My sweet JB turns 16 this week! We're celebrating with a big party!
u/rough_muffins — 3 hours ago
r/seniordogs
Urgent 4/22 precious loving 7yo Zelda 57lb female staffy mix hw Negative! Quiet in kennel, relaxed body, wagging tail. Walks on leash nicely. Available for adoption or local rescue/foster. BARC Houston, TX ID#A2067631 must have hold by 1pm cst. No extensions. Pls help share pledge pray adopt rescue
🆘 On the euthanasia list Wednesday, 4/22. There will be no extensions per BARC. 🆘
🏡 AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION, FOSTER, OR RESCUE
🚗 OUT OF STATE ADOPTION IS POSSIBLE - cost is typically around $600 USD (give or take). The fee includes transport, boarding, full medical, spay/neuter, and a health certificate.
⏰ Zelda must have a HOLD no later than 1PM or she will lose her life.🥺
🩷🐶 Zelda #A2067631
4/16/2026 Euth Req | American Staff Mix | Female | 7Y | 57 lbs | HW Negative
💜 Volunteer Notes:
We were not able to meet Zelda. If you're interested in helping us meet the animals, please message us!
🔹 Intake:
Euth Req
📝 Shelter Notes:
4/17/2026: Zelda greeted me at the front of the kennel, low tail, neutral body and relaxed face. As I leash she walks out on a semi-tight leash, low tail and neutral body. When coming back from the run she stopped in the row and began pulling back on the leash not wanting to go back into the kennel. Had to carry her into the kennel
4/20/2026: Quiet in kennel, relaxed body, wagging tail. walked on a very loose leash to runs and back walking beside my hips
🚑 Medical Notes:
4/16/2026: Weighed 57.0 lbs. Scar left paralumbar area, can not verify OHE
A: scar
P: OHE
4/16/2026: Weighed 57.0 lbs. Vaccinated with DA2PP-V, Bordetella, and Rabies. Dewormed. Heartworm test: Negative/NAD. Given Pyrantel 6.00 and Advantage Multi Dog 55.1-88lb 1.00.
4/18/2026: On tech eval to reage, age will stay the same.
💌 ALL HOLDS MUST BE IN WRITING - PLEASE DO NOT CALL
📍 BARC Animal Shelter
3200 Carr St, Houston, TX 77026
u/No_Masterpiece9550 — 1 hour ago
My sweet fospice boy Nicky!
He might only have a few days left but I am spoiling him so much! Pulled from the eu list at the shelter. He has heartworm, a mast cell tumor and cancer. He’s between 11-14 years old. Sweet boy.
u/gigi2945 — 22 hours ago
Man adopted the 16-year-old dog so he wouldn't end up alone in a shelter, and watch him become a puppy again
u/alanbear1970 — 1 day ago
Betty still likes to prance at 16.5 yrs old
u/Just_Amy_23 — 2 days ago
Mondays trip over the rainbow bridge
I have been lurking this page for a bit over two weeks now.
This is my psychiatric service dog Yoshi. He’s 11-would be 12 in Aug. had him from a pup that would fit in my hand. This lil dude has been by my side through a lot. Including many military moves. We are currently at the end of a tour here in Hawaii. A couple weeks ago he had issues going potty. He strained so much that he collapsed and started shaking and crying and I rushed him to the emergency vet.
Fast forward an exam, X-rays and cytology and we learn he has a 7cm anal gland tumor that has also spread to the surrounding lymph nodes.
We are set to move mid May to the mainland and this was going to be his retirement flight as my SD. To leave here you need certain shot to fly and a ten day health certificate which we would have never gotten clearance for after this.
They said that surgery would be tough bc he’s a smaller guy and it’s completely pushed his bladder to a different location. They would have to break a bone to try and reach it and even then they said they wouldn’t get it all and started talking about chemo and radiation but said that the recovery alone from this at this size and his age is not promising and even with chemo etc they said it would only extend his life about six months bc the cancer would come back and it’s super aggressive. (I asked them to be brutally honest with me)
They also said they weren’t comfortable signing a health certificate which for May 12 but are open to monitor the situation and discuss in a few weeks.
We decided that we wanted to spend quality time with him. Not have him suffer a wild surgery that wouldn’t even adding meaningful time to his life.
So they gave us meds and for about a week he rallied like a champ. Way slower with walks but was eating with an appetite stimulant (always a picky eater even before) playing with us eyes still full of life and sleeping at night. Until he wasn’t.
A few days ago he couldn’t handle half the distance of his already shortened walks without a break.
Woke up a couple nights to potty but then the last night it was every two hours. He stopped eating even his special home cooked chicken, rice and green beans meals I made him.
Today it was like a complete deflated version of my Yoshi dog.
And I have been diligent about tracking his quality of life in various areas and saw it heading down and was hoping for a rebound.
Today I made up my mind that I don’t want him to suffer anymore.
