This is a hard one . Thank you for 16 almost 17 years my stinky buns

Jabo is a senior stray dog who was diagnosed with a perineal hernia. With the help and support I received from kind people, Jabo was finally able to undergo the surgery he desperately needed on October 14.

After his surgery, Jabo needed to remain confined at the veterinary clinic for monitoring and recovery. Today, the vet informed me that he is recovering well and has already started eating, so he was finally cleared for discharge!

Veterinary Expenses Paid:

• Down payment on October 14: $323
• Remaining balance upon discharge: $503
• Total paid to the veterinary clinic: $828

Please note that I also purchased some additional items for Jabo's recovery. One of his medications, a laxative, was purchased at a human pharmacy (Photo 7). I also bought him a muzzle and an e-collar (Photo 8), as well as dog food (Photo 9).

Sweet Jabo still needs your help!

Jabo underwent major surgery. His internal organs, including his intestines, pancreas, and bladder, had shifted into his perineal area and needed to be repositioned to where they belong.

He now has surgical wounds on his lower abdomen and on both sides of his bottom. Although he has been discharged, his recovery journey is far from over.

Jabo still needs follow-up checkups and 10 sessions of laser therapy, which cost $16 per session (he had the first session today, the second one will be on Oct. 19 (please see photo 10)). He may also need additional medications depending on his recovery.

Jabo has made it this far, and I am so grateful to everyone who helped make his surgery possible. Now, we need your help to ensure he recovers properly and to reduce the risk of complications that could require another surgery.

Any amount you can spare will be a big help in Jabo's recovery to help give this sweet senior dog a chance to live a more comfortable and pain-free life. Thank you so much.

PayPal: http://paypal.me/catsofmagdalena

If you would like to donate directly to the veterinary clinic, you may also contact Deloso Veterinary Clinic through their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/dokcerdz

You may also follow my rescue work on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/catsofmagdalena/

Looking for some guidance or advice from fellow pet owners. When did you know it was the right time to euthanize your animal?

Ours is 12/13 years old, with hip dysplasia, and having a difficult time getting around. She’s struggling to get up after laying down long term and going up the stairs to get back in the house. But she also has moments of running (very slowly) in the yard and being playful outside. This is such a hard choice for me to make because she isn’t “sick” , I just don’t want to make the wrong choice.

How do you all care for your senior working breed dogs? This is Radish and she has always needed a lot of exercise and mental work to be fulfilled and chill (and I love that about her.) She's abruptly lost a lot of ability and stamina so walks have gone from 5 mile hikes to quarter mile strolls, but she's still her same old self in many ways. I keep trying to give her gentle activities that will give her some mental engagement without stressing her body out but she goes right over threshold into overstimulation (barking, whale-eyed, trying to herd things that should not be herded). She has always needed a good walk beforehand to peacefully enjoy things like people-watching at a cafe, visiting a friend, or doing low-energy scent work. How do I give her quality of life without sending her into overstimulated mania whenever anything vaguely exciting happens?

YYYYOOOOO wassup senior doggie luvas. This is my grandmammy Mokey. She will be 16 in February so she ooollllllddddddddd like I‘ve had this dog since I was 8 years old. She been with me thru everything ❤️💯💯. This photo is one cold night we had, I tucked her in and she looked like a lil jellybean 🤣 she snores so loud bro too I didn’t have enough iphone storage to record it doe

3rd slide is her now but 4th slide is the Mokey I remember 🌚 when I was a kid. She was less sassy and liked stealing valuable items to then zoomie off to bury them WE STILL NEVER FOUND THEM BRO😭 now my doggie got dementia and is def and 70% blind so she can’t even tell us where all the stuff she buried is. Okay das it I just wanted to share grannie wichu all hehe

Betty is also 2 years 5 months 2 days post vestibular event.

Colly went on a FORTY-FIVE MINUTE WALK today!!

Originally I tried to finish up at 25 minutes, as it was already longer than what she can usually last before she's too tired and sore and I have to carry her home.

