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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

steppedog is dying and I'm heartbroken

40 replies

steppemum · 10/01/2022 11:14

Steppedog is a rescue. We got him aged 3, he is now 7 he is a springer spaniel and the loveliest dog.

He has had problems with his ears for months and months, and the vet had suggested an expensive op. In the end we decided to go for it. But he had been a bit off with some other stuff (not eating properly and occasionally sick etc) so I asked her to have a general look at him before we went further. In the last 2 weeks he also seems to have lost weight.
She couldn't feel see anything immediately, but she weighed him and he had lost a lot (20 kgs down to 17kgs) so she took a load of bloods and sent them off.

That was Thursday. He is happy and bright and running round fields and generally looks like a fine dog.

She rang me on Friday evening. Bloods were back and showed a lot of things going on. She sounded really worried. He went back this morning for scans and urine tests etc etc.

I have just come home.
He has end stage kidney failure, his gut is not working, he is dehydrated and the vet thinks there may be something else.
Everyone is in shock, as he should be presenting thin, gaunt, listless and almost not able to walk.
Instead, he and I did a 5km walk round the fields on Friday morning, tail wagging, sniffing and happy. No walks over the weekend as vet said don't, but Dh took him round the block for a toilet trip and he was pulling to go off down the the fields.

So medically he is at end of life care.
But he is presenting as happy well dog. No-one can understand it.
Vet was amazed when I said he was poohing normally yesterday.

They've kept him in, going to give him fluids and something to get his gut moving and then we will be on last stage kidney care diet and meds. If it is just kidneys (and vet is not convinced) then he might have a few months.

I know we live longer than dogs, but he is only 7 and seems so well, never had any problems.
Feel shell shocked.

steppedog is dying and I'm heartbroken
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Hoppinggreen · 10/01/2022 11:15

I’m so sorry
It sounds like he is very much loved and will always be in your heart xx

SageRosemary · 10/01/2022 12:28

((hugs)) He's a handsome dog, looks like he landed on his feet when he found you, you've given him a very good life indeed.

Frymetothemoon · 10/01/2022 12:30

I'm so sorry, it must be such a shock. He looks lovely and happy. You gave that to him. You obviously love him dearly...

pepsirolla · 10/01/2022 12:46

So sorry to hear this, hopefully he will stay happy and comfortable for a long time. If he does start to lose quality of life the vet can stop any suffering. He at least is unaware he is ill, just concentrate on making the remainder of his time here as happy as possible. He is a lovely looking character and a credit to you Flowers

JeSuis · 10/01/2022 12:47

I'm so sorry Flowers. That's very sad. He is a lovely dog and I bet he had a lovely few years living with you after rescue.

Honeyroar · 10/01/2022 12:57

I’m so sorry. We’ve had two dogs die in the past few years. One died suddenly and it was absolutely awful. The other was diagnosed with cancer and we had two weeks before he was pts. I treasured those two weeks- we did everything he loved, special walks, loads of treats, lit the fire in august because he loved it, let him sleep on our bed (our dogs sleep downstairs usually). Use this time you’ve got to spoil him. If he wants to walk I’d let him personally.

Shivs123 · 10/01/2022 12:59

I'm so sorry, he looks like such a loved and beautiful boy Flowers

steppemum · 10/01/2022 13:32

Thank you all very much.
I am just so sad.
He is the first dog we have ever had. We got him primarily for ds.
Ds went to uni in Sept and was home over Christmas. Steppedog slept on his bed.
After Vet phoned on Friday with test results, I had to tell ds to say goodbye to steppedog before he went back to uni on Sunday Sad

OP posts:
steppemum · 10/01/2022 13:33

with his best friend

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steppemum · 10/01/2022 13:39

grr the photos aren't posting.

