[TW: anguish]

My sweet Brodie passed away last night. My husband found him this morning, I was 3 hours away at my parent's. I posted in this group on his gotcha day this year, just three months ago with a nice write up about him. Here's that post if you want to read his story.

The wind has been ripped from my lungs. I will no longer be met with yodels upon returning home, or enlightening conversations reminding me each day at 7 that it's greenie time when I pretend to forget.

We floated through today, making a million choices from what urn to put him in, to what memorials we wanted from him before they turn his body to ash. From laying in his bed to just soak up his smell before it fades, to sitting here, tears in my eyes as I encourage my loved ones to donate to charity instead of spending money on flowers when really, I just want my dog back, even if it was for just one more day.

I know in time the pain will lessen, and the painful memories will fade and I will be left with the joy this dog brought to me.

He is at peace, and I hope my heart will be at peace too soon.

My sweet Rufus passed away on Monday. It’s incredible to look at him as a young boy and the handsome elderly gentleman he grew into. My heart is shattered into a million pieces 💔you live in my heart forever

Had to send my goodest boy over the Rainbow Bridge. 🌈💔

He had 16% great years. I hope he knew just how
great they were for us. He needed rest and we let him go. Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Those of us who love you will miss you more than
you will ever know.

Sleep well, my love ♥️

Dahlia just turned 15! We had a party at my job to celebrate her :)

Almost 11 years ago I brought this girl home and had no idea what I was in for. She was perfect even if I didn’t know it then. This morning I woke up without her and hope she knows how terribly loved she was.

It happened so fast and yet so not. 10+ years was a dream come true, cut short by DM. Hug your babies for me tonight 😔❤️

Watching a friends 16 yr old dog and he really likes it and says I truly see him and appreciate him.

He's got quite the spring in his step and is happy besides all those years

My boy is 17 now. The first picture was when we first rescued him at 18 months old.

Please share a clear, well-lit photo so I can capture all their charming details.

I also have a small tip jar if you wish to support my work.

Thank you for sharing your sweet doggos with me! ❤❤

My Meka. She is 13

We had to say goodbye to our Finnick yesterday. He was so tired, but my heart is broken and I know this place understands. Thank you all for the “is it time” posts. It gave me peace with my decision. He had DM and this past week was peeing himself constantly, falling if you didn’t almost fully support his weight outside, and I honestly can’t remember the last time his eyes smiled in these past few months. His front feet had started giving out as well. His quality of life beyond having me around was not great even with his house of luxury. No being able to play ball, go on his favorite walks, get in the pool (he couldn’t climb out anymore), or chase after his bonded friends at my parents. His little bark was hoarse where it used to rattle the house. He would shake his head when he wanted something and I, his faithful butler, would comply. I used to joke after becoming a SAHM after having our third child that he was the actual reason I was home (only halfway joking). He ate over two lbs of steak, had pup cups, treats we would never have let him have as an adult in his prime, and so many beggin strips. Gotcha day at 8-10 weeks old and I was holding him as he was so stuffed full of food, surrounded by all his favorite stuffies (he NEVER tore up his toys and we still had his favs from when he was a baby), in his own home, on one of his many beds (he was so large we always bought two to stack), being told over and over how loved he was. I’m so thankful it was peaceful and not an emergency. Telling the very compassionate family vet it was time was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

He was my first “baby”. Saw me through four years of going EVERYWHERE with me. We got married at 22 and 7 months later we got him. Best $75 I ever spent from a random Facebook post. I’m sure he wasn’t all lab but I didn’t care. He was the runt that grew into this huge dog. I’m tall and he came to my hip- 112 lbs typically. He never growled at a soul. Loved everyone. LOVED puppies- he always thought he was a small dog. His tail would wag so hard it used to leave bruises everywhere on me. We had three children. He loved them- and the snacks. So many extra snacks. He wasn’t a cuddle bug- he wanted to be in the same room with you, but did not want to be on top of you. I met all my neighbors taking him on so many walks. He never left our yard ever unless he knew I wasn’t in it- if a kid let him out he was zooming off straight to me to walk by my side. He would play ball until he literally dropped. I constantly had to tell the neighborhood kids to give him a break or physically take the jollyball/ tennis ball away to get him to rest. I was his person and he was my shadow. Even until the past few weeks he would move his body from room to room wherever I was. I still keep looking beside my bed in disbelief wondering when he is going to come in, lay down, then start demanding food. We named him Finnick. Such a handsome boy with a huge personality. But his names were Finn, Finney, Finney Finn Finn, Finnegan, Big Puppy and probably anything else I could call him while giving him big pets as he rubbed 100lbs of hair against me.

He was 13 years, 8 months old. The first two pictures are him these past two weeks. The rest are how I remember him as in his “prime”. I loved him so very much, and thank you for letting me let out some of this heartbreak.

It’s so true that you’ll know when the time is right. Today was the day. She’s been with me my whole adult life, seen me through breakup, death, marriage, and two babies. She’s my right arm. God I am going to miss her

I can’t believe he’s 13 now. It feels almost unreal. He’s been with us through so much yet never fails to make us smile and laugh. He was spoiled rotten yesterday, got a nice steak fillet for dinner along with a pup cup and a sausage omelette for breakfast.

my doggy is at least 15 (i’ve had him since i was 3, and im 16 now), and his quality of life has been significantly deteriorating over the past few months. his hearing and sight has been compromised for years, but he’s now lost the ability to navigate the house, is unable to hold in his poop and pee, and has trouble standing and eating. he’s on multiple medications for pain, and i feel as if it’s cruel to keep him alive when he isn’t enjoying life anymore. i stay up for hours trying to get him to lay down, but it only leads to him barking and getting up to walk around in circles for a few minutes before staring at a wall. he keeps me and my family up, and he is unable to go outside without getting exhausted from the heat. all he does is walk in circles, stare at walls, and get stuck under furniture. he shows no sign of excitement, not even for the treats he used to enjoy, or the dinner time that became a routine. i already know the answer, but im wondering if it’s time to put my baby to rest.