I got to the driveway and she immediately tried to go anywhere but the front door and then sat there and wouldn't move unless the direction was away from home. Seeing as she went the ENTIRE walk with so much pep in her step and didn't stop to rest a single time I decided it would be okay to continue walking her. She kept going with boundless energy for another 10 minutes until she started to slow down so I decided it was time to head back.

Even when we got home she didn't go lay down and sleep like she usually would, and she wanted to come on the walk with my other senior dog (although I thought it was best not to bring her on this walk in case she was done halfway through and I would have to carry her the rest of the way while walking my other dog).

It made me so happy to see her so energetic, just like her younger self :')

Hello, I made a post a couple weeks ago about my senior dog loosing weight to the point where we could see her ribs. I took the advice of the lovely people on this sub and me and my mother brought her to the vet. All the tests came back and we strongly suspect she might have cancer. I don’t think it’s hit me yet, we’ve had her for 11 years and we both agree that if she does have cancer, we won’t put her through Chemo.

Good news tho, Lucy’s been lifted of all rules; like being on our leather couch lol (and her brother Tofu by extension).

Thanks again for all the well wishes and advice on my last post, you’re all very kind and I wish your babies good health and love.

PS: I bought a dog miniature statue from Value Village the other day that looks just like Lucy, I plan on giving it a paint job and maybe giving it to my mom on her birthday.

It's been over a month since I had to put my babies to sleep. Today has been tough.

I'm squeezing my eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears, but it never works. I can feel the heat in my eyes. It's not the first time I've cried about my girls today. God, I miss them so much. Even though I've been prepping for a new kitten. I've got a box, a litter tray, a hammock, toys, scratchers, treats, and bowls. I grew up with a cat but never had one of my own.

I still miss my girls. I don't know if I can do this again. Of course I can, I just have to remember all the smiles and warmth I felt over the last 15 years. I guess it makes sense that I'm still mourning my babies. I have pictures of them as my screensaver, so when my phone charges, I see their sweet faces. I think maybe I should change it, though, because maybe I need some time away from those precious faces. Oh God, I love and miss them so much.

Please humor me as I post pictures of them...

I had to let my Odie go. My house feels so empty. I applied and got approved for this boy that has been in a no kill shelter for almost 2 years. He was abused and emaciated when he came in. Anybody have any thoughts? They say he is timid. I just dont want timid to ACTUALLY mean scared, then aggressive.

Hi all, as life would happen, I am strapped for cash and my sweet, gentle soul mate pup needs to be put to rest, pretty much now... She isn't eating, incontinence issues, rotted teeth, losing weight rapidly....

I recently switched jobs and make $20k less annually. I was great with routine medical care as well as some extraordinary surgeries and dental. But in this season of my life, I am not prepared for hers to end.... I am not asking for a handout or anything free.... her vet, New Hope Animal Hospital quoted me just under $400 for procedure and cremation. I have some of it, just not all of it. I cannot ask my parents or friends.

Is this reasonable? Are there local grants? I was denied for all the typical care credit and scratchpay, thank you divorce! I have been searching all over and applications are closed all over the city. I am desperate for her end of life to be with dignity and hopefully with her actual veterinarian (hope & pray). But really, I just need some real support! Please don't come for me in comments. I already feel shame for this.

Ava has been my whole world since I adopted her 11 years ago. I was at a big adoption even in Union Square. Someone else was walking her. They came back and I sat down on the ground and she came over and sat on my lap. That's when I knew she was my dog.

She's part border collie. Crazy smart. Crazy stubborn. Loves ball more than anything and loves to jump in piles of snow. When I took her to the beach, she would RUN into the ocean and prance back and forth with her ball in her mouth forever.

Two years ago she was diagnosed with diabetes. I wasn't really prepared for how much work it was going to be. But I did it. Ava saw me through long covid. Through losing jobs because of migraines. She would curl up next to me in bed. She could tell when I was in pain. She would guide me to the pharmacy to get all of my new prescriptions when I was dizzy. So, like, no brainer. Of course I would rearrange my schedule get a second job etc.