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WhiteXmas21 · 10/01/2022 13:41

So sorry to hear this.- 7 is no age. It’s lovely though that he still lives life to the full. He clearly loves his people and doing stuff with you and is much treasured and we all hope our dogs feel that way too.
Treasure these days, take lots of photos , and have lots of hugs.💐 for you.

ImpossibleDetails · 10/01/2022 13:46

What a beautiful boy ❤

No words to make it better because there are none, but thinking of you and your family.

somethinginthewater · 10/01/2022 13:49

So sorry, this is really shocking. He's such a young handsome boy.

steppemum · 10/01/2022 13:55

one more try for photot with his best friend

steppedog is dying and I'm heartbroken
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steppemum · 10/01/2022 13:59

we never planned to have a dog "too big a committment"

But ds was desparate, so we fostered for a local rescue so we had a dog in the house.
After 2 dogs, ds wasn't interested as he hated saying goodbye.

We thought we'd stop fostering as it wasn't hitting the mark, but dhand I were enjoying it.
Then the rescue phoned and asked us to have this mad spaniel.
We had him 48 hours and I knew he was staying. Took dh about a week. We were all smitten.

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BiteyShark · 10/01/2022 14:04

Oh no!

Words just aren't enough Thanks

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 10/01/2022 14:04

Oh no, I'm so very sorry.

This may not be helpful, but do you think there would be any value at all in seeking a second opinion? I just ask as it sounds like the diagnosis is so much at odds with how he should be presenting. I don't mean going over your vet's head, but maybe something you could sound her out on, whether it's worth exploring further in case there's more to this than meets the eye?

Conspiracyornotr · 10/01/2022 14:07

@steppemum I'm so sorry reading this. I understand how hard and emotional it is looking a pet we have to have our dog put to sleep at 10 years because she wasn't well . The kids was devastated I was in bits for weeks . We have her cremated and have her sitting with us in the living room and had a special picture plaque made . My son 6 will go and speak to her. A dog isn't just a pet they are apart of the family we have feelings and love them as if they was a child . Sending my love xxx

afaloren · 10/01/2022 14:17

I’m so sorry, he’s gorgeous. I hope he stays happy and comfy for the time he has left Flowers

steppemum · 10/01/2022 14:19

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Oh no, I'm so very sorry.

This may not be helpful, but do you think there would be any value at all in seeking a second opinion? I just ask as it sounds like the diagnosis is so much at odds with how he should be presenting. I don't mean going over your vet's head, but maybe something you could sound her out on, whether it's worth exploring further in case there's more to this than meets the eye?

I know what you are saying.

There is a high possibility that his kidneys have always been crap. (he has always peed and drunk loads and loads)

So it is possible that his body has adapted to quite a high level of kidney disfunction, and that would explain some of the discrepancies, like why he is still up and running round.

They are doing a load of further tests today which should pinpoint some more things.

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steppemum · 10/01/2022 14:20

and it was one of the senior practice vets who did the scan and spoke to me this morning, because he wasn't a straightforward presentation.

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steppemum · 10/01/2022 14:22

and even when his ear was dreadful, enough that he should have been flat out poorly, he was still up and wagging his tail. Seems like he has a high tolerance for physical stuff.

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Floralnomad · 10/01/2022 14:24

Sorry to hear about your poor dog @steppemum . My sisters elderly dog was diagnosed with end stage renal failure and anaemia which couldn’t be treated because of his condition , he was very poorly but due to circumstances at the time he had to be saved and actually had 6 good months on a weekly injection of vitamins and a monthly steroid injection .

Conspiracyornotr · 10/01/2022 14:24

My girl was so.poorly but she was still full of life some days it is very sad 😔

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 10/01/2022 14:42

I understand. Our last dog, a greyhound, was gentle and sweet-natured (and a bottomless pit) almost to the very end, even though he must have been in awful pain. It took a while for them to diagnose him with bone cancer, because he hid it so well, and he really wasn't a stoic generally.

Spaniels are in another league entirely though, aren't they - indomitable.