Knew it would come one day..

[Marylou62]

Our 13 and a half year old Springer boy has just been diagnosed as having kidney failure..Estimated only 50% of function..In early July he had a collapse and was diagnosed with ? a Vestibular episode..falling over, walking in circles..The vet thinks he's recovered as well as he's going too with his balance..we are trying to keep him calm as he is jumping erratically and slipping and falling over..I'm worried he's going to break something. He had a blood test that showed the failure then..He had had a test about a year ago which was clear..
Only the day before he was so well and people couldn't believe he was 13..He's gone deaf, doesn't seem to understand simple commands..(always so quick to before)and like my DD says..there doesn't seem to be anything behind his eyes and as DS says ..it's like he's lost...
I knew this day would come..the price you pay for loving..
Anyone had a dog in kidney failure? What should we look out for? Did a kidney diet work? (very expensive)..How long do we have left?
Any advice would be appreciated..

Sending you love.
He was a stunning dog.

It is beyond distressing to lose such a beloved pet.
But you gave him a wonderful life and a dignified peaceful ending full of love and trust. You won’t be able to see the woods for the trees now but in time you will cry less tears and they will be mingled with a smile.

Years ago when I had to say goodbye to my first dog and then my old cat this year both times people sent me this poem.

It’s by Debbie Gaskin
Today you did the bravest thing

I won’t paste the whole poem, I will let you decide if you want to read it but I have included the last line here.

“Thank you for a wonderful life,thank you for loving me. ❤“

Take care and let yourself grieve, for with that eventually you have to hope the healing comes and you can think of them without pain

Stop.. Thankyou so much for the poem.. I'm sobbing my eyes out and have sent it to my DD. Those words are special... We went to get his ashes and he's here on the fire place.. Thank you again.. X

@Marylou62
I love that poem because when I said goodbye to my girls I saw in their eyes that this was how they felt. I try to read it and think how happy they were at the end to have the person there who had loved them with all their heart and who was everything to them.
I believe animals know when it is the end. You did what you did because of some unspoken words between the two of you. You loved him and you set him free. One day at a time.
You are in my thoughts. ❤️🌈💫

As the vet was injecting him I was looking into his eyes and he was looking at me.. I saw the life leave him and knew he was in no more distress... It would have been selfish to try and keep him with us..
I live in a seaside village which is popular with dog walkers.. Driving home with his ashes I saw all the dogs and owners and all I could think of was that they'd all have to go through what we're feeling now. Broke my heart...

What an utterly gorgeous boy, and what a wonderful life you have given him. So very sorry for your loss - there's no pain quite like it.

In Spider.. Thankyou so much.. I want to share this so it can be sent to someone else.. Altho it made me sob.. It was/is it so true..

Op I read your post the other day with an elderly chocolate lab by my side.....
Today I had to put him to sleep ..... thank you for posting and letting me read through everyone’s posts too about this .xxx

Gohack.. I am so so sorry.. look up the poem suggested by stophuggingme.. read it lots and howl..wish I didn't know exactly how you feel.. but I do.. sending hugs...x

@Marylou62 how are you doing?

@Gohackyourself so sorry to read this.

Stop.. thanks for asking..we are filling the car with all the ruined laminate floor from the flood.. keeping busy.. and I find myself so talking to him..get out of the way..move Kenny..it sort of helps.. I managed a good phone call to my DMum..that helped as I never know how confused she's going to be..and I didn't want to upset her..but it went well and I feel a bit happier about that..thanks to everyone who has posted.. you'll never know how much you've helped and I shall try to pay it back to other heartbroken families..heartfelt THANKYOU... just another photo....fly high Kenny..x

Thank you @Marylou62 and @stophuggingme.
I had to choose an urn today for my boy.
I can’t get the image out of my head of putting him to sleep at vets, it’s like a flashback.
I know that will go someday and I’ll remember only the good times.
Life is hard

Gohack.. I know.. I keep replaying it too.. Would it help to tell us how it was.? I keep rereading this thread, again crying.. But that's OK.. Did you read the poem? That says it all and I keep reading it and crying.. But that's OK too.. I've been thinking all day that this time last week he was still here.. I'm not crying so much but I'm so so tired and sad...
I lost a child (not mine)that I was very close to and loved dearly.. So I know it will get easier...