Then she was diagnosed with collapsed trachea. The coughing made her antsy. It was like machine gun fire goose honks and I felt like the narrator in the tell tale heart. But we tried 3 or four different drugs and we mostly figured it out.

Then she started panting and pacing. About a year ago I think? The doctors didn't know why for sure but suggested CCD. At least 6 or 7 times going to the ER vet in the middle of the night. it's gotten worse. I took her to my parents house this summer and she would just pant and stare and stand next to me. Pace back and forth from room to room. But she had good days too and I thought oh the bad period is over. Her 'spell' would break and she would be able to rest.

This spell isn't breaking. She has moments where she breaks through - she looks for me she trots to the elevator she wags her tail when she sees her dog friends. She wags her tail when I come home! But she's been doing anxiety pees on the rug if I leave for even an hour. I will come home and catch her just standing beside the couch staring. And she has to sleep near me in the bed, but she gets so hot and pants so hard that the bed shakes and I can't sleep. But I have to wait until she is fully asleep before I can put her on the floor and she'll wake up and then drift off again. I haven't slept more than 6 hours or so in a couple of weeks.

She has a vet appointment Friday - her doctor who knows her really well is back in town. We're trying selegiline. We've adjusted her dosage and timing of her gabapentin doses infinity times. She is picky about food so I bought her some chicken. Her vetsulin makes her bg levels spike then drop really quickly.

And on Sunday: I was trying to do yoga in my living room. Just decompress a little bit. And she was standing next to me and panting panting panting ... so hard there's like a clicking in the back of her mouth. I've spent thousands trying to figure out if she's in pain if its arthritis if its anxiety if she's even there ... and no one can tell me anything.

I think I'm done? I am totally burned out. But she has moments where she still looks for me. And I know she knows its me. I'm going to try to take her to the park later, even though she has been stopping at the edge of our walk and refusing to go further. How long do I keep trying?

Hi all! I have a ten year old chihuahua/Pomeranian mix diagnosed with a seizure disorder, but otherwise was previously healthy. She was just diagnosed with laryngeal collapse stage 2 or 3. We were told that a tracheostomy was the only real treatment and I’m not putting her through that. Does anyone have experience with this? Can you provide any insight and recommendations regarding treatment and comfort care? She’s my baby and I’m not ready to let her go — but I also don’t want her to suffer. Thanks in advance.

Ava has been my whole world since I adopted her 11 years ago. I was at a big adoption even in Union Square. Someone else was walking her. They came back and I sat down on the ground and she came over and sat on my lap. That's when I knew she was my dog.

She's part border collie. Crazy smart. Crazy stubborn. Loves ball more than anything and loves to jump in piles of snow. When I took her to the beach, she would RUN into the ocean and prance back and forth with her ball in her mouth forever.

Two years ago she was diagnosed with diabetes. I wasn't really prepared for how much work it was going to be. But I did it. Ava saw me through long covid. Through losing jobs because of migraines. She would curl up next to me in bed. She could tell when I was in pain. She would guide me to the pharmacy to get all of my new prescriptions when I was dizzy. So, like, no brainer. Of course I would rearrange my schedule get a second job etc.

Then she was diagnosed with collapsed trachea. The coughing made her antsy. It was like machine gun fire goose honks and I felt like the narrator in the tell tale heart. But we tried 3 or four different drugs and we mostly figured it out.

Then she started panting and pacing. About a year ago I think? The doctors didn't know why for sure but suggested CCD. At least 6 or 7 times going to the ER vet in the middle of the night. it's gotten worse. I took her to my parents house this summer and she would just pant and stare and stand next to me. Pace back and forth from room to room. But she had good days too and I thought oh the bad period is over. Her 'spell' would break and she would be able to rest.

This spell isn't breaking. She has moments where she breaks through - she looks for me she trots to the elevator she wags her tail when she sees her dog friends. She wags her tail when I come home! But she's been doing anxiety pees on the rug if I leave for even an hour. I will come home and catch her just standing beside the couch staring. And she has to sleep near me in the bed, but she gets so hot and pants so hard that the bed shakes and I can't sleep. But I have to wait until she is fully asleep before I can put her on the floor and she'll wake up and then drift off again. I haven't slept more than 6 hours or so in a couple of weeks.

She has a vet appointment Friday - her doctor who knows her really well is back in town. We're trying selegiline. We've adjusted her dosage and timing of her gabapentin doses infinity times. She is picky about food so I bought her some chicken. Her vetsulin makes her bg levels spike then drop really quickly.

And on Sunday: I was trying to do yoga in my living room. Just decompress a little bit. And she was standing next to me and panting panting panting ... so hard there's like a clicking in the back of her mouth. I've spent thousands trying to figure out if she's in pain if its arthritis if its anxiety if she's even there ... and no one can tell me anything.

I think I'm done? I am totally burned out. But she has moments where she still looks for me. And I know she knows its me. I'm going to try to take her to the park later, even though she has been stopping at the edge of our walk and refusing to go further. How long do I keep trying?

Thank you for those who commented on my previous post - your condolences, show of support, and empathy has been so appreciated during this god awful period. Rinse & repeat, honestly. I withdraw from public, take off from work, and just cry throughout the day & night.

I just wanted to share some nice pics I had of her. I kinda got tricked into buying obnoxiously expensive professional photos of her. They did come out really nice - but I live alone in a 1 bdrm apt. They gave me like 20 8×10 photos, with mats. I have more reason to display a couple now.

Good day, everyone!

Finally, the moment we have all been waiting for! Jabo is scheduled to have his surgery today. According to the vet, the surgery will take approximately 3–4 hours. He will also need to stay at the clinic for at least 1–2 days, depending on his recovery.

You may read my previous post about Jabo here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/seniordogs/comments/1x1qpev/please_help_save_jabo_senior_stray_dog_with_hernia/

With your help and support, I was able to pay the $323 down payment. The vet confirmed that the total cost of the surgery is $750, which does not include confinement fees, take-home medications, or follow-up checkups.

I am truly grateful for everyone's kindness, generosity, help, and support. Thank you for giving Jabo a chance to live a more comfortable, pain-free life. I couldn't have made it this far without all of you.

I will definitely post another update to let everyone know how Jabo is doing after his surgery. Thank you so much for being part of his journey!

You may also follow my rescue journey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/catsofmagdalena/

seeking advice. last week, we had an incidental finding of a very large spleen tumor on my 11yo staffy. she is otherwise completely healthy, playful, great appetite, loves to hike, really showed no signs of any medical issue. first vet thinks hemangiosarcoma and sends us to specialist for further imaging and surgery. specialist finds a second tumor in her intestine- she is no longer a candidate for surgery as risk of going septic during R&A of intestine is too high. chemo was discussed but ultimately decided she wasn’t a good fit with two separate types of cancer.

now we’re home, and i’m unbelievably grateful for the extra time, but every day is like a ticking time bomb of her splenic mass rupturing. i can’t have her suffer or be in pain, but with her being so happy and playful, i feel like choosing to put her down is taking her life away from her.

i’ve had her for over 10 years. she is my best friend. and i don’t know what to do.

the guilt is consuming me and i don’t think i can handle choosing to put her down, but i know i cant handle her being in pain when the splenic mass eventually ruptures.

advice desperately needed.

Hi everyone,

My girl Bella and I are struggling. I’m having a hard time writing this so bare with me.

I’ve posted here before about her Pancreatitis, Arthritis, Kidney Disease and overall QoL.

Bella is 15 years old, born August 4, 2011. Her normal weight back in the day stayed between 45-50Lbs (40-45Lb in recent years). Bella is now very skinny and has lost significant muscle mass. She is now down to 31.7Lbs as of today, October 14, 2026.

She still loves her treats but is not very interested in proper food. I’ve tried adding different toppers or mix ins to her Hills Science Diet Perfect Weight food and she’s getting decreasingly interested. On a really good day, she maybe eats one full meal, but that’s becoming less common. On her bad days she either will pick at it and have a couple bites or won’t touch her food no matter what I add to it to make it tasty. Her pancreatitis limits what she can eat, I have tried countless different brands of dog food in the past.

Her mobility is still steadily declining. She wobbles, loses her balance, her backend is getting weaker so she kind of melts into a sit or squat. When laying down every so often it takes a couple tries to stand up, sometimes before falling back down. I’ve bought a few yoga mats from the dollar store to help her around the house. She seems to have a hard time getting comfortable at bedtime; often getting up and moving around/pacing. I give her CBD oil which I think helps a bit.

She does not want to walk much anymore, often turning around to try and go home, or she will just stand there and not move. I’m able to walk her around the block on her really good days, and she still enjoys her stroller for longer walks.

Accidents in the house are every other day. I have pee pads laid out everywhere and on the rare occasion I’ll put a diaper on her overnight.

She still likes to play a bit and digs through her toy box to bring toys to the living room. Play time is just very short because she gets tired.

I have a spreadsheet that tracks her weight and her good/bad days.

She is currently on the below medication:

• Gabapentin 100mg, 3 capsules in the morning/bedtime and 2 capsules in the afternoon (I will be increasing the afternoon dosage)
• Benazepril 5mg, once a day
• Prednisone 5mg, once a day (tapering off as it caused increased muscle wasting)
• Ketamine 100mg/ml, every two weeks
• Cartrophen 100mg/ml, every three weeks
• Librela 10mg/ml, once a month             

The Librela was just started today. She was previously on it for 3 months; a year or so ago, I did not notice any improvement, but the vet recommended trying it again. Fingers crossed.

I’m feeling very stuck. I know people say its better to say goodbye too early than too late, and that pets will give them the ‘look’ but I’m having a really hard time with this. How long do I let her continue to deteriorate?

I've posted a photo in the comments.

Thank you for reading.

Sweet guy has a spinal tumor and metastatic thyroid carcinoma. With treatment, so far he’s beaten the odds of one of his diagnoses. I pray for him every day and am so thankful for this extra time I get to have with him 🙏🏼💕🥰🥰 until Heaven calls him home.

He is so full of life and incredibly cooperative and tolerant. Most adaptable dog I’ve ever cared for. He turns 13 this month. I suspect he’s already 13, but this has been the birth month listed on his paperwork since I’ve had him. He’s been with me for 12.25 years, since I was young and dumb in my early 20’s. Truly my heart dog ❤️

How do you survive losing the dog who was your whole world?

Sophie was my third dog, but the one I was most deeply attached to. I found her on the streets of Venezuela when she was just three months old, and she stayed by my side for almost 13 years.
We did everything together. She followed me everywhere, slept beside me, and was always happiest just being near me. I’ve always felt a little inadequate in the human world, and Sophie was my peace. Just breathing the same air as her made me feel okay.
A few days ago, she started showing signs of a UTI. After visiting the vet and starting medication, she suddenly began having seizures. Despite several days of emergency treatment, she kept getting worse and eventually lost mobility on the left side of her body.
When the vet told me she probably wouldn’t survive the night, I decided to let her go peacefully. I held her until her last breath and closed her eyes.

She left, but I stayed.

I’ve also lost Max (my 14 golden retriever) which also was devastating but I had Sophie being by my side.

She was my companion, my safe place, my routine, and my home. Now, my own home feels unfamiliar, and I don’t know how to live without her beside me.
I feel like I’m physically dying from grief. I know people say time helps, but right now, I genuinely don’t know how to get through the days, the silence, or the spaces we shared.

For those who have lost a dog who was your whole world, what actually helped you survive those first days and weeks?

How did you learn to live in your home again and cope with the absence?
I would be grateful for any advice or personal experiences.

I miss my girl so much.

This handsome guy will be 14 in December he has always been the kindest sweetest dog with the best temperament but these last few weeks he’s started to seem as if he lost or confused we now know he has something called cognitive decline which you think would be expected with his age but it’s still hard to hear 💔 if anyone eles has been through this is love to hear your story I almost forget his name is Meko ❤️