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Brin has not eaten in 4 days now. She won't accept her regular home cooked meals, her regular kibble, dog treats or even cheese and now hamburgers. She's usually pretty food-motivated. She's drinking a lot more water than normal. I think she might be stiff on her rear right side but can't be certain of that. Her poos have been liquid and mixed with a lot of mucus. Her gums look fine, pink and healthy. I took her to the vet yesterday and they gave her an anti-nausea injection along with fluids, and started her on metronidazole. Her lab results came back today with these values outstanding: AST 72 [16-55 U/L] CREATNINE KINASE 451 [10-200 U/L] GLOBULIN 4.2 [2.4-4.0 g/dL] BUN 35 [9-31 mg/dL] CREATNINE 2.8 [0.5-1.5 mg/dL] CHOLESTEROL 370 [131-345 mg/dL] PHOSPHORUS 6.6 [2.5-6.1 mg/dL] CHLORIDE 103 [108-119 mmol/L] POTASSIUM 3.9 [4.0-5.4 mmol/L] SODIUM 141 [142-152 mmol/L] SDMA 19 [0-14 ug/dL] RBC 10.25 [5.3-8.70 M/uL] HGB 23.9 [13.4-20/7 g/dL] HCT 63.9 [38.3-56.5%] Bilirubin (1+ and blood (3+) in urinalysis, along with elevated WBC (6-10: range of 0-5 HPF) and RBC (50-75: range of 0-5 HPF). We are waiting on leptosiprosis and urine culture results. The vet gave her more fluids today and gave us a low-protein canned food to feed her; if she doesn't eat soon, he recommends we take her in for an abdominal ultrasound. He was pretty vague on how long I should give her to eat before we take her in. Thoughts? Thank you.

❤️ I am so sorry. He knew his mama loved him. Please take care of yourself, and let your girls be a comfort to you.

I'm glad he's turned around! Enjoy his happy days! We recently let my Zola go at age 15.5. She'd had a wobbly back end for a couple of years, and in the last year started panting a lot. She desperately needed to have a dental but couldn't, and developed a serious node infection from her mouth issues. All of it contributed to a slow decline. But in the two weeks before we let her go, her condition left her with more bad/less good than happy days. That's when I decided it was time. We talked to her, told her, and made a date. The day before she had a euphoric day, and her passing was very peaceful. Which wasn't to say I wasn't a wreck. But I also believe in the letting go early rather than a little too late. Only you know your dog, what his baseline is, and how strong he is to handing surgical procedures. Look at his quality of life, not in terms of 'how bad can it get' but 'how happy is he now.' If that makes any sense. Whatever you decide, know you have a lot of support here. None of it is easy.

I am so sorry for your loss. Your tribute is so loving and beautiful. He knew you loved him.

I am so sorry for you both. Hoping the spleen issue is nothing, and you can put together a good treatment plan. So hard on you both.

Many hugs, Jen. Hoping you'll get better news when the doctor has more time to really study the X-rays. You and Zuri are in my thoughts.

'Lesion' is used for any non-specific abnormality. I've had lesions on my chest that turned out to be operator error, my mom had one that turned out to be a calcium buildup.

What a perfect name for your baby.

I think most of us understand that feeling of absolute grief, and thinking you see your pup, hear him. It's been two weeks since I lost Zola, and I can still smell the back of her ears, so cinnamon-y. I dread the day when I can't remember that smell anymore. And helping another dog process the loss is really hard, because you have to put aside your grief, or grieve in private. I have no words to help. Just know that you're not alone.

I'm so sorry for you losses, so close together. <hugs>

I'm so sorry, PJ.

Hugs. Time can only do so much.

I am so sorry for your loss. It's hard to realize they are truly gone.

I am so very sorry for your loss. ​ You were lucky to find each other.

I am so sorry for your loss. ​ What a beautiful tribute.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Remembered and missed. My condolences for her loss.

It's hard to be a caretaker, not just dealing with your pup's pain, but with the reality of sleepless nights, accidents, and rearranging everything around what your dog needs. Zola's passing has been so hard to take, but only having one pretty easy dog with no geriatric needs has honestly made life a lot easier. And I feel guilty even typing that. But I shouldn't, and neither should you. Cherish the happier memories. They are a gift.

I am so so sorry. I was just thinking about her yesterday, with her basketball. She's with her uncle Bill now. Many gentle hugs.

I am so very sorry for your loss. What a lovely tribute. Rest well Spud.

I don't have it in me to write a fitting tribute to my Zola, not yet. She came into our lives twelve and a half years ago, and lived to a ripe old age of fifteen. She had a grand life with us, the queen and diva of our little family. She was That Dog to me, the one who nestled herself in my heart and only made it grow bigger. I was a part of her and she will forever be a part of me. No regrets, ZoZo. We did anything and everything together and you lived life to the fullest, with fierce determination and an iron-tough strength. You are my hero and my soulmate, and I am so lucky we found each other.

I am so sorry for your loss. I've enjoyed your stories about Darcy. Such a beautiful pup. Run free with your octopi, sweetie.

I have just noticed that Zola (14.75 years old) has a small 1 cm-ish bump on the bottomside of her tail near the base. The bump feels solid and does not seem to be infected. The earliest appt I could get was on Monday. Are there specifics questions I should ask? I have reviewed the threads here but I am not sure what exactly to take away. Thanks in advance. Vanitha

Thank you!!