He can’t get comfy he will only eat small bites hand fed to him of deli ham or turkey and his occasional greenie treat. He was just laying on the floor breathing heavy and fast with his eyes open. He did come to cuddle a few times and had a moment where he tossed his favorite toy around but he has been mostly sad and sighing most of the day today.
I really hope I don’t get judged for not getting surgery and doing chemo etc but we don’t want to put ourselves (him and the family) through that. Plus the specifics needed to fly in cabin is almost an impossible task especially now.
I really thought we had a few good years of him left before old age really set in and my world has been flipped upside down so fast.
As I was packing he looked at me like are you leaving bc I did take a short trip a month before to find a house. It breaks my heart that I told him, don’t worry buddy you’re coming with me next time and you’re going to love our new home with no stairs, a backyard and not slippery floors.
Now I feel like I lied to him.
I have never had to make this decision before and I have read that you just know and to be honest idk if I KNOW but what I do know is how unfair everything is. His pain and suffering, and the fact that I will be bringing Yoshi to our new home but it will be his ashes… I feel like I failed him in some way to keep him healthy and safe at the end because all of this is so sudden and my heart is breaking that I scheduled his passing like a dinner reservation or something.
Please tell me that I am making the right choice. He is terminal and I understand that and I knew it wouldn’t be long but it still seems so soon.
If you’re still here with me thanks for reading, I honestly didn’t think I’d post but I guess I just really need to say all this.
u/Ancient-Sympathy-614 — 3 days ago
16 Year Old Male Chipin Jumping the Curb in Slow Motion
He's always so excited when we approach curbs.
u/NickGiammarino — 2 days ago
Daisy (and siblings)
Daisy had her 11 year adoptoversary this weekend. Obviously, two of her cat 'siblings' wanted to be there to share!
u/tummybob — 1 day ago
▲ 12 r/seniordogs
Dog with CHF Not Responding to Meds
Title about says it all. My boy turned 13 in January. He’s around 60lbs so not a small guy. Last August, he was diagnosed with CHF, valve disease, and 3/6 heart murmur. We went to a vet cardiologist who adjusted him meds to pimobendan, furosemide, and spironolactone. He couldn’t tolerate the benazepril, so that’s why he’s not taking that.
He’s been stable, though developed and infrequenct cough around Christmastime - coughing once or twice 0-2 times or so per day. Mentioned it when we followed up with cardiology in February, but his echo was consistent with his September echo, and his lungs sounded ok. Due to increased free Ca (but normal ionized Ca), they suspected he was being over-diureticed and took down his furosemide slightly. Labs improved, and he seemed to be doing about the same for 4-6 weeks or so when he took a downturn. Coughing was more frequent and sometimes took him several minutes to recover. Not really acting like himself (though eating and drinking ok). X-rays 2.5 weeks ago showed fluid on the lungs. We increased both furosemide and spironolactone, and he seemed to be doing a little better (more energy, coughing only 1-2 times in a row instead of the prolonged fits), but repeat X-rays last Thursday didn’t show much improvement. We’ve increased furosemide and pimobendan as the direction of cardiology, but I’m not sure that it is making any difference. When I talked to cardiology on Friday, they said his X-rays were consistent with CHF but not textbook.
But here’s the thing. His breathing rates are great. Sleeping rates are ranging between 16-24bpm. Gums are good color. No sign of labored or shallow breathing. No fainting. No obvious swelling in other areas of the body. Eating, drinking, using the bathroom as normal.
I guess just wondering if anyone else has been in the same boat. It seems odd to me that he’s having this fluid buildup and severe cough without those other “end-stage” symptoms. Obviously, it’s only been a couple days at the newest doses, but just looking for some listening ears.
u/Illustrious_Note_882 — 1 day ago
Sending my girl over
I have to send my baby over the rainbow bridge on Monday and I am not ready. She is 15 and has been the best girl ever. I have had her for 12 years. She started having seizures recently after having a cough. She's no longer keeping food down. She's been deaf for a while and is now blind. This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. She's the first fur baby I have had. 💔 Cheers to my Mary moose.
u/jaylee0510 — 3 days ago
My sweet old pup
14-year-old mix (DNA test said mostly Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd). Rescued him when he was almost 2 and he has had a great active life. Been around 90-95 pounds most of his life. Started showing signs of arthritis a while ago along with sundowners. We have been working with the vet, he has been on gabapentin for a while and that helped with nighttime disorientation, but didn’t seem to help much with pain. Then we started carprofen, and recently upped the dose and frequency bc he was panting at rest, which can be a sign of pain. He was just at the vet a couple weeks ago, and we did talk about end of life decisions that might be coming in the near future. The vet advised that as long as he still wants to get up to eat and go outside, that he is OK. But I hate seeing him walk around like this every day. This was him tonight - we have a few stairs to get to his potty spot outside. We have rugs everywhere to help him with grip. We have a helper harness to help him up stairs, just not used in the video.
u/Reasonable-Trip1654 — 3 days ago
New moderators needed - comment on this post to volunteer to become a moderator of this community.
