Our beautiful old boy is in end-stage kidney failure. He's nearly 16 and his kidneys haven't been great for a while, but he's completely lost his appetite over the past couple of weeks, lost a load of weight and is now very sleepy and lethargic. The vet has given him an anti-nausea jab this morning to try and get him eating, because he's burning his own body tissue and that's putting even more strain on his kidneys, but if that doesn't work (and she didn't seem hugely optimistic) we will have to let him go tomorrow.
I'm absolutely devastated - we lost my lovely dad just before Christmas so the timing of this is just awful. Archie has been my soul dog since the day he came home as a terrified rescue 15 years ago. He's with me all day - I work from home on my own because of long-term health issues and he's been the only thing getting me out of the house and keeping me company all day. He's just been the most wonderful character - the gentlest soul I've ever met, and absolutely wonderful with our DS and his friends. We've never been apart, he's come on every holiday with us, slept beside us every night, and got me through the loss of my mum, our other beloved dog and now my dad. I can't imagine life without him. I can't not have a dog, but I can't imagine being with another dog that's not Archie. This time last week I was getting ready for my dad's funeral, and now I'm facing saying goodbye to my beautiful boy tomorrow and it's breaking my heart.