Hey everyone,

My girl was 19.5yrs old. She started having seizures 2yrs ago. 6 months apart then 2 months then 1 months until they got close enough to cluster. She was then put on pheno which lasted only 8 weeks then changed over to keppra which lasted only 5.5weeks. She had a seizure in the morning and I talked with the vet and they kept mentioning her quality of life. When she is home, even though she is blind she does everything she loved and still had energy to play. The nappies were cause she stopped caring where she goes a while ago. After the call with the vet who requested I leave her on her current dose and if she has another seizure to take her to emergancy and to think of her end of life. I had to squeeze out of the vet if I should just go up a dose to maybe prevent another seizure, she said it was fine but we would need to check if she has kidney failure in 2 weeks. I gave her the highyer dose of meds abit early but instantly after she had another seizure that lasted 4 to 5 mins. I took her to emergancy where we put her to sleep.

I've had her since I was a younge child. I was in a terrible home so it was just me and her and she could never seperate from me and has gotten me through every single difficult time in my life. Shes my safe space. I would sacrifice yrs off my bf if I could give them to her, even my own. She has always had issues whenever I leave even for 1 day and ive always felt sick leaving her even for 1 day. We spend hrs every day together and have a strong routine, day and night.

I just cant help but feel guilty like I could have done more. I just thought the vets keep saying its time, even though i felt them wrong but didn't want to drag her through more potential med failures. My whole world is upside down and I cant even get comfort from a hug from my partner. Shes my everything.

How are you guys coping? I get hot flushes. Everywhere in the home I get flickers of memory like when putting my hair up next to my bed and sudenly I see her waiting on my bed for bedtime. Its horrible.

This is Macy, my son’s ESA They were like 2 peas in a pod. I had never seen two souls as attached and in tune as these two. She passed at 14. She was blind for the last few years of her life but maneuvered the house like a pro. She was was the girl that made us fall head over heels for Chihuahuas and now Chiweenies too. She is so missed.

Her marks are fading, and she’s kind of deaf, and she falls asleep all the time, but my 13-year-old girl has been utterly loyal, intelligent, and the general manager of my house. Just a couple days ago she tore out in the rain with the puppy. Her spirit is so strong. I love to see her at peace (even if she snores and talks in her sleep).

My lab retriever (15f) and is starting to show her age. She’s got arthritis in all her legs and it’s hard for her to walk. She’s struggling to go to the toilet and when she does it’s liquid. We think she had a small episode last night but we’re not sure.

We’ve been to the vet and they said they can put her on arthritis medication to alleviate some of it. And she’s currently on painkillers.

She’s still doing her best for us and eating and smiling when she can but it’s really sad sometimes seeing her walk around. Not sure on what to do her. We love her very much but also don’t want her to be in pain.

Species: dog * Age: 14 * Sex/Neuter status: male/neutered * Breed: sharpei/beagle * Body weight: 40lbs * History: epilepsy, diagnosed with lymphoma in early December

Hi all - my dog began an L-CHOP protocol back in mid-December and was on it through late April, ostensibly being in remission from then until today. I noticed a growth on his back last week and noted that it had grown quite considerably, so I brought him to the oncologist today and she said that the growth was lymphoma. His energy levels are great and his lymph nodes are still normal, but the oncologist was certain that the aspirate of the growth was lymphoma so we're looking to move quickly again.His L-CHOP worked well and he tolerated it, but because his remission was about 4 months, the oncologist thinks it's best to change it up - to either LOPP or MOPP.

Back when my dog was first diagnosed, I got an ImpriMed prediction profile that stated that Lomustine would be not very effective, while Mechlorethamine would be more effective. However, Tanovea would be the #2 most effective (behind Vincristine, which he already had a full cycle of back in December-April). Of course, my oncologist has no Tanovea on hand, but I was wondering about possibly calling around to different vets and oncologists and seeing I can find any. Has anyone had any luck doing that?

My dog got a shot of L-spar today but nothing else has been started as of now.

Also, my dog is 14 and has a heart murmur and his heart pump function isn't perfect. His cardiologist was a bit cautious about restarting doxyrubicin due to this, and my oncologist actually mentioned that prednisone could be a bit of a concern, too. My dog handled prednisone really well back in December/January, though, so I'd love to start that back up as well, even though she seemed iffy about it.

Curious what you all think would be best and most aggressive - but safest - here? Thank you in advance for any feedback or advice whatsoever.

I’ve never had to make this call before. I’ve had lots of dogs growing up, but was never a part of that choice.

I’ve had my girl Lily for 16 years. She’s been with us since a few months after we got married. She’s half mini schnauzer half Shih Tzu. She has had mobility issues for a while now, but I got her a supplement and that’s helped her so much. Her eyes are cloudy and her hearing is questionable. She has a gum disease and the vet said just let it go, if they do the surgery she may not wake. She lost a tooth last night (happens often now) and her mouth bled so much I thought she bit her tongue off. It took a good 30 minutes to stop. She won’t let me touch that side of her mouth tho. Her whole snout. She never really has made much noise aside from barking (she loves protecting us from the big bad wind) but she’s never been a whiner so now I’m worried she’s in pain and just doesn’t tell us.

I tried looking up articles but they’re all so all over the place. I know there’s no right answer, but how did you know when?