Hello everyone - this community is in need of a few new mods, and you can use the comments on this post to let us know why you’d like to be a mod here.
Priority is given to redditors who have past activity in this community or other communities with related topics. It’s okay if you don’t have previous mod experience. Our goal, when possible, is to add a group of moderators so you can work together to build the community.
Please use at least 3 sentences to explain why you’d like to be a mod and share what moderation experience you have (if any).
If you are interested in learning more about being a moderator on Reddit, please visit redditforcommunity.com. This guide to joining a mod team is a helpful resource.
Comments from those making repeated asks to adopt communities or that are off topic will be removed.
u/ModCodeofConduct — 4 days ago
My poor Bailey (16)
My sister was walking Bailey (16) and Bonnie (12) today and she took the girls to the park along with my mum. Get a panicked call, Bailey has tried to jump up onto mum who was on a park bench and she slipped. Her right front leg slid into the bench and her body went the opposite direction. Straight to pet hospital and she’s broken her leg in two places. They’ve put on a plaster to hold her leg in place and she’s been sent home with painkillers. Surgery on Monday. I feel so bad for her. I’ve taken her cone off as she’s here beside me and was being distressed due to painkillers wearing off. I’ll put it back on her tonight. I’ve put some cling film on to keep it dry and clean. I’m sure she’s going to be okay but with her age it is an added complication. Please send lots of thoughts this way thanks 🐾
u/robehrscot — 3 days ago
We lost Jack Daniels (16.5 yo) yesterday. I feel so empty, sad and broken. You were my son in my heart and I will forever love ❤️ you Bebe Jack Daniels. Rest In Peace. Run free and happy on the other side of the rainbow 🌈 bridge.
u/Jane_Smith_Reddit — 5 days ago
▲ 44 r/seniordogs
Did we put our dog down too early?
Background:
My dog was a large Lab / Basset Hound mix who would’ve turned 13 next month. He had been with us for 12 years and was honestly just a constant, healthy presence in our lives for most of that time. He was active, playful, loved walks, swimming, the beach, dog parks, and just being around us.
What changed (over the last few months):
Lost ~10 lbs in about 2 months (with a more gradual weight loss before that)
Noticeable loss of appetite, eventually refusing most meals
Would only eat small amounts (chicken/rice, wet food, treats)
Constant panting and restlessness
Slower movement and overall low energy
Groaning/discomfort and trouble settling
Vomiting/retching episodes
Sudden diarrhea with mucus, blood, and long, gelatin-like/stringy stool
Just seemed generally weak and “not himself”
On top of that, he had multiple large masses, swollen lymph nodes, and elevated lymphocytes - the vet suspected lymphoma.
Quality of life:
Wasn’t excited about food like he used to be
Couldn’t really get comfortable or rest well
Seemed restless or uncomfortable most of the time
Had a very noticeable change in personality/energy compared to his normal self
Vet input:
Our vet told us he would not get better and that this was a progressive decline. We were also told we wouldn’t want to see him become severely emaciated (he was ~90 lbs in his prime and had lost a significant amount of weight).
There wasn’t a curative path expected, just continued decline. We didn’t pursue extensive testing because the vet felt the prognosis was poor and unlikely to change management.
End of life decision:
We made the decision to euthanize based on his quality of life and our vet’s guidance. The process itself was very peaceful and quick after sedation.
Why I’m posting:
I’m really struggling with guilt and second-guessing the timing. I keep wondering if we acted too soon. Or tried to address the GI issues and see if that helped at least for a little while. I’d really appreciate honest perspectives from people who’ve been through something like this.
u/Olive_Joey_ — 3 days ago
Julan is 11 and a half today, got some well wishes and wanted to say thank you.
(She's not randomly barking, she's barking for treats for the video.)
u/Random_silly_name — 4 days ago
Lymphoma Diagnosis
Before I start and sorry for the long post, I want to put some background information here. Isabella was my first dog I ever adopted, I got her and her brother 12 years ago. We added to my little pack and lost our oldest, my brother’s dog in September 2025 to a blood clot and other various issues just coming together, it was quick. I didn’t expect Isabella, who was healthy at every annual vet visit (I’ve been doing blood work at their vet visits to run a background on what and where we are to kinda catch things like this) but today after about a week of acting weird was diagnosed with Medium Cell Lymphoma. I’m beyond devastated but understand that it is a terminal cancer if not put into remission.
My vet, who is absolutely wonderful, gave me my options. Obviously the CHOPS chemo is out, as much as I love her it’s not financially feasible to do that without a guarantee of remission.
My vet and I are discussing a steroid and oral chemo regiment to see if we can get this into remission. My vet believes we caught it early enough (no major masses on internal organs or that, liver is enlarged and her lymph nodes are enlarged as well). I live in Auburn near the vet school and they confirmed the diagnosis and suggested a medicine to determine if it’s B cell or T cell cancer to start.
Has anyone dealt with a situation like this? Has anyone tried this route of regiment of chemo to see if it will get into remission? I just wanted to see if anyone in my situation has gotten a positