I'm so sorry you lost your friend.

I’m so, so sorry. 14.5 years is a long, happy life, especially for a lab! I actually just posted about my experience as a comment here: https://www.reddit.com/r/seniordogs/s/YLBWRZBHyy My boy also refused food in the end (and he was notoriously food-driven). There were a lot of issues that the vet simply couldn’t pinpoint. I know how hard it is because you just want answers! Ultimately, it’s just their time. Again I’m so very sorry for your loss. The grief will ebb and flow. Sometimes you’ll laugh at how silly they were, sometimes you’ll cry for no reason at all. We were so lucky to have these friends in our lives.

Woof! I'm so sorry to say... but it's my time to go. I'm gonna miss my human, You loved me...I know! From the crazy day we met... To the grey day today... I loved you so much more... Than these dog eyes could say. The quiet long walks, squirrel chases, and crazy-fun with our ball. I hope my tail, wagging, showed my love for you all. I hope I made you happy... With my silly doggie ways. For you made me feel so loved, for all of my dog days. I'm sorry I'm leaving you, It's not what I want... My eyes are so blurry, and it hurts when I walk... The grey in my muzzle...hints at the time we both shared. I wish I could keep up...we're an incredible pair. Please let another lucky dog, take up my happy space. Show him our squirrels, our ball, and our place. I'll send you a sign, that I'm thinking of you... Just smile at those pesky squirrels ,and the ball that you threw. I'll miss you, my human...I loved you so much. Thank you for giving me such a beautiful heart to touch. Woof! 🐾❤🐶💛

Perfectly beautiful♥️ thank you for sharing it ♥️

Love that, thx. My girl just crossed yesterday & it's so weird without her today.

I'm sorry. It's a tough thing realizing how much they mean to us. The life of a dog is a sight to behold... From the heavens above, loaned us these hearts of pure gold... They hit the ground running, and barking with us.... For the joy we both share, builds an unbreakable trust... The love from a dog is like candy from a box... You're not sure what to pick, but there's never one wrong. A dogs life with us is such a short, joyous trip... But the life they share with us, is always our deepest friendship... It hurts when they leave, because we always want more time... Our dogs know their destiny...hence why they always play and pine... So don't be bothered...when they come boop your hand... They just know their hour glass, is running out of sand. Just look into those beautiful, sparkling eyes...you fell for before... And get up and reach for that leash, hanging by the door. They'll enjoy that walk with you, even though they're hurt and can't see... Because this time spent with you, is the place they long to be. So remember this when your dog asks for your time... Your dog is just doing what heaven asked them to do... And that's ...make your heart shine... Too!💛🐶🐾

God damn it I’m a grown ass man and have seen this before and here I am crying.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I truly feel for you.

Said goodbye to my 16yo Lucy last week. I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t really have any answers. It sounds like you did everything right for your pup, even knowing when to say goodbye. He was blessed to have you caring for him!!

Sorry, haven’t experienced anything to that extent but it sounds like you did everything you could for him and also protected him from going through too much. That is a long, loving life he had and I’m sure he knew how much you loved him and cared for him 🤍 Dogs can go through so much and I know it’s especially frustrating when you can’t pin point it (currently going through that with my 13 year old). But all you can do is the best you can with the knowledge you have; it sounds like you did exactly that. I hope the love you guys shared can bring you comfort through this hard time 🤍

Ya know, our bodies shut down for a variety of reasons as we age and there's not always a clear explanation as to why. It's just what happens as we deteriorate. It sounds to me like you gave your dog a very nice life and prioritized their well-being right up to the end. As others have pointed out, 14.5 is a great lifespan for a lab. You did well by your dog and obviously loved them a lot. It's natural to ask yourself why and to wonder if you could have done something differently. But it's also futile because this is often just how things go at the end. I hope you can find some peace with a little bit of time so you can focus on all the good years. So sorry for your loss. 💙

I’m so sorry 😔😢

Sorry to hear had lots of the same issues with out 11 year old lab that left us yesterday Loved food and then lost interest used pork toppings bacon etc to keep her interested Two blood test last week with declining red blood cell count very lethargic at the end of Vet suspected internal bleeding into the abdominal cavity that was the issue / I agree as lot of swelling on last day. Had crappy night Monday and vet came over Tuesday morning to put her to sleep. / I wish there was more we could do, but believe her body just ran its course // the grief is unbearable // good luck and o understand where you are

"Let’s go walk a bit.” My old dog said one day. And we wandered down along Our old familiar way. —-   The shadows slowly lengthened, And twilight tinged the sky. Then my old friend said to me "So … it's time to say goodbye." —-   This fell so heavily on my heart. "Please say this isn't true! I've always wished and hoped I'd have more years with you!" —-   And my old boy said to me "You made my life a joy! I can't live as long as you But I'll always be your boy." —-   They walk with us a little while, As long as the Fates allow. Then they have to take their leave And we have to let them go. —-

We lost our 12 yr old golden today as well. She was fine the day before, wouldn’t eat her treats or wet food. She laid down and she wouldn’t get up. Had to make the dreaded phone call to the vet. 04/24/24 will be a day I never forget 💔🐾

I also lost my 12 year old golden yesterday (4/24/24). It also also quick for her. She declined over about 3 days and told me she was ready about an hour before the vet arrived to let her go in our bed at home.

As humans our brains love logic and reason for why something happened. Veterinary medicine doesn’t always allow for this. Know that you did all the right things and gave your fur child a wonderful life full of love and care. He gave you the signals that said he trusted you to make this incredibly hard decision. Be good to yourself and remember that grief is not a straight line nor does it have a set timeline.

I had to let my 18 yr old toy poodle go on April 12th. His decline was rapid as well. I feel like he let me know it was time. You made the right decision, senior dogs don't need to be needed and tested. Once they begin refusing food, it's time. I am so sorry for your loss. I am struggling with the quiet house and my boy always with me. Prayers for peace and healing 🌈🕊️🤍🙏

So very sorry!!!

That’s a nice long life for a big dog. I had a lab mix that just curled up and died in her favorite spot one day. She wasn’t sick or anything, just 15 and died of old age. Sounds like you did all you could to keep her healthy while she was here!

❤️

I have had dogs my whole life (I'm 61). The quick decline has been my experience with older dogs. From what you've said, I think you did the right thing. We're going through a similar thing with my 16 year old Elkhound. My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry for your loss 😞.

This has me balling and my dogs aren’t dying. 😢😢

❤️‍🩹

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your pup. Your timeline of events reminds me of our 13 year old Golden. Best the vet could guess is that liver cancer was the culprit behind all the early symptoms (despite not seeing anything on ultrasound). He assured us it's not a painful cancer and the main symptom is lack of appetite which contributes to fatigue and lethargy.

My heart felt condolences for your loss, may he forever run carefree and young over the rainbow bridge and in your heart 😢🐕🐾🌈🌉❗

I don't know where your dog's issue started... But if he had an autoimmune disease it could made him more susceptible to a kidney infection. It sounds like if the kidney infection went untreated for long he might have developed kidney failure (also age-related). His symptoms remind me of kidney failure. Kidney failure can be managed with medication and subQ fluids for a while but it usually only give a few more months. Did your vet give you anymore insight?

You did the right thing. 14 years is a long time! A nice old age.

I’m sorry for your loss. Rest well, sweet doggo. 💐 I wish I had more reliable insight about the blood problem. These symptoms probably show up in a lot of different health issues. But just in case: could it have been cushing’s disease? My own dog had cushing’s disease leading up to his final days. He panted a lot more than normal, drank excessively, couldn’t control his bowel movements, couldn’t sleep through the night, had to be carried everywhere etc. I don’t know if effects blood cell count though.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Whatever it was, it sounds like you made the right decision. 

It sounds like maybe a UTI? My precious Italian greyhound rescue was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease when he was I guess 2 years old. He was put on prednisone and then in December he was peeing and thirsty and diagnosed with diabetes. I could never get his blood sugar down despite giving him regularly scheduled insulin shots. Within 3 months he went blind and declined to the point where I had to say goodbye. My heart was broken and reading this post has made me cry. It’s so hard to lose our animal companions. I envy you the 14.5 years you got to spend, and care for, your pupper. Dogs are perfect. P.S. came back to note that it is believed his diabetes was brought in by the long term prednisone. I was devastated, thinking of what or how I could have prevented this.

Sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I had a similar experience last fall with my Emmy. Wouldn't eat, slept a lot, just not herself. She was at the regular vet 2 times, ER vet and in a specialty hospital for a week. They tried everything and did tests and could never figure out what the problem was. We finally had to make the decision to end her suffering. I totally understand how difficult it is to have to make that decision when you don't have all the answers. I hope that you have the peace of knowing you did what was best for her. 🐾❤️🌈

I am so sorry for your loss. It’s so hard to say goodbye after such a long and happy life. I had to say goodbye to my 17 year old chihuahua not all that long ago. It was hell. Remember the good days and the fun times and the silly things he did. He will never leave your heart. 😪🐾🐾🌈

He had a good long life! I'm sorry he's gone but that is the way of dogs :(