her. She was my service dog and we went everywhere together for 11 years. It kills me to think I could’ve caught it sooner. I’d give anything for just one more day with her. I love you forever Tiny. XO
Dear Arin,
I am so sorry for your loss of Tiny. I know you would have given anything to keep her with you. Please don’t carry around the burden of guilt over how things progressed. It is very possible that even if you had taken her to the vet in the weeks before that her lab work still may have been in the normal range. Kidney disease is just so tricky and can strike very fast. It is clear from your words that your sweet girl was dearly loved and had a very full and happy life. I pray with time your heart will heal. May her memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life.
I’m so sorry ! We just found out on Wednesday that our sweet girl had a grade 4 kidney failure! She peed on me on Wednesday then passed out at the vets ! We rushed her to a 24 hour vet 2.5 hours away from us ! She was anemic and because of her heart issues they can’t treat the kidneys without damaging the heart more !💔we brought her home to live out her last few days ! We have been through so much already! We lost a daughter a year ago suddenly to a horrible seizure! Then lost a niece last month to cancer and now our sweet companion is very ill !💔😢
Dear Wendy,
You are a testament to strength with all you have lived through. I can only imagine how badly your heart must hurt. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal and the memories of all the good times will bring joy to your soul. I just left a response to your other comment as well. Praying for you and your family.
This is one of the best articles I’ve read about kidney disease and dogs. We had to say goodbye to your 9 year old Scottish Terrier named Sasha on January 23. 2023.
. She experienced just about all the symptoms mentioned here. We did not know it until we went to a different vet practice. By then she was beyond any type of maintenance treatment. She stopped eating no matter how many different types of food we gave her. She would throw up every morning. I hated how we just did not know what she was dealing with at the time. We received a misdiagnosis from her main Vet provider. I am not sure we will ever get another dog. It was so gut wrenching to lose her.
Dear Melanie,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Sasha. I know you are grieving her absence and thinking about all the “what ifs”. Try not to carry the burden of guilt over how things ended. I am certain Sasha was well loved and she knew how much you cared. May her memory be a blessing in your life. Praying for peace and comfort for your heart. ♥
My 9 year old Lab was late diagnosed with renal failure with a creatinine value of 6. . Since last night I have been on tenterhooks. he is throwing up occasionally though eating well. He also has E Canis parasite. .
aI do not know how to deal and take the ultimate decision of putting him to sleep.
please advise in any way you can.
Dear Devasish,
I am sorry you are in this difficult situation with your senior Lab. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is hard to know for sure how to advise you to proceed. It would be a good idea to have your vet take a look at your pup and evaluate his quality of life. They can let you know if there is a good treatment option to pursue or if saying goodbye would be the most loving choice. I hope you find the answers you need. Wishing you and your sweet boy the best.
I just lost my best bud at just 3yrs 8 mos
I had no idea anything was wrong until the last month of her life. She was a very active frisbee dog. I first noticed she had a limp at the front leg .I thought that she may have injured it playing.
Went to the vet and was prescribed anti-inflammatories. No blood work even though she had lost 15 pounds in that month.. two days later she wouldn’t eat her morning chicken I knew something was wrong I went to work. My daughter noticed her shaking. My wife took her to the same vet this time she did bloodwork and said she had extremely high levels of toxins in her blood, and told her to go to the emergency hospital ASAP that’s when we found out after a ultrasound that her kidneys were totally destroyed. She passed away St. Patrick’s Day.
Rest in peace, Dakota, you’re flying high in the sky now catching frisbees in heaven.
Dear David,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Dakota. I am sorry her life was short but glad she was well loved for the years she spent with you and your family. May her memory live on and be a blessing in your life. Wishing you the best for happier days ahead.
We said a very heartbreaking goodbye to our 18 yr old Jack Russell
called Molly. She was slowly shutting down sleeping 23hrs out of 24.
Went off her food, even favourite treats but she was still drinking water and was never incontinent. After blood tests and a urine test the Vet told us she had kidney failure.
My close friend had kidney failure and died in a hospice , often suffering awful pain. We made the decision to let Molls go to sleep peacefully, with us by her side at home. It was quiet and peaceful and she slipped away very quickly in our arms.
We took her to our local Pet Crematorium and said a heartfelt goodbye to her. what a legend she had been to us and all who knew her.
when we came out of the crematorium, there was a beautiful rainbow over our town. A memory I’ll always treasure when I see one.
We miss her so but know she is reunited with her best friend Tia, a Staffie who died 4 years before. RIP Molly and Tia.
Dear Anne,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Molly. What a blessing you were able to give her a peaceful goodbye. I am certain she knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort in her final moments. Thank you for sharing your story with us. May the memories of Molly and Tia stay with you forever and be a source of joy in your life.
Thank you for this informative and beautifully sensitive article. Our beloved two-year-old Doodle, True, was diagnosed with renal disease (genetic) when we took her in to be spayed last year. Since then, she’s stayed her bounding, brilliant, hilarious, and exhausting self…but now we’re seeing changes. She’ll no longer eat her $500 per month renal diet canned food so we’ve put her on an appetite stimulant (Entice) and I’m making hamburger, chicken, and rice – the only combination she’ll eat.
We know that her life will be short…and we run off to hide and cry a bit each day (True will NOT see our tears). But we will say goodbye before the natural grace of her joy begins to fade. How to know when? We just pray that our hearts will tell us.
To all of you – thank you for being such superb dog-parents. Our grief is just another expression of our fierce and abiding love.
Dear Alex,
Thank you for sharing True’s story with us. I am sorry you are facing this difficult decision in the near future but so thankful True has you to show her what unconditional love is all about. I have no doubt she will be spoiled and find joy in each day she is gifted. Praying for clarity when choices need to be made and for strength and comfort for your heart. Give your sweet girl a hug for me. Bless you both.
Our baby 9 week old Great Dane puppy was put to sleep to help her go off to Heaven today. She stopped eating, was vomiting and lost wait very quickly. We took her into the vets to find out what was wrong, only to find out she had kidney failure and was put to sleep then and there. A trip to the vets to find out what was wrong, only to find out our little girl wasn’t coming home with us. She was birthed from our dog and named after her Mum too. I just don’t know why she suddenly got kidney failure at such a young age? Or maybe she had it from birth?
Forever our little Lucy girl xx
Dear Hayleigh,
I am so sorry for the sudden and tragic loss of your puppy. With her being so young, I would think her kidney failure was probably congenital (she was born with it) and there is a possibility her kidneys/urinary system were not completely formed. I am glad you were with her during her final moments and consider it a blessing she was so dearly loved during her short life. May Lucy’s memory stay with you always. Bless you. ♥
My very first dog, my fur baby just passed away this Sunday (3/5/23) from Kidney failure. He was 14 yrs old & passed away in my arms. I’m beyond devastated. I want to share, that reading this article and all the comments have helped me not to feel all alone. Don’t know how I’m going to continue to live without him – he brought the greatest joy to my heart.
Dear Hazel,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your senior boy. I am glad you were able to be with him in his final moments. I am certain your presence was a comfort, and he knew how much he was loved. May his memory be a blessing as you continue life’s journey. Wishing you the best for happier days ahead.
I have a 14yr old Brussels Griffon. He has had congestive heart fIlure foe 6 years now and has been on 3 different meds to maintain his condition. Recently he has been acting distant, he won’t eat, he doesn’t drink as much(and he is on meds that make him thirsty) I took him to our vet and his kidney numbers are all elevated. They have kept him overnight with no improvement.
With his heart disease and his age, what are the odds of him pulling through? Is it possible with diet and medication we can keep him around for a fee more years?
Hi Terri,
I am so sorry your senior guy has received such a difficult diagnosis. Without examining him myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions and assumptions about his prognosis. Since your vet hospitalized your pup overnight and no improvement was seen, I am concerned that you may be facing the emotional decision of whether to say goodbye or keep trying medical management. This situation sounds grave, and I am worried your sweet boy may be nearing the end of his days. I am praying your senior boy was able to hang on and make a miraculous recovery. Keeping you both in my thoughts. Bless you.
I have a rescued hunting dog just over a year old. he has been diagnosed with severe kidney failure. It is so hard to let go 😭
Dear Andre,
My heart aches for you as you face this tragic diagnosis in your pup. Wishing you strength and comfort. ♥
We just lost my daughter’s sweet puggle dog last week
who had signs of Dementia or Kidney disease..
I was his caregiver for the last several years until he died last Friday…..
We have a puggle, Laney who has been treated for bladder cancer recently, and now is in end stage Kidney Failure from the Hydronephrosis, and toxicity…..Unable to keep food down, last week, vomiting ….giving IV fluids, tried to get pain med, and anti Emetics down with great difficulty…Now have liquid stool, since Sunday, turning bloody today….she has been the best pup friend…her sibling as well as us are going to be devaastated……This
truly is so hard…she had been doing well with
treatment, until a week ago Sunday
Dear Jolene,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your daughter’s puggle and now facing another goodbye with Laney. I know it is hard to let go, but with her health deteriorating so quickly, saying goodbye may be the only way to give Laney freedom from her suffering. I hope her passing will be peaceful and smooth. Praying for strength and comfort for your heart. Bless you both.
Our 17 years old Chloe, bichon/poodle was in late stage kidney disease since August 2022. We had no idea about how severe it was until she had to spend 5 days at the vet hospital under constant IV fluids to rehydrate her. After this, her kidney readings improved a lot. Back at home, I helped her keeping hydrated every day with subcutaneous fluids for the last 6 months. She seemed to manage and accept the treatment well, combined with phosphate binders.
Unfortunately we had to make the decision to let her go 2 weeks ago as she got very much in pain at night with arthritis, whining and pancing a lot and also some dementia. She also often collapsed on her belly and couldn’t get back up very easily. I still feel guilty as she was still eating and drinking well but I couldn’t watch her suffering with all of this.
