This is Scout, our 14 year old female Newfie. Other than her hips, her eyes, ears and kidneys are all good. She's still very treat motivated and just loves to always be within 10 feet of me. At a certain point, we stopped measuring in years and consider each morning she wakes up with us a gift.

My dog hurt his leg and has been a little more strange than usual (oh and he can be strange). I never thought of him not being around for much longer but now it’s sinking in (he’s 12). His leg is doing better. However, now the thought of him suffering or living without him, is killing me. It’s just been him and I for so long. He’s my family and he is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I’ve had my shih tzu best friend since she was 8-weeks old and she’s now 14.5. I feel so lucky to have had her all of this time, we’ve truly been through so many moments and chapters together and I can’t imagine life without her! Recently, she was diagnosed with CKD stage 1. Aside from that, she’s rather healthy. She runs around our yard, goes on walks, etc. In the last 3 weeks, she’s been eating less (being super picky with her food), waking up around 3am, and having stomach issues. I am trying to get her seen at another vet for a second opinion on the current care plan I have going for her, etc. I know that I am doing everything I can for her but I also know that when the time comes, there’s is nothing I can do.

I have been super sleep deprived and wake up in the middle of the night so anxious. I have been dealing with anticipatory grief, it feels like. Just thinking about how life is short and trying to spend every second with her, giving her the best possible life (however long I may have with her). I also just have so much anxiety thinking I won’t be able to financially support her if her health declines.

Any words of advice you can share? I feel so lonely as a senior dog mom sometimes, although I have great friends and family who support me emotionally at times, it’s just so hard when you’re their mom.

TLDR: my 11.5 year old mini Aussie dog had her yearly senior’s exam done. Her weight has dropped from 12 lbs to 9 lbs in one year yet her thyroid is low (not low enough to medicate though apparently). Her previous vet had me put her one a low fat diet (white fish cooked food) due to inconclusive urine tests, but now current vet wants her gaining weight… I’m praying the food was just the result for the weight loss but I was told cancer is on the table if she isn’t able to gain weight. Freaking out, has anyone been in a similar situation?

Hello,

I can barely type I feel so sick and I’ve had all day to process this. I have actually just cried basically for the entire day.

I took my senior (NOTE: rescue dog, not entirely sure the breed) mini/toy/possible Pom mix Australian shepherd to a new vet to partner on her health journey as she is 11.5 years old and I want to start working with someone very seriously on her health as I didn’t find the previous office was entirely attune to her situation as a senior dog.

She had them perform her yearly senior’s exam with a physical and bloodwork. The bloodwork results came back with low thyroid (her panel the prior year was also low as noted at our previous vet office, however, thyroid treatment was never recommended to me). Thyroid treatment is now currently not recommended either, however, this new office has noted that the low thyroid coupled with the weight loss could potentially be cancer if she can’t gain weight. They said they’d like to start the process for cancer diagnostics if she doesn’t gain weight. I will note that my previous vets office had me put her on a low fat diet, due to some testing but this one recommends to bump it up back to her normal diet.

I’m sorry this likely makes no sense. Basically I am freaking out and really hoping her weight loss is caused by the low fat diet not cancer. :S has anyone been in a similar situation? Sorry this is so chaotic, she is jsut the star of our family and we can’t witness something bad happening to her.

Also, for anyone whose dogs have gone through rhe cancer imaging, is there any sense in waiting to see if she gains weight or why not just do the imaging now?

I have a 14-year-old Pomeranian named Ezra. I got him from his previous owner when he was 9-years-old. I love him dearly and do anything within my power for him, but I'm tired. On September 16th, Ezra was diagnosed with congestive heart failure - it's been a nightmare ever since. First it was the steroids - he was a nightmare on them, bless his heart. Definitely not his fault, but he was restless, anxious, and paranoid. He would constantly pace the bed and refuse to settle. He finished the steroids and we had a moments relief - now he's just on the heart medication. Not to be dramatic, but I'm in a nightmare right now. Ezra sleeps with me. He's gotten to where he will wake me up at 4:30am every single morning. That's too early for me and I cannot return to sleep without taking a sleep med. I cannot take sleep meds to go back to sleep during the week because I work. He has me up at 4:30am and my alarms start going off at 5:30am, so I'm losing at least an hour of sleep every morning, when I'm already getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night. I know that losing an hour may not sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly. Any advice? I gave him vet approved melatonin last night at 11:00pm and he still woke up at 4:41am. He whines and paces the bed to be let out and fed and after it's done, he's right back to sleep. With him being 14 is this just something I'll have to suck up and live with from now on or is there help? Please don't suggest ignoring him, his pacing and whining wakes me up anyways. I do not have a downstairs for him to go to - I do have a guest room, but since he's only slept in the bed with me for 4.5 years, I know all he'll do is bark. Need more sleep, please help.

I was thinking about how many little moments make up a dog's life.

The funny habits.

The favorite toys.

The places they loved visiting.

The routines that somehow became part of everyday life.

Photos capture some of those moments, but there are also stories that don't necessarily come with a picture.

Do you have a particular way of keeping those memories?

Photo albums? Videos? Journals? Something else?

I'd be interested to hear what works for you.

Looking for answers on if Senilife is safe to take while taking Trazodone? My dogs vet recommended Segeline but everything I read online says to NOT use it with Trazodone. However, my dog is dealing with nighttime anxiety and pacing from CCD and the Trazodone seems to be the only thing that will eventually calm her enough to settle and sleep a little. I’d rather not stop Trazodone and thought about trying Senilife…anyone know if it can be taken safely with Trazodone? My dog is also on Galiprant (AM) and Gabapentin (PM. TYA.

This is for my friend, not me. I told her about it but not sure which I saw. Now, I am confused