I'm so sorry to those that have lost their beloved dogs. I have had some wonderful dogs over the years & been broken hearted with each one. When I lost my darling St Bernard I found this. Still brings a tear to my eyes, but says it all.

@CoffeeBeansGalore that’s beautiful and so true, I hope if there’s a heaven , I open a gate into a beautiful garden with my 2 doggies that passed coming running up to me , wagging tails, along with family members .
@Marylou62 I’ll leave typing it here so as not to revive memories before bedtime ( which is a struggle) . I know in a week , a month, a year that memory will go and the better ones will return, but it’s so hard right now.New routines to get used to, new ways of doing things.Today I could have sworn I heard his bark, but it’s just a dog somewhere probably

My DH used to lie on the sofa with Kenny curled up by his legs.. He can still feel him sometimes... Love to everyone x

I'm so sorry OP, you're being really brave and you did the kindest thing for your darling boy. He was a lucky dog to have you all his life and it will get easier over time, He will always be with you

My little Chihuahua is 14.5 and i know his time will be here soon, all we can do is love them every day can't we. He is having his holiday to the beach next week and i'm determined to live every day with him like it's his last and to spoil him rotten whilst we still have him.

We as a family watched our friends keep a dog alive for too long.. They couldn't let her go.. I understand why cos it's hard to make that call.. But we all said that would never happen to Kenny.. 'Better a month/week too early than a day too late '.. We probably could have kept him with us for a while longer but then it could have been a stressful emergency for us let alone him.. Sounds weird but even tho there was LOTS of tears it was a peaceful and calm day.. I Know we did the right thing but it's still so heartbreaking
Talking helps a lot because so so many of you have gone through this.. And you're all still standing.. X

Just wanted to come back one last time and thankyou all again for your kind words and support.. It's been a strange time and whilst there's been lots of tears there's also been lots of laughs..
We've been watching old videos (shame we cant post them on here because the ones of him bouncing through the cornfields are beautiful) and printing out photos to send to friends who have requested them..
Today we are burying his ashes in our garden..We have made a circle of stones with sparkly white chippings in the middle ( my DH found a stone in his pocket and it reminded us of another trick Kenny did..My Dh would touch/rub a stone and throw it in the river on the beach or a rock pool and Kenny would always find it..even when there were lots of other stones! We will put that there too )..we will then put our birdbath/sundial over him..we will pass this spot every day..
I'm in tears writing this..Can't believe we'll never see him again, never walk him again, never stroke his soft silky fur, never cuddle up and feel his doggy breath!
Thanks again for listening..

Just a little update.. It was the first year anniversary of Kennys death on Saturday and its been a hard year... But.. In June our vet nurse daughter told us about a puppy who was coming in for an amputation because of a birth defect.. She would be rehomed after she recovered.. My DD fostered her.. Well she became ours in July and has filled our hearts with love... MN helped me so much last year so you all deserve a puppy photo...

Oh how lovely @Marylou62 - I know this is an old thread but I stumbled across it because I had to have my beloved girl put to sleep on the 25th August and I am struggling. Reading through has helped but oh, it hurts when they go :(. So glad that you now have a gorgeous puppy to cherish

@noscat

Oh how lovely *@Marylou62* - I know this is an old thread but I stumbled across it because I had to have my beloved girl put to sleep on the 25th August and I am struggling. Reading through has helped but oh, it hurts when they go :(. So glad that you now have a gorgeous puppy to cherish

Oh I'm so so sorry you are going through this too.. MN helped me so much and reading back a year later bought the pain and sorrow back.. But... It did get easier I promise. We can as a family watch videos and look at photos.. Sometimes shed a tear but it is easier... Sending so much love and kindness your way.. And these sayings/quotes which were sent to me and although I read them through sobs really helped... Xx

And this was sent to us when we were struggling with whether to say yes to the new puppy knowing that we would have to go through losing another beloved pet..xx

Thank you @Marylou62- good to know there are brighter times ahead. I've lost dogs before and it's never easy but this time I have been completely floored. Lots has been going on this year and I've coped with it all but this has hit me hard! This is my girl in happier, younger times

What a sweet face.... I was cuddling Peggy last night thinking of you... It does get easier... X