Maybe we should have let her end her days naturally. If only they could talk to us. The vet came home and I hold my sweet Chloe on my lap and she went very peacefully. I will always think about her every single day of my life.
Dear Sandy,
I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to Chloe. You did everything you could to extend her life and, in the end, made the loving decision to offer her peace and freedom from her struggles. I am glad you took the opportunity to let go before she endured unnecessary suffering. A natural death is often not very peaceful or pleasant. I am certain Chloe knew how much you loved her and that your presence was a comfort in her final moments. May her memory be a blessing that stays with you forever. Wishing you the best for happier days ahead.
I am at this point with my 17 year old Pomeranian. Her kidney disease has rapidly declined. My daughter is a vet tech and is helping me with at home care. Day 3 and she does not seem any better regardless of fluids and anti nausea medicine. Coming to the decision to euthanize your beloved animal is the most difficult thing to do. I wish she would pass away on her own, unfortunately that has never happened with any animal that I have ever owned, horses, dogs and cats. Her quality of life is poor with occasional moments of still seeing the old her. Feeling so broken hearted and questioning my decision, knowing in my heart that I can’t bare to see her suffer
Dear Kim,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult decision for your senior girl. Kidney disease can be so cruel. I am glad you have your daughter there to help with your dog’s medical care. I am sure she will be a comfort to you with these emotional times ahead. Praying for your strength. Bless you all.
Today I had to have my 9 year old rescue Corgi put to sleep. We got her when she was 3 and found out she had lived in a rabbit cage and was washed with a power washer by men. When we got her she was afraid of everything and everyone especially men. It took a few years for her to somewhat trust even me. She was always a picky eater but eventually she would eat pretty good most of the time. After having her 6 years she still wouldn’t just come when I called her to come to me. She would come to potty or go outside or sometimes come in when I called her. She would rather use the doggie door most of the time so acting strange wasn’t really that strange. A week ago she was out in the yard with me and naturally eating anything she thought might be good. Within about 3 days she wouldn’t eat anything and drank very little. I tried everything to get her to eat. I even took water to her wherever she was. Over the weekend she got worse quickly. I got her to the vet this morning and her kidney levels were 3 and 4 times over what high normal is. I am racking my brain to find what she could have eaten to make it her change from ok to not good at all that quickly. I have a nice well kept yard with nothing unusual in it that hasn’t been there for years. Is it normal to not be able to tell when she started kidney failure and what could have made her get it? As long as I have had her she has never been abused so racking my brain as to what happened at just 9 years old. Could her pretty constant worry about something going to get her play in it? I do not give my dogs table scraps. They get a tiny bite now and then from the table. I feed them a dry dog food with a little olive oil and warm water.
I guess I am beating myself up because maybe I should have noticed earlier and could have done something. At the stage she was today there would have been no way to make her comfortable so I am glad that I was able to get her to let me rub her tummy for hours last night and this morning which she seemed to really enjoy me loving on her.
I was holding her when she passed at the vets office. . I wanted her to be with me and not with strangers. I just feel so bad that she got this bad in a week.
Thank you for listening. I have another Corgi that is 6 years old and I want to be doing the right things for her to keep her from getting kidney disease.
Doesn’t help any that my husband died 3 years ago from kidney cancer.
Thank you
Renee Childress
Dear Renee,
I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Corgi girl. I am glad you are reaching out with these questions because I can definitely help to give you some peace of mind. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t miss anything. I don’t think this was caused by something your pup ate in the yard. You absolutely did not fail your girl. Kidney disease can be present with NO symptoms at all until the disease is very advanced. While some dogs will show signs of a problem and take months to years to progress to an end stage, this is not always the case. It can also develop very quickly with almost no time to react. Sometimes yearly routine lab work can pick up on subtle changes in kidney function and allow early intervention, but again, this is not always the case. Please don’t carry around the burden of unnecessary guilt. You acted quickly once you noticed signs of distress and made a loving choice to give your pup peace and rest. I am so glad you were able to be with her in those final moments. I am certain she knew how much she was loved, and your presence was a comfort. May her memory be a blessing in your life. Praying for comfort for your heart and happier days ahead. ♥
Thank you for your kind and caring article on kidney failure in dogs. It brought me so much comfort in late November as my 10 year old hound amber was diagnosed w advanced kidney failure and lived only 3 days after blood test at our vets . We tried for two days to make her comfortable w fluids and pain meds but on the third day she went downhill and I made the hardest decision to let her go .
Your words comforted me greatly and your explanation of kidney disease in dogs helped me understand this terrible disease that took my dog . !And I thank you from the bottom of my heart !
I grieved my dog but I honored her by adopting another hound from the shelter shortly after . She honored me by helping me to save another shelter dogs life who I named Sandy Amber . Thank you again Doc😊🐶
Dear Lori,
Your words really touched my heart. Thank you for sharing Amber’s story with us. I am sorry you had to say goodbye, but so grateful it led to the rescue of another deserving soul. May Amber’s memory be a blessing in your life, and I wish you nothing but happiness with your new pup by your side. Give Sandy Amber a hug for me!
Ugh. I was hoping to hear some success stories on this platform but it appears my story is all too similar. My 9 year old Havanese, Cujo, has been incredibly lethargic and shivering for a week or so and vet stated his kidney numbers are abnormally high and would need hospitalization. Cujo has been receiving IV fluids for a little over 24 hours and I just received word his numbers haven’t gone down. He will get an ultrasound today to further assist in treatment and prognosis. My motherly instincts are telling me he’s not gonna recover and all these tests and hospitalization are prolonging the inevitable. It’s heartbreaking, confusing, and astronomically expensive. Draining in so many ways.
Dear Marie,
My heart goes out to you with this tragic situation you are facing with your senior pup. I wish I had some great advice or could tell you how to fix things. If at any point you would rather bring Cujo home and just love on him, please let your vet know. It is ok to pursue hospice care in situations like this. You and your sweet boy are in my thoughts and I’m praying for your comfort and strength. Bless you both. ♥
Our 3 yr old Labrador was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure .. no amount of treatment helped and finally doctors said there is nothing that can be done and we need to prepare ourselves to say goodbye to our boy.. we got him home so that we can spend whatever time he has .. we have been seeing him deteriorating by the day .. yesterday he had stopped eating completely .. but we are confused if we should euthanise him or let him choose when he wants to go ..
Hi Shheethal,
My heart goes out to you. It is so hard to hear that there is nothing more that can be done for your dog and to face saying goodbye. While it is a personal decision for everyone, my feeling as a veterinarian is that euthanasia, rather than natural death, is often the kindest choice in these situations because it allows your dog to skip over some of the hardest days that may still be before him. You are able to spoil your dog with all of his or her favorites, and then say goodbye in a peaceful way, knowing that your dog is no longer suffering, and that you were able to mercifully end that suffering with a good death.
Whatever you decided to do, I hope that you were able to find peace and comfort in knowing that you made the decision that you felt was right for you and your dog. Praying for you on the loss of your sweet dog.❤️
15 year old small dog. On prescription food for 1 1/ 2 years.. Dog doing fine in temperament and activity.. Owner unable to find prescription food for several days. How will this affect the dog? Could the dog go into kidney failure?
Hi Sandra,
I understand the concern with this unfortunate situation. I would not think a few days on regular food would be enough to cause a serious issue. Please reach out to your vet for advice. They may have suggestions of what other foods would be best to use temporarily.
Hello. We just put our dog down 3 weeks ago. The guilt is killing me. Not sure what all was going on with him. Started losing weight and limping on one leg. Took him to the vet a couple times and she thought it might be immune mediated poly arthritis from the X-rays. He also had a urinary tract infection. 2 days after his last vet visit, his back legs weren’t working. I sat him down and he just collapsed. Took him to the emergency vet and she said he was 100 percent suffering ( whatever that means) his vet had mentioned possible kidney disease but wasn’t sure. We decided to put him down at the emergency vet. I automatically start questioning my decision afterwards on if he really needed to be put down. It was tough seeing his back legs not working and just laying there. Can’t help but think…was he just dehydrated or was he still just dealing with a uti? Regretting my decision to put him down and wondering if his legs would have started working again. Please help me understand. The guilt is overwhelming.
Dear Jamie,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your pup. I wish I knew what happened with your dog and could give you specific answers. Unfortunately, without having examined him myself, I can’t make conclusions. You did the right thing in taking the ER vet’s advice and trusting in her expertise. I have no doubt she felt the most loving option was to say goodbye and give your sweet boy freedom from his suffering. I can only imagine how much you miss him. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew. May his memory live on and be a blessing in your life. ♥
Hi all I been dealing with bladder cancer on my puppy for almost two years now here kidneys are getting blocked by the cancer and she is losing her appetite and started shaking so we took her to the emergency hospital and they said here kidneys are starting to shut down but then they found some bacteria in her urine so they said it we be a good idea to start on antibiotics and fluids and pain medicine.So the next day we get a call you should come up and see her we don’t think she is going to make it and we don’t have a crystal ball to no what to do next . So we go up there and she can’t walk they bring to us and the doctor came in and said well we can start her on another antibiotic to see if that helps until we get the results from the urine. So I very up set right now by a Vet. Doctor to tell me about a crystal ball when iam dealing with this stuff for almost two years and tell me we can keep on trying .What do you see in this picture . Just very up set when they know that there is no hope just flat out say it’s that time but no just keep on draining my bank book $45000. 00
Dear Aw,
I am sorry your pup has been through so much and is nearing the end of her days. Cancer can be so cruel, and I hate that it is impacting your life like this. Without playing a personal role in your dog’s medical care, it is hard to make conclusions about why certain decisions were made. The topic of euthanasia is extremely emotional and can be very difficult to bring up. Many times, veterinarians will offer suggestions of ways to try palliative care while waiting for the owner to bring up the topic of saying goodbye on their own. I understand this is not ideal for every owner and you would have appreciated it more if your vet had been more direct. I do not think your vet had any ill intentions or was trying to increase your costs. I honestly think they were trying to hold onto a ray of hope that they could save your sweet girl. Again, I am so sorry for this difficult situation. Wishing you comfort and peace.
This post and all the various comments helped me to begin to be able to cope with what has been the worst days and experience of my life. Just over six years ago, my husband and I went out for a cup of coffee and came back with a five year old Boston Terrier named Titan. Titan was both our first dog individually as well as a couple. Titan had us wrapped around his paws the moment we brought him home. He was spoiled rotten and he knew it, in addition to knowing that he was cute. It didn’t matter if you had a bad day, because at the end of it, Titan would be at home waiting to jump up and welcome you when you arrived. On weekends, he would want to stay snuggled up in bed as long as possible, forcing himself under our armpits and burying deep into the covers. Unfortunately, last summer at the age of 10, Titan was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. We immediately started him on a special kidney diet and made sure we followed the vet’s instructions on when to schedule follow up appointments for blood draws, ultra sounds, etc. In December, Titan had his blood drawn and an ultra sound and things looked slightly better. About a week ago, Titan began regurgitating (not vomiting) sporadically. Despite this, he still continued to eat. By the end of the week though, he was regurgitating after every meal and only eating certain things. We immediately took him to an emergency vet, where his blood was drawn and ultra sound performed. His values had somehow risen to very high and dangerous levels. We made the decision to hospitalize him, so he could be put on IV therapy and given phosphorous binding medicine. Though he seemed to do better the first day in the hospital, the next day he took the turn for the worst. We decided to bring him home to monitor his quality of life and see if it changed at home as well as make him more comfortable. It was clear once he was home, nothing would change, so we scheduled an at home euthanasia service. Due to limited availability, we had to wait a full day for someone to come out, which we thought would be fine as we had him on medication and was moving around, using the bathroom, drinking water, etc. Unfortunately, Titan ended up passing away in our bed, in our arms at midnight the day of the appointment. Before Titan passed, I had been reading this post and the comments and finally came to terms with what was happening. What I read inspired me and my husband to give Titan the freedom to let go when he was ready. Soon after we shared this with Titan, he did indeed let go.
I am not sure if I will ever be the same after this experience, but I think that is okay. Though Titan died naturally vs. with euthanasia, I do believe his life ended the way he wanted. I am angry that kidney disease ended Titan’s life, but I know he is in a better place and knows that he will forever be our mr. bubs/dude/sweet bubbys/baby boy.
Dear Katelyn,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Titan. He sounds like a once in a lifetime kind of pup. I can only imagine how hard it must have been when he passed, but what a blessing you were able to be by his side until his last moments. It is clear from your words he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. I hope with time your heart will heal and you will be comforted knowing you filled his life with joy. May Titan’s memory be a blessing that stays with you forever. ♥
So sorry for your loss! We just lost our sweet Piper girl the to the same disease just yesterday. Trying to navigate my days without her. 💔
Heather C
Dear Heather,
I am so sorry for your loss of Piper. Wishing you peace and comfort for your aching heart. ♥
I said goodbye to my 17 year old yorkie in renal failure with in home euthanasia. She had quit eating 3 days prior but still drinking. Weight was 2 and a half pounds. She passed peacefully after sedation so 2nd injection wasn’t needed. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Guilty or glad it wasn’t required. Has anyone else had this happen?
Dear Connie,
I am sorry you had to say goodbye to your senior girl. You definitely don’t need to feel guilty that she did not require the euthanasia solution after the initial sedation. Hopefully it will bring you comfort in knowing you made the right decision. Her little body was weak, and the sedation gave her the peace and rest she desperately needed. I have seen this same thing many times before in my own patients. Praying for comfort for your heart. Bless you.
I just lost my EVERYTHING..my sweet 13 year old morris named Cooper. He was diagnosed in 06/2022 with heart murmur grade heart failure . He was placed on medications that potential harm his kidneys. He already had an incidental finding of a kidney issue (maybe stone). That being said has to monitor his labs closely and placed on renal diet. September his BUN value was high at 59 and creatine was high at 2.3. Over the next 12 weeks he started losing appetite and losing weight. His normal weight 9 lb but dropped to 7.3. Just last week Cooper became lethargic and still not eating even with appetite stimulant. Labs came back AWFUL (BUN 143, creatine 4.6 and elevated platelets ). He started vomiting and having GI issues and blank stares.. Sadly our Vet said his prognosis is extremely poor and his quality of life is suffering has he is miserable. He was euthanized and my world is shattered. Cooper was my world !! I AM LOST AND BROKEN.
Dear Cooper’s Mama,
I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet boy. I can only imagine how difficult it was to say goodbye. You made a loving decision to give Cooper peace and rest from his struggles and I have no doubt he knew how much he was loved. I know your heart is aching without your beloved pup by your side. I hope with time your heart will heal. May Cooper’s memory be a blessing that stays with you forever. ♥
I had to have my 15 year old Chihuahua put to sleep on 12/16/22. I made the decision because she was in pain, not eating much, I was carrying her in/out to the bathroom and she had a low quality of life. She was a rescue that we had for 14 years. She had all the symptoms of kidney failure—not eating but drinking and urinating a lot, she stumbled when she walked, had bad breath and was lethargic. She was a biter so at the vets office they always muzzled her and never looked in her mouth or took her temperature. They basically did the bare minimum of what they had to. Looking back I wish I had tried a different food and/or medication but I honestly had a hard time getting her to take anything. She would try to bite me if I forced angry down her throat and if I tried to sneak a pill in her food she would throw it up. I had resorted at the end to give her anything just to get her to eat. She liked grilled chicken and rice. I also put broth on her dog food to try to get her to eat. My question is why am i feeling so guilty. If she was at the end of kidney failure I know medications wouldn’t have worked but why didn’t I even try? The vet saw her 10 days before I made the decision and she recommended euthanasia because she said she was definitely in pain and emaciated. I miss her so much and I feel like a bad person that I didn’t try harder. What are the stages of kidney failure. With her symptoms do you think I did the right thing? Will this pain and guilt ever end?
Hi Deborah,
I am sorry for the loss of your little pup. I can only imagine how much you miss her. It is normal to grieve and consider all the “what ifs”, but please don’t let this be a burden of guilt. From what you describe, it does sound like your senior girl was in end stage renal failure. There was probably nothing you could have done to prolong her life and saying goodbye was the most loving option. It is such a selfless act of love allowing your own heart to break so your sweet girl could find peace and rest. I have no doubt she knew how much you cared. Here are a couple links to articles that go into more details about the stages of kidney failure:
1. Kidney Disease in Dogs: Stages and What They Mean For Your Dog
2. Kidney Failure in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide
I hope this information helps give you some peace of mind. Praying for comfort for your heart. ♥
We lost our 16.5 year old Schnauzer/Springer mix to kidney disease in 2009. It was a horrible blow for both my husband & I. She was an amazing dog.
The advances in care since then have been helping our current 13.5 year old Miniature Schnauzer, Willis the Weather Dog.
He was diagnosed with CKD last year. We thought he was leaving us in May of 2022, but after an ER stay, he has persisted.
The keys to that were given to us by his vets with the right mix of medicines for him, & freedom to eat just about anything he wants. (In addition to kidney disease, he has degenerative disc disease in his back, & IBD.)
I want to emphasize a point made in the article. Each dog is different, & finding the right combo of meds. & treatment is difficult, but it can be done!
Willis gets pain meds., anti-inflammatory meds., anti-nausea meds., AND daily SQ fluids. I’m his main caregiver, & we’ve been doing this since May of 2022! It’s now January 2023, & he’s been living his best life.
He’s hand fed; we count his daily calories, he goes everywhere with us. We have given up vacations because no one else can take care of him, & I wouldn’t ask that of anyone. It’s tough!
He’s still going on walks, albeit slowly, playing a bit with toys, sleeping with us every night (even though he has urinary leakage, & needs to potty a few times overnight.)
I don’t care. He takes his medicine & fluids like a champ, still loves going in the car, & is not giving up on life.
He’s been through a lot, & just lost his younger sister to cancer in November. He helped us through that & the loss of his older sister in 2009.
I think we owe it to him to continue with his routine, & be there for him until HE FEELS he just can’t do it anymore.
Hi Mary,
Thank you for sharing your story and experience with our readers. I am so glad Willis is thriving and what a blessing to still have your sweet boy by your side. I am sorry you have endured the loss of your other two dogs, but happy to hear Willis is a comfort and brings joy to your days. I am hopeful he will have many good days ahead. Bless you both and wishing you all the best.
We had to put our Staffordshire terrier down about a month ago due to kidney failure. He was diagnosed in the summer with kidney disease. the disease progressed very quickly. He was vomiting and losing weight. We had to carry him into the vet because he did not have the energy to walk. It was heartbreaking.
Dear Susan,
I am sorry for the loss of your pup. It is so hard to watch them decline and know their time is limited. I am glad you were able to be with your sweet boy during his last days and make the loving decision to give him peace and rest. May his memory be with you always. Bless you and your family. ♥
I had to put my 11 year old Beagle mix dog named Allie down on December 22 2022. She had arthritis in her back legs which had gotten worse. She had stopped eating and drinking so I took her to the vet on December 21. I attributed this to her being in pain. She was given fluids and nausea medicine. Bloodwork was taken and we can home. Allie just wanted to sleep. I had to carry her outside as she no longer could go up and down stairs. Still no eating and very little fluid intake. My the next morning I could see she was so weak that I decided to put her down. This is the worst part of owning a pet. A couple days later the vet called me to tell me she received the results of Allie’s bloodwork and she had kidney failure. There was nothing they could have given her to make her feel better and that I had made the correct decision as bad as that was to make. It gave me a little peace knowing that I didn’t let Allie suffer. I miss her terribly but know that she is pain free. I would never have known she had kidney failure as she was still alert and going for walks (maybe at a slower pace) a week prior to her becoming so ill. I tried to make her as comfortable as possible at the end. I hope she knew how much I loved her.
Dear Diane,
I am sorry for your loss of Allie. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to make the choice to say goodbye. You did a loving thing for your sweet girl that allowed her to find peace and rest. I have no doubt she knew how much you loved her, and I am sure your presence was a comfort. Thank you for being willing to share your story. Bless you.
I’ve been reading these stories today as I got the worst news ever. My Ali which is a beagle 11 years old is now having kidney failure. She has arthritis in her back legs too! I thought that was the case or that the chicken bone she decided to eat over a week ago caused her to get sick since she was so weak not eating much along with vomiting and diarrhea. I brought her home from the vet with the bad news because I feel that my son needed to say goodbye first he will be 3 soon and loves her so much. This will be the hardest thing to do is going to put her down she was my first baby has been with me for almost 10 years since I rescued her.
Dear Kayla,
My heart aches for you with the difficult decision you may have to make for Ali. I am glad you were able to get some answers and have a clear understanding of what you are facing. I hope you can keep your pup comfortable and make the most of what time you have left. Praying for your strength as you navigate this tough road. Wishing you and Ali peace. Bless you both.
We just had to put our sweet 2 year old Great Pyrenees down and it just absolutely crushed us. There were no answers- maybe an autoimmune disease that had been attacking his body since he was a puppy. He had joint issues all his life and we never once thought it could be due to an underlying health condition. I noticed over a few weeks he wasn’t as cuddly as normal and then over a few days his appetite decreased and he has severe diarrhea. After taking him in and getting blood results back all signs pointed to chronic kidney failure. We immediately started treatment to flush the kidneys but his levels were unchanging. His poor body began to retain water and he needed a transfusion. After discussing with several vets they suspected the cause to be Lupus or an autoimmune disease, but unfortunately we had a tough decision to make before those test results came back. We were told that his kidneys were at an end stage. We would be prolonging the inevitable. We took our guy home that night. Built a pallet in the living room and eventually decided that he should sleep in his favorite place which was our bed. In the morning we gave him a burger, hot dog, chicken quesadilla and even some of moms egg bites. We took a long walk with his brother before it was time to say our goodbye. We were with him every step of the way. We just hope he knows we would never give up on him. We only wanted his pain to go away. He lived an amazing 2 years of life and we loved him so so big. Now we focus on the quality of life he had vs quantity, and cherish the memories we made together.
Dear Tara,
My heart aches for you as you mourn the loss of your sweet boy. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am so glad you were able to make his last day full of love and joy. Quality of life is always better than quantity and there is no doubt you gave him that. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. Praying for peace and comfort for your heart. Bless you. ♥
My boy Jacky suffering from kidney failure his creatinine level is 19 and urea is 300 . I don’t understand what should i do. Please someone help .
Hi Jatin,
I understand your concern for your dog and these elevated kidney values. What did your vet recommend as the first course of treatment? Here are links to other articles with more information that may help guide the decision-making process:
1. Kidney Failure in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide
2. Kidney Disease in Dogs: Stages and What They Mean For Your Dog
I hope this helps a bit. Wishing you and Jacky the best for a long and happy future.
I’m sitting here with my 15.5 year old chihuahua/terrier mix on what is the last night of his life due to kidney disease. A home euthanasia vet will be here in 18 hours to help him cross the rainbow bridge.
He was diagnosed as early stage 2 in May, was early stage 3 in early November, and suddenly was end stage by the beginning of December. He’s had subcutaneous fluids, anti nausea medication, pain killers, appetite stimulants, blood pressure medication, and a phosphate binder. And prescription food since diagnosis.
He switched from gabapentin (he also has disc disease in his back due to age) to prednisolone a week ago and he is a new dog since the switch, which makes this so hard and makes me wonder if it’s too early, but the blood values are horrendous. I know he’s lost 90% of his kidney function, and he has dropped from 6 lbs to 5 lbs, mostly losing muscle mass in his rear legs. He feels more bony now, but looks mostly ok except I can see the loss in his legs a bit.
I’d say he’s still 70% himself, despite being end stage, which is incredible and I’m thankful, though the missing 30% is a big part of who he is. He still can do everything (stairs, etc) but is just a little slower and he is more lethargic, but the meds are part of that. But at the same time, he wanted to play just the other night, still trots around the house perked up with his tail up sometimes, and barks at the mailman still. We celebrated Christmas last night for him and let him have a stocking full of goodies. All of this makes tomorrow’s decision just so, so, so hard to go through with, but I know he’s not ok and postponing would only mean a few days or a week (not months), which just selfishly puts him at greater risk of having a step change downwards one day where suddenly he can’t get up or whatever. I truly don’t want to let him go now but I don’t want him to suffer any more – he does hunch sometimes with his knees together, and eating is a challenge, so I know he doesn’t feel great as it is. So as hard as it is, I think now is the time. His bucket list items have almost been completed, we will get it done tomorrow.
Pleas keep little Mr. Taco in your thoughts for a painless and peaceful trip across the rainbow bridge.
Dear Aaron,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Taco. I am glad you were able to complete his bucket list and let him celebrate Christmas with those he loved most during his final days. Allowing him to find rest and peace from his struggles was a true act of love. I hope his passing was smooth and peaceful. May the memories of the good times be a comfort to your heart.
My god i am going through this at this moment which brought me to this page. My chihuahua is in the hospital, he is dehydrated not eating vomiting his creatinine level is 612 (I am in Canada not sure if it is the same measurement as US. His eyes are bright and his tail was wagging but I know I am prolonging the inevitable. Do I put him down now or bring him home and wait until he gets worse? Its a horrible position to be in.
Dear Debbie,
I am so sorry you are in such a difficult situation with your little pup. How are things today? Did the fluids and hospital treatment help? Hoping he was able to keep fighting and is home with you now. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Our Cooper was diagnosed with CKD May 2022. He just wasn’t right one day. We ended up in a vet hospital for a 5days him on IV he was so dehydrated. Our life changed right then! I know we can never put a cost on our loved ones ie pets however $7k hurt but he’s so worth it if we can get more years. However, we learned a lot about CKD that we didn’t know when he went in. This will take him. So then how can we do things at home to help his life as look as possible? Sadly I can’t afford another $7k or more in IV especially more and more as he drinks less and less. We have been doing SQ at home since we came home in May 2022 and trying to get him to drink more.
Today Feb 23, 2023 it feels like it’s the end. Cooper for the first time won’t even kiss us! Lick our tears or face or hand. He looks me straight in the eyes as to say I love you mommy it’s ok what’s wrong or I don’t feel good. He hasn’t eaten or drank all day. He has slept mostly all day. I have given him 3 SQ injections today to get him fluids because he hasn’t had any fluids and used a child 4ml medicine dropper and put water in his mouth every hour to help with hydration. I even made his kidney food watered down and used a baster to try and get a little food in him but he didn’t like that much. We have a vet appointment tomorrow afternoon. I’ve read mouth ulcers or other mouth issues can happen maybe that is what’s going on vs the hard part this looks like.
I’m got to miss his snore!! 😓. Hell I’m going to miss him let’s just to the truth! 🥰
Hi Teresa,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Cooper. It sounds like his condition has progressed and he may be nearing the end of his days. I am glad you scheduled an appointment to have him checked by your vet. What did you find out? Praying for strength to make these hard decisions. Give your sweet boy a hug for me. ♥
Living in Hawaii, it’s hard to come by a golden retriever puppy (since there are no rabies here, there are strict protocols on dogs coming into the islands). I moved here 4 years ago and had always been looking for a liter, I found one and I fell in love immediately with a sweet little girl in a yellow collar, we caller her Mele mele (meaning yellow in Hawaiian).
A couple weeks into having her at home I realized she was leaking urine in her sleep and at first I thought maybe it was poor potty training. Turns out it was renal dysplasia with a prognosis that she probably wouldn’t make it past a couple months. The news hit me like a truck, my dreams felt like they were shattered. And where do I go from here? a puppy trying to grow but can’t eat most of the things she needs to grow. The data out there for a puppy is limited, so I dug deep. I made a plan with my vet to checking bloodwork and blood pressure, switched her diet, increasing water intake anywhere we could and just loving her like everyday was her last. Just yesterday at around 9.5 months of age, she took a turn for the worse-absolutely out of nowhere.
Right now, im cuddled in bed next to her loving on her but knowing the situation is grim, we knew this day would come eventually. We’re administering SC fluids and got her on Anti nausea and appetite enhancers. Not seeing and improvement yet but I see the pain in her- it’s hard to know what to do. Thank you for wiring this article, I am taking comfort in knowing that others have experienced similar.
Dogs are like family, and the grief I feel right now is REAL. We will always do what is best my my sweet companion, Mele. We love you.
Dear Alexa,
I am so sorry your sweet pup has struggled with failing kidneys her entire life. Even though her time on this earth has been short, it is clear how much she is loved and what an impact her life has made on yours. Make the most of these last days together and cherish every moment. May her life be a blessing that will stay with you always. Give little Mele a hug for me. ♥
My dog crossed the rainbow bridge last night. he was diagnosed with kidney disease about 3.5 years ago. Immediately upon diagnosis we changed his diet and his health improved. I cooked for him with very lean ground beef, rice, sweet potatoes, carrots. He liked it every time. However the disease eventually progressed. Last couple of month he was showing signs of advanced kidney disease (lethargic, bad breath, confusion, incontinence). although he ate well up to 2 days before taking him to the vet. At the end it happened very fast, his legs got very weak and suddenly could not get himself up. He stopped eating and could no longer hold #1 or #2. We knew it was time. His last day he was feeling better because of the pain medication he was on. We took him to the vet and was very alert for some time (enough to let us give our good byes), Then his eyes looked very tired. It was time. Dr. put him to sleep right then.
We miss him terrible but know he is no longer in pain. He gave us love for about 15.5 years. We love you Smeagol.
Dear D.,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Smeagol. I know saying goodbye was difficult but what a blessing you were able to be with him during his final moments. I have no doubt your presence was a comfort, and he knew how much he was loved. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. Bless you. ♥
This is so hard. I’m with Bailey or rescue Blue heeler. We have an appointment tomorrow and the vet is coming to us to euthanize her. It’s so hard knowing it’s our last night, but also seeing her in the last stages. It happened so fast. We got blood work and samples done as soon as she stopped showing interest in food. Shes older so we thought she was just slowing down but then it all seemed so fast. Her results were heartbreaking, the disease was a 9 and the vet said 5 was bad, and her liver was failing. I made the appointment as soon as they could and my vet is coming to us tomorrow as I can’t bare to take her to the hospital to have it done. (She’s blind and a rescue, we’ve only had her 3 years, and her owner had passed and it was so traumatic for her to be alone for a long time, then in a shelter until I got her, so I don’t want her to have a traumatic last day with us. Everyone had come to say goodbye but it’s so hard knowing it will be the last time. Seeing her fail so badly is breaking my heart, . I’ve ‘slept’ with her in our den the last 2 nights so she doesn’t have to climb stairs, I know it’s the right decision but it’s killing me knowing it’s coming. Older rescues are amazing but I wish she could have been with us for more of her life
Dear Kathleen,
I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to Bailey. I applaud you for being willing to take in a senior pup and allowing her to find joy in the final years of her life. I can only imagine how much you miss her. May her memory be a blessing to you and your family.
Iost my sweet koving Doxsie girl on the 30th of January, 2023.
I feel so horrible and guilty. I had known for 6 mos she had kidney disease. She was 15 and I was determined her last days would be good ones. I immediately started her on organ meats and a Kidney binder med the vet told me about. She was doing pretty good until s couple weeks ago. A lot of urinary problems, drinking tons of water, sleeping most of the day and little energy. Thursday the 27th she stopped eating. I hadn’t had her back to the vet since her diagnosis. On Sunday she seemed very weak and still wasn’t eating. Sunday night I woke to her screaming out in pain. It was horrible! I put her in my bed and tried to soothe her. It didn’t help so I gave her a 1/2 of Tramadol. ( 25 mg) She slept then, but woke 3 hrs later crying out in pain. I again gave her a half. At 8 she woke and vomited all the water I’d given her with a dropper. She was so weak she couldn’t kift her tiny head. I washed her vomit off her and rushed her to my vet. She was still vety out of it, but still. alive. Dr said she had no fever, but her heart was racing. She never did open her eyes but a little. Was that my fault? Did I give her too much med? My biggest concern of all was her horrific pain. Why? She was doing the same just weaker that day. Is this pain my fault?Did I wait too long? I’m so filled with guilt and all I do is cry.
Dear Cheryl,
My heart aches for you and your tragic loss of your little pup. I am sorry her last day was not as you had hoped, and it left you with all this guilt and pain. There are just too many possibilities to know for sure why things progressed as they did. Take comfort in knowing you did all you could to make your sweet girl comfortable and I am certain your presence was reassuring to her in those final moments. There is probably nothing you could have done differently to change this outcome. Sometimes things are just out of our hands, and we do our best with what we are dealt. I have no doubt your girl knew how much she was loved. I hope with time your heart will heal and you can allow yourself some grace. May her memory be a blessing to you as you continue life’s journey. ♥
My 15 yr /9 month miniature schnauzer has been diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease on Friday. She started Vomiting, which was treated, losing weight, and today not eating her food. She has been very lethargic. I took her to the ER today , they gave her fluids and wanted her to stay over for 3 nights. They would try to get her numbers down but it wasn’t a guarantee. I decided to bring her back home because I feel she had given me the best 15 years ever and there is no reversing this . I know I may have a few more days with her, but I’ve already decided she will not suffer long. I’m ok with that. She truly was the best baby girl ever💕
Dear April,
I am sorry your pup is nearing the end of her life. What a blessing to have spent almost 16 years together. I am glad she will be able to be home with you where she is most comfortable. Hoping her passing will be smooth and peaceful. Praying for comfort for your heart.
Thank you. Reading your article, though difficult was helpful. Our sweet Luna is only 2 1/2 yrs. She is. a Portuguese Water Dog and came to us at a time when we were grieving a loss in the family, having her brought happiness. She is the most affectionate girl and if you know anything about PWDs, she is very much like a little human. She has been by my side since day one, she is my baby.
Just over two weeks ago she vomited one night, clearly she ate something, paper towels or tissue it seemed, which she likely got from the trash that we had by the door and were putting out. The rest of the day and night she was groaning and shivering. called her vet, made the visit and found that her kidneys were failing. it is believed she ate something toxic, but what we don’t know for sure.
She was admitted, given IV, blood tests and medication. A day of fluids saw her bounce back a bit but it never lasted. The last two weeks we have been doing everything we can to get her to eat and drink, to heal and come back. Gave her all the foods she used to love, cooking new ones and bottle feeding her water. she goes every day for IV fluids and walked every hour or so to keep her moving. There have been great days where she has energy and wants to eat and is social again and then there are days where she can barely walk, she is lethargic and a shell of what she was. She has been hyperthermic at times and is losing weight. over the first few days she lost 3 lbs. Now she is down by 5.
Our vet has been great, so has the family. Everyone helps with feeding and giving her affection. At night she tends to be restless, wander a bit she will stand still in one spot and she doesn’t come when we call her anymore. It takes a lot of effort to get her moving and then suddenly one day she is alert and ready to be herself. It is in those moments where we are hoping and happy to see improvement. But it is up and down, more downs than ups actually. On one side I fear we are just prolonging the inevitable but on the other, in those hopeful moments, I feel like she can come back from this, that it is not over yet. I don’t know what is the best course of action, she is still just a baby
She doesn’t seem to have pain, but she looks sad. Her tail still goes when someone comes in the house, but she can’t move to greet them..
it is so sad and so hard.. Everything you write here is familiar and still, we don’t know what to do.
Sincerely,
Kim
Dear Kim,
My heart aches for you and this tragic situation you are facing with Luna. I wish I had some answers and could tell you what was best. It sounds like your vet is working hard to keep Luna with you as long as possible. I am praying for a miracle for your sweet girl, that her kidneys can heal, and she can make a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Bless you. ♥
I’m so sorry to hear that this is something that you’re going through, that was almost the exact situation that my German Shorthaired Pointer had going on. up until the day that she couldn’t stand up she was still going out and walking and drinking and everything and then one day she just wouldn’t get back up and we hospitalized her under 24-hour care. no matter what we tried and everything we did we couldn’t get her levels down and I just lost her this morning, the day after my birthday. one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through and I only had her for three and a half years too. she was maybe 6 years old. it’s so heartbreaking and I hope that things have gone better for your pup
Dear Andrew,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of your Pointer. Sadly, kidney failure can progress quickly with little to no warning. It sounds like you did everything you could for your girl. I can only imagine the grief you must be experiencing without your sweet girl by your side. I hope with time your heart will heal and her memory will be a blessing.
Our 13 year old lab had a growth in her urethra that started in January. She was managing through it but the last few weeks she was so tired, breath smelled worse than normal and her back end got weak and went out on her. We had to put her down Monday. We have no idea if kidney failure is what eventually happened but it sounds like it. Regardless she is out of pain but we have we a huge whole in our hearts.
Dear Debbie,
My heart goes out to you with the recent loss of your senior girl. May her memory be a blessing and a comfort to your soul.
My havanese, Bailey, is almost 16 yrs old and in kidney failure. He seems to have declined pretty steadily the past week so we have made the decision to euthanize him tomorrow. It is such a hard decision because sometimes he seems to be managing ok and then other times he’s very lethargic and stares off into space. It’s all I can think about, the worrying is all-consuming. My husband and I never had kids so he is our baby, we’ve had him almost our entire marriage. We know he isn’t going to get better and we can’t bear to watch our long time, constant companion and best friend continue to get worse. The happy, healthy, feisty Bailey we had for so many years wouldn’t want to exist like this. After all the joy he has brought into our lives, we have to be strong for him and do him this kindness.
Dear Erin,
My heart aches for you with this recent loss of Bailey. What a blessing to be able to give your sweet boy peace and rest from his struggles. I know your life without him will be different and he is dearly missed. But I hope Bailey’s memory will stay with you as you continue life’s journey and when you think about the good times your heart will be comforted. Bless you.
We had to let our beloved Smokey go due to kidney failure today. He was about 14.It all happened suddenly when he started declining this week and had to be hospitalized. I keep thinking that I could have done something differently and prolonged his life – gotten him to the vet earlier, recognized the signs, insisted on giving him prescription diet which he refused to eat, etc. But the vet tells me that there is not much that could have been done as he had grade iv heart murmur with heart enlargement along with kidney disease and that complicates renal failure treatment. From bloodwork done is August this year we knew he has some kidney issues, but the values were mildly elevated and he never exhibited symptoms like excess peeing or thirst, so this decline was very sudden. I just take comfort in the fact that he was active till almost the end, enjoyed his walks and going up/down stairs in our house and barking at strangers! But I do know how to stop feeling the regret that I could have done something differently
Dear Harsha,
I am sorry you had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to Smokey. Kidney disease can progress very quickly and without warning. You did right by your sweet boy and gave him a good life full of love. I can only imagine how much you miss him but have no doubt he knew how strong your bond was. I hope with time your heart will heal and you can allow yourself some grace. May Smokey’s memory be a blessing. ♥
Thank you for your kind words Dr. Busby
My 9-1/2 year old maltipoo has recently been diagnosed with CKD. One kidney is blocked and fluid filled. The other kidney has crystals. There is also a problem with her liver. Based on her bloodwork, her vet said comfort care is the best course for her. She has started throwing up almost daily and has no appetite. She has been having several seizures each week and since last Friday every day. I am heart broken with the prospect of having to say goodbye.
Dear Kathy,
I am sorry your senior girl’s health is declining fast. I think it was such a kind gesture for your vet to recommend hospice care. I know that saying goodbye will be extremely emotional and difficult, but it may be the most loving way to give your pup relief from her struggles. I always think it is best to say goodbye one day to early rather than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet girl. Bless you. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
3. Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)
Thank you for the kind words and information links. My fur baby was euthanized this morning. She started extreme suffering after we arrived at her vet clinic. I was with her and petting and comforting her until the end. It was a comfort that her vet stayed with us and was also petting her as she passed. Thanks for all you do.
Dear Kathy,
Thank you for leaving this final update and allowing me to be a part of this difficult journey. I am so glad you were able to stay with your sweet girl during her final moments. I am sure your vet was honored to be there for you both. Praying for your heart to heal as you work through the grieving process. May the memories of the good days with your pup be a blessing in your life. ♥
It’s 11-13-22 and a month ago we put to sleep my 4yo cat due to severe anemia. Now today my very sick 15yo canine girl has gone away—she had a bad year,, got put on insulin then 4 months later her labs showed kidney failure and the vet suggested she be put down right then. At the time her biggest symptom was excessive water drinking. She held her own for a while, had some sub-q treatments but she grew weaker gradually, more picky with food. wobbly, confused at times. Then today she had a seizure in the early morning with more alarming signs of dementia and couldn’t walk. Unlike the sudden illness of my sweet cat, I knew this was coming although I did not expect multiple seizures and such agitation in her weakened state. I still think the initial vet who suggested she be put down was too negative on my dog’s condition because we had 3 more months that were precious. I will miss her deeply, forever, but not the sickness that took her. At least she had a full life. Condolences to those who have lost a beloved and God bless..
Dear Krissy,
I am sorry you had to say goodbye to your senior girl. Kidney failure can progress so quickly despite aggressive treatment. What a blessing you were able to spend 3 extra months with your pup. I know you wouldn’t trade that time for anything, and your vet wouldn’t have wanted you to miss out on that either. I am sure your vet only recommended euthanasia because they knew how fast things could change for the worst and they wanted to spare your sweet girl any additional unnecessary suffering. We make the best decisions with the information we have at the time but don’t always get it right. I hope with time your heart will heal and be comforted knowing your girl was well loved. May her memory be a blessing.
Thanks so much for your kind words.
Our Browny is in stage 4 renal failure. He’s a 13 year old chocolate lab mix, that was given to my youngest daughter at 8 weeks old for her 6th birthday. Our three kids now 23, 21 and 19, were 6, 8 and 10 when we got him. He’s spent a lifetime with us. Such wonderful memories. He was diagnosed back in May once he started losing weight in March.
At this point between the loss of appetite, excessive licking to sooth himself, extreme irritability and tonight he started vomiting, we know it’s time to let him go. We know he’s in pain or at least very uncomfortable. In addition his arthritis is bad and he can’t easily get up and down steps anymore despite meds. He has hearing loss and I believe his vision is also declining. His confidence is low and he follows me everywhere at this point.
I’m just heartbroken, my daughter is away at college and looking forward to seeing him over break, but we don’t believe he’s going to make it to Thanksgiving. I’ll be calling the Vet in the morning. Just devastated 😢
Dear Polyleah,
I am so sorry Browny’s health is declining so fast, and he is nearing the end of his days. He sounds like such an amazing pup, and I can only imagine how much he must mean to your family. Even though saying goodbye will be hard and emotional, it will be such a blessing for your sweet boy to be pain free and find peace. I hope these last days will be filled with love and comfort for Browny. Bless you and yours as you navigate this difficult path.
Hello,
My sweet girl Aria went to heaven on the 9th, it has been the most devastating thing for me. I am studying abroad so I could not be with her in her last moments on Earth. It was so unexpected to me, I saw her in the summer and she was still her bubbly and silly self. The last few weeks, my parents told me she was not playing with her ball as she used to, so they took her to the vet and said she had a tooth abcess that needed to be operated. That operation took place on the 30th and I did not think much about it until I call my parents and told me it was taking longer. She came home that afternoon and my parents sent me pictures of her being the strong girl she was with a smile on her face. However, she vomited the next day so we thought maybe it was the medicine. Eventually, on Friday the 4th she was way better for her 10th birthday, we even sang her happy birthday on a video call with me, she was not eating like normal, but my parents were giving her small chicken slices. On Monday, my dad told me she vomited again and that she did not want to eat, this continued until wednesday. My dad call me at an unsual time and I knew something was wrong. He told me she was lying all day, and that she was not doing well. He was really worried and he showed me, my poor girl lifted her tail even though I could barely said her name without breaking down. She seemed so tired. I told my dad to take her to the vet, because she must be dehydrated and tired, he did not want to take her before because she is really afraid of being alone and in unfamiliar places. He called me an hour later crying, and my dad is not someone to cry, he told me they had to make her sleep. I felt my heart actually break. I knew it was the right thing, I did not want to see her suffer but I really hoped to be there when she passed, holding her paw like I used to do when she was scared. I’m glad she was in the arms of both of my parents and that she went without pain. I just hope that she does not feel like I abandoned her because I was not there. I think about her everyday, I used to check the cameras on my house to see her and video called her but she heard my voice and looked for me so I do not think she understood. I always had a hard time saying goodbye to her before a trip so last time I was crying and I barely could look at her so I did not as I would have wanted it. I hope she knows that I love her and always will. I wrote her a letter so she knows how special she is to me and how nobody can be like her. It has been really difficult to cope with her death while being far away, but somehow I feel like she is with me in a country she has not been before. But she is attached to me. We have an unbreakable bond.
I love you Aria, we will see each other again in Heaven, until then I will remember you everyday.
Dear Dome,
I am so sorry for your loss of Aria. I know you would have given anything to be by her side during her last moments, but what a blessing for your parents to step in and be her comfort. I have no doubt she knew how much you loved her. Distance cannot take that away. I hope with time your heart will heal. May Aria’s memory stay with you no matter where life’s journey leads. Bless you. ♥
I took my 17 year old poodle to the vet today. I was told she’s in complete kidney failure and anemic, She was given fluids and some medicine for stomach. The veterinarian said I would have to make a decision soon regarding putting her down. It pains me to even make this choice when she doesn’t seem to be in any pain. Like I said she’s 17 and just sleeps because she is blind and deaf. How do I know when to let her go? 🙁
Dear Zena,
I am so sorry you are facing such a difficult decision with your senior girl. Kidney failure can be very painful, and dogs are great at hiding signs of discomfort. I would suspect your pup is more painful than she lets on and this may be contributing to the large amount of time she spends sleeping. If she is anemic, then it makes her body have to work harder to get oxygen to the tissues. You may start to notice she has to work harder when breathing. Saying goodbye may be the most loving option at this point. Here is a link to another article with additional information: Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet girl. Wishing you strength and peace for this emotional journey.
My sweet Freya, aka Boopy Girl, lost her fight on October 27th. I made the heartbreaking decision to have her put to sleep as just an hour prior to taking her to the Emergency Vet, she suffered a 3-5 minute seizure. The signs of kidney failure were not noticeable until Monday evening (the 24th), when she was limping, trembling and refusing to eat. On Tuesday, I took her to the vet and she tested positive for Lyme disease. On the 26th, her lab results came back that her kidneys were affected. She was eating small portions that I was feeding her, but unable to keep her food down. The morning of the 27th, I gave her some chicken broth mixed with water and her prednisone. By 11:00 am she had thrown it back up. 6:30 that evening she had the seizure.
This all progressed very, very quickly as she never exhibited any signs or symptoms of the Lyme or kidney failure until this past week. She has had regular visits to her vet and all the necessary vaccinations. How we didn’t catch this sooner, I will never know.
I am devastated. I rescued Freya 5 months before my mother passed when she was a year old. She would’ve been 6 this upcoming May.
My heart hurts and her younger “brother”, Thor, has realized she is gone. We are broken.
Elissa
Dear Elissa,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of Freya. Try not to carry around the unnecessary burden of grief over the “what ifs”. You acted quickly once your pup started showing signs of distress and did everything you could to give her a fighting chance. I have no doubt your sweet girl knew how much she was loved. I hope with time your heart will heal. Praying for your comfort and strength to face each new day. May Freya’s memory be a blessing as you continue life’s journey.
3 weeks ago today I lost my Denny. I’m still in disbelief because it happened so quick. Denny was only two and diagnosed with actuate renal failure. When I started to notice the weight loss I thought maybe he didn’t like his kibble. I took him to the vet and they said his levels were off the chart. How could this be? He was only two and always a healthy boy. I was really hoping for a miracle. Denny was in the ICU for 5 days and he has was responding well to treatment. You would never know that he was sick. It killed me to see my baby in distress because he didn’t understand what was happening. I told the vet that I would do whatever it takes to help him. He was my life and I’d do anything. When I took Denny home I noticed a change with his behavior. His eyes didn’t look the same. He wandered into corners of the room, confused. I knew at that point I had lost my sweet boy. It was as if he was trying to tell me it was time. I never thought I’d be telling this story. I always imagined he’d grow old with me. But I was blessed with those two beautiful years. It just wasn’t enough.
Dear Alyssa,
My heart aches for you with this recent tragic loss of Denny. Two years was definitely not enough time with your sweet boy, but I am glad he was well loved and experienced joy in his short life. I hope your heart will be comforted knowing you did everything you could for him. May his memory be a blessing that stays with you always.
Our sweet Bailey was just diagnosed yesterday. She’s not even 2 yet. I am heartbroken. I have to call her vet back tomorrow to see how we should handle this. I’d like to at least try to help her but I definitely want to know when to call it so that she doesn’t suffer unnecessarily. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Dear Tanya,
My heart aches for you as you face this difficult diagnosis Bailey has received. I hope you were able to discuss details with your vet and decide on a course of treatment to try. Praying for a positive outcome. Bless you both.
I’m am in the same boat right now with a 1 year old English bull terrier boy. Floyd is in hospital as we speak responding well to the treatment he’s had over the past 72 hours. It’s still touch and go. I’m shocked horrified dumbfounded and heartbroken. I feel your pain 🙁
Dear Jane,
I am so sorry Floyd is fighting for his life against this terrible disease. How are things today? I am praying for a miracle for your sweet boy. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. ♥
I just had to help my almost 13-year-old spaniel mix I got from the animal shelter 12 years ago cross over that bridge Thursday, October 20, 2022. She was a little 20 pound spitfire and was my shadow for those 12 years. She stopped eating most of the foods she normally enjoyed and most of her treats a couple of weeks ago. She also had some diarrhea with vomiting and the vet found bacteria in her stool so treated her for that. After 6 days on the a/b and she wasn’t improving, I started reading about kidney disease/failure and decided I needed to get her in for bloodwork. She was getting very lethargic and it was really worrying me that she was turning her nose up at everything I tried to feed her. The only thing she would get excited about was going in the front yard to pee on a leash. The fenced in backyard was not as exciting for her any more and she would no longer run after the squirrels or birds. Well, the bloodwork showed her to be in real failure. It was such a difficult decision to make and he said I could bring her home over the weekend but she was not going to get any better and I would only be watching her deteriorate. I knew it would be 4 days before I could take her back in and didn’t feel it would be right to subject her to that. I held her pretty little head in my hands, kissed her sweet face through tears and told her how much I loved her and would see her again someday. I can’t stop crying. I miss my little Lucy so very much. I’m so happy I did have 12 wonderful years with her. She was loved so much and gave me so much love and joy in return. I feel I made the right choice in my situation but miss her terribly.
Hi Kitty,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of little Lucy. I know your heart aches without her by your side, but what a blessing to have made the only choice that could offer her peace and rest. You did a loving thing for your sweet girl, and I have no doubt she knew how much you cared about her. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us. I hope with time your heart will heal and her memory will be a blessing.
My sweet 12 yr old gal, Bella (beagle/corgi mix), is in end stage kidney disease. She was diagnosed roughly a year ago with kidney disease but it was mild. In July her levels were 20, as of 10/18/22 she’s at a 60. I am truly heartbroken to say the least. She has been my companion since I rescued her 4 years ago. She’s been with me thru the lowest point of my life and now the best point of my life. I decided to bring her home and give her the best last few days.. Shes the first dog I got on my own and I selfishly do not want to let her go. Coping with this has been extremely hard. I will forever love and cherish her <3 I love you my Bella girl, thank you for the happiest 4 years! <3
Dear Maddy,
My heart goes out to you as Bella nears the end of her life. It sounds like you both were equally blessed when you found her 4 years ago. I know saying goodbye is the most difficult choice you will ever make, but it comes from a place of love. I consider it a privilege to be able to offer a beloved pup peace and rest after years of love and devotion. I hope these last days will be full of joy and comfort. Bless you both.
Mimi would have turned 1o tomorrow. We had to euthanize her over the weekend after a long battle with kidney disease. She was a bubbly and playful Yorkie mix who also was fiesty and loved being a princess. I noticed a year and half to 2 years ago she was leaking urine in the bed in her sleep. I took her to the vet and after lots of tests they diagnosed her with kidney disease. Her numbers were severe but she was managed well with medication for a long while. She never lost her spirit or zest for life but I think the disease was slowly affecting her… I noticed she wasn’t as fast at times when we walked and her breath was slowly starting to get bad. Then in May she ate something that made her very sick and we took her to an animal hospital where she spent several days. She refused to eat and had no energy. They weren’t able to stabilize her and sent her home with fluid and we were told we would need to euthanize. But within days of being home she bounced back. Was eating and was her chipper self chasing squirrels in the park. For months she was back to “normal” and got to witness the birth of my baby this summer. Sadly the past number of weeks she was decling. Her breath was bad and she was slower in walks. Not eating as much and then last week she got very sick; vomiting and ate very little for the whole week. She slept all the time and her back legs were very wobbly. She lost the v life in her and I was devastated. But I knew from the last hospital stay that it was time she was suffering. Not getting better. I said goodbye but I am struggling without her. It is an awful disease with ultimately no great outcome but I’m so grateful for my 10 years with her. She was pure joy and my heart. Forever.
Dear Pamela,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of Mimi. It sounds like she was the best girl and a joy to have shared your life with. I am glad you were able to gain some extra time with her. What a blessing for your pup to have met your new little one. I know you will grieve Mimi’s absence but hope her memory will continue to be a blessing in your life. May your heart find comfort in knowing she was well loved. ♥
Thank you for this article. My sweet boy is currently in end state renal failure. He’s an almost 12 year old Golden Retriever. He started vomiting this evening and I know it’s time. I don’t want him to suffer but at the same time I am struggling with the decision of euthanasia. I have so much guilt when I think about it. I will be calling the vet in the morning. It’s been so heartbreaking watching him age and decline. He’s given his whole life to comforting and making others happy. He was a volunteer in the Doggie Brigade at Children’s Hospital for 6 years. He comforted children, the elderly in nursing homes, other animals, and every person that he met. I am absolutely devastated and although I’m not ready for him to go, I hugged him and told him it was ok. I know he won’t make it to the end of the week. I was hoping he would pass pain free and easily but I know euthanasia is the humane thing to do at this point. I empathize with everyone in this thread and I hope we can all find peace knowing they are no longer suffering. I will surely miss my good boy, Dakota.
Dear Susan,
My heart goes out to you as you work through all the emotions that come with saying goodbye to a beloved dog. Dakota sounds like an amazing boy and a once in a lifetime pup. I hope your heart will be comforted knowing you did the only thing that could give him the peace and rest he so deserved. May his memory be a blessing.
My Ava was an eight month old miniature schnauzer. My whole heart and world. She became very picky with her food. I was trying every kibble going. Every wet food. White fish. Boiled chicken. Eat a bit now and then. Walk away. I took her to the groomers and she was constantly shaking when I collected her. The shaking never stopped. Took her to the vet. She was given antacid tablets an anti sickness injection also try vet advised food of which she wouldn’t eat. Next day she was worse. Trying to vomit but nothing there. The vet took bloods and the phone call I had at the end of that day confirmed she had chronic renal failure and anaemia. Two days later I had to say goodbye to my darling baby. Please had anyone ever heard of a dog so young having renal failure.
Kindest regards
Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I am sorry for the tragic loss of your young pup. It is not common, but possible for dogs to get a juvenile form of kidney disease and it can be genetic. It sounds like Ava may have been born with kidneys that did not function correctly and it just took a few months for the disease to progress to a point where symptoms became noticeable. My heart goes out to you as you work through your grieving process. Prayers for comfort for your heart.
Yes I am holding on to my baby right now she’s only 2yrs and just about 3 months she was diagnosed with CKD last year in Oct 2021 as she was a runt of the litter and when they did a ultrasound they found only one kidney about a 1/4 size of what a dogs kidney her size should be they gave her over fluids and she was hospitalized for three days and then for about a year she was okay but then the same signs kept coming back and so I took her back for more blood work and she now is in the end stages of CKD and is extremely anemic the vet said fluids would not do much at this point and now she is going 24-48 hrs without food and almost 24 hours without water she’s so nauseous and I see tremors starting I’m terrified she’s gonna a siezure I’m a nurse as my career but this is so hard and I’m so sorry you had similar circumstances happen to your young pup it’s seems so unfair and I feel so helpless I’m thinking about putting her down but I’m so scared she might bounce again and then I killed her. I don’t know what to do I took the day off and am just holding her she doesn’t want to walk and the only things she will eat now are her favourite foods here and there it also happened so quickly only in the last 3 days has she stopped eating and gotten these tremors and lethargy. I don’t know how much longer she has to be honest…
Dear Emily,
I am so sorry your young pup has struggled with CKD and now may be facing her last days. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when the timing isn’t clear, and the future is so uncertain. I am praying your sweet girl was able to hold on and make a miraculous recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Hoping you were able to find some comfort and clarity for your situation. Bless you.
Just reading this thread as my 10 month old corgi has been diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. The vet was absolutely stunned with her bloodwork results as was I. She has done a two day iv infusion which did not change her numbers at all. She is home now on a kidney diet and some meds. Her symptoms were relatively mild – she had some vomiting and was not eating well for a few days. Looking at her now it is hard to believe she is so ill. She went for a nice long walk, is chasing the cat and playing with her toys. I know we are heading for a decline but it was good to hear about other folks experiences and how they handled this.
Hi Renee,
I am so sorry your young pup has received such a devastating diagnosis. I am glad the medications seem to be helping her feel better and she is able to play and have fun. My thoughts are with you as you face this uncertain future. Make the most of this time you have been gifted and give your sweet girl a hug for me.
We’re currently going through this with our Westie, Maggie. We have been giving her fluids 3x a week for over a year. She turned 17 in September! We are starting to see changes and don’t know if it’s because of her kidneys or because her eye sight and hearing are almost completely gone. She is currently being treated for mineralization of the cornea, getting eye drops throughout the day and has to wear a cone for long periods. What dog doesn’t hate the cone? She turns in circles constantly, bumps into things, is awake a lot at night. I do notice she veers to the right when she walks. Her regular vet and her ophthalmologist say that she is eating all of her food at meal time and interacting with us so it isn’t time. She has never liked being picked up and held so interaction is usually us seeking her out to give her pets and massages, which she of course loves! Watching her exhibit these unnatural behaviors has us wondering how much distress she’s in and if it is mostly related to the cone and lack of eyesight or if she’s in any pain due to lack of kidney function. She has done what she was put on this earth to do giving well more than 100%. We know we won’t keep her around because we can’t say goodbye, we just don’t want to keep her going if she is suffering. How do you honestly know?
Dear Debbie,
I understand your struggle with this incredibly tough and emotional decision. From what you describe, I am suspicious that your girl is exhibiting signs of dementia/cognitive dysfunction on top of the other health issues with which she has previously been diagnosed. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great comments from other readers. Just because a dog will eat and seek out attention doesn’t mean they have a good quality of life. You know your sweet girl better than anyone and sometimes saying goodbye is the most loving and unselfish choice we can make. I hope you can find the answers you need to make a decision that fits your situation best. Give Maggie a hug for me. Bless you both.
1. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions
2. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Thank you for this ❤️🩹 My Yorkie is now in stage 3 CKD.
Last July, just days after her 8th birthday, she was diagnosed with an acute kidney injury. No one knows what happened to her. They ran every test they could think of at the vet. Our floors are very clean at home and she’s picky about what she eats, so we don’t believe she got a hold of anything toxic. It’s very strange. She randomly started peeing blood and throwing up. We rushed her to the ER and they said she was in kidney failure, her creatinine was 11. They started IV fluids immediately, but nothing helped. She started to have fluid building up around her heart and there was nothing more they could do. Her only hope was dialysis, which is what I decided to do.
We had no idea if it would help or what her long term prognosis would be. After 5 weeks on dialysis, her creatinine went down to 7. Once we took her home and started her on her kidney diet along with blood pressure meds and nausea meds, she started to improve even more.
Now. Over a year later after her last dialysis session, she acts like a normal dog. You’d never know she’s sick. She eats, loves her walks, loves to play, sleeps well and is alert. I take her every 3 months to check her kidney values. Creatinine is now 3.7. I’m so thankful she’s still here at 9 years old. After everything she went through, she is really a miracle dog. I call her miracle Mocha. I don’t know how long more we’ll have her, but I’m enjoying her as much as I can for the time we have left. I hope it’s many years to come. I dread the day nothing will help her anymore 😢 but she did get a second chance at life. I am grateful 🙏🏼
Hi Marie,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with our readers. It is very inspiring, and I agree Mocha is a miracle! What a blessing to have had this extra time with your sweet girl. I hope she will continue to fight and thrive. Wishing you both many happy days ahead. ♥
My best friend lost his dog today. I loved this dog and watched her agonizing decline. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I was trying to keep this positive but everything in the article is true. No appetite, she threw up water almost immediately after drinking it and would no longer drink from her bowl, only puddles. So, I refilled the puddle with bottled water. This dog was only 3, she tried to walk but at the end was too weak and skinny. He spent over 6k on meds and hospital stays. I would have helped him pay whatever amount if it worked but like you mentioned even the best meds didn’t fix it! Keeping her alive seemed very cruel and almost ended our friendship but not my dog and not my say. After being stuck in corners unable to back herself out, having to process how to lay down after putting her on her doggie bed. Its wasn’t until this morning when she lost the function of her back legs did he make the decision. The guilt this man has over putting her down is almost as unbearable as watching her struggle. This Dog was LOVED and I am positive she is/was grateful for the compassionate ending.
Dear Kimberly,
I applaud you for being such a wonderful friend. Sometimes the only thing we can do is just be there with them while they work through the hurt and struggles. Thank you for being willing to share your experience. I hope your friend will take comfort in knowing he did the only thing he could to give his beloved girl peace and rest from her suffering. I have no doubt she knew how much she was loved. Here is a link to another article that may offer additional support: Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)
Bless you both. ♥
currently going through this now. my Zoe will not eat and will only take in small amounts of water. she is extremely weak and I think she has blood in her poop. I think tomorrow is the day to say goodbye. 😪
Dear Kelly,
I am sorry Zoe is struggling and declining fast. I hope you are able to lavish her with love during these last days. Praying her transition is smooth and peaceful. My heart goes out to you during this most difficult time. ♥
Thank you for this article. Our yorkie Belle was just put down on Sun night the emergency vet said she was in complete kidney failure with her creatine level at 11. Due to a heart murmur she did not believe the IV therapy would be successful because the increase in fluids to her 13 1/2 year old heart would likely cause cardiac arrest. She gave us the option but advised that her professional opinion would be to put her down and we didn’t want her to suffer. All of this happened after my husband and I had to go out of town on 2 trips almost back to back that we couldn’t take her on and while I was away is when she stopped eating, started vomiting and diarrhea and became really dehydrated. This has been extremely traumatizing for me I feel like it was my fault this happened because I was gone. She was my first dog and my baby who went almost everywhere with me so separation back to back I feel was likely the cause of her rapid decline. Keep reading about kidney failure trying to find closure, appreciate the information provided in this article. The more I read the more I realize she was having signs even before I left that she might have been dealing with some kidney issues such as increased thirst and excessive urinating even in the house. And she did start vomiting the night before we left on the first trip however I attributed it to her seeing me packing the suitcases so for the 2nd trip I packed in the garage and gave her gabipentine prescribed by the vet to help her not be so anxious. I guess I’ll never know if this would have happened had I been here or not.
Dear Kristen,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of Belle. I know you are grieving and sad without your little pup, but please don’t blame yourself. This would have happened whether you were home or not. Try to give yourself some grace and don’t let the unnecessary burden of the “what ifs” hold you down. You did everything you could to make sure Belle didn’t suffer. I have no doubt she knew how much you loved her. I hope with time your heart will heal. May her memory be a blessing.
Thank you for the article. I am now on my Third pet with Kidney Failure. First was a Cat, who also had Thyroid and other Issues. Vet said put him down now. Lived another 3 years. Second was a Golden Retriever Mix that the Vet said no more than 2 months max. Lived another 2 years. and now, My 15 year old who some said put down 3 months ago when the Creatin levels were at 7.6. She needed IV treatment but due to a partially collapsed Trachea and Vestibular disease, cannot keep the catheter in without someone holding it. Here has been my treatment for all 3 animals. 1. SubQ fluids Daily 2. Rhemmania Supplement 3. Vitamin B12 Supplements, 4. Fish Oils and 5. Phosphorous Binding Medicine. With the Cat at times I had to force feed AD Food by mixing it with water and using a Serenge. The Dogs both go to the stage where they will only eat cooked meat. Unfortunately, this is not the idea diet, but I can’t get any other diet to work. I use Bison Meat or Chicken! With my current 15 year old, using an appetite stimulant (Entyce works best for her) I can sometimes get her to eat the other dogs food and for a Carb White Toast. However, I give her 2000 CC’s of Fluids two days in a row, then a 1000 2 days in a row then 2000 2 days in a row and the pattern goes like that. She also gets Meclizine for (Vestibular) and Cerenia, Cough Medicine and Benadryl for the Trachea and Galliprant for the Arthritis. She is Still Spunky and Barks (partial due to the Trachea), tries to play, and when not having a Vestibular episode even wants to try and run. Very happy still. I know most would not do what I’m doing as it takes a lot of time and effort but she still wants to live. I think sometimes people are too quick to give up! It has been 5 months since they said late stage Renal Failure. Thank you for the article. These are just my stories.
Hi Tony,
I am glad you have found what works best for you and your senior girl. You are right that many people may not be able to handle the intensive treatment regimen you go through daily for your pup. Each dog and owner are different and what works for one may not work for another. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with our readers. Wishing you and your sweet girl the best!
Thank you SO much for writing this. Just return from excellent vet hospital with our sweet English cream golden retriever – horrible news of renal dysplasia due to both kidneys abnormality. We are crushed. She’s so young and wi deftly. I’ve gone through this many years ago with a 14 year old husky—kept her alive another year and half but with this young pup we are really struggling, it so unfair.
Wanted to do anything to extend life and quality… dialysis, transplant- yet I know it likely won’t help or happen. She’s stage 4, we’ve just returned from days at clinic and now I must reflect on the next, best move. I’d love to connect to others with same experiences if you would like
Text 907-317-1707 or on Facebook Sue Forbes
Dear Sue,
I am sorry for this tragic diagnosis your pup has received. I hope you find the answers you are looking for to make the best choices for you and your sweet girl. Praying for a miracle. Bless you both. ♥
Thank you for your post … I don’t give up on my little Bella. She’s 15 1/2 and others may have written her off 3 years ago due to CHF, Pulmonary Hypertension, & nodules on her liver with decreased liver functioning.
Over 3 years ago prior to her not being properly diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and receiving the right medications we had three episodes of resuscitating her …
She has been on 6 meds daily given in several regiments including three feedings.
I pray she doesn’t suffer much from her acute kidney failing that just occured several days ago and as long as she has her appetite I will do whatever it takes to keep her comfortable..
Hopefully the daily SubQ fluids administered by my Vet technician will help her be most comfortable….
Thanks for sharing your treatment regiment …
We just put our little buddy down tonight. He was 14 years old in human years and an amazing dog. He was starting to have multiple seizures in one day, and his bun level was so high. It didn’t even read with his blood work but he never stopped looking up at us with love wagging his tail. Its the hardest decision I’ve had to make and I’m feeling guilty and missing him already. It’s gonna be horrible going outside and not having him walk around the yard with us.. Coming home knowing he was there to greet us always made the days just a little brighter. Home just wont feel the same without him. Love you Buddy! I am going to miss you! Cant wait to see you again! Thanks for writing this. Things you said help make me feel some comfort that I did the right thing
Dear Lisa,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Buddy. You made a loving choice to allow your own heart to break so your sweet boy could be at peace. I cannot think of a more selfless act of love. I know you must miss him terribly, but what a blessing to have shared 14 years together. May Buddy’s memory stay with you forever and be a source of joy and comfort in your life.
Thank you for the article! My 15-year-old pup was diagnosed with kidney failure three years ago. I have noticed a decline these past several months and appreciate all the comments. Thank you, Julie, for responding to all comments and providing support/guidance.
Hi Margaret,
I am glad you were able to find some comfort and guidance from the article and other readers’ comments. Hoping your senior pup can remain happy and at peace for as long as possible. Wishing you nothing but the best. Bless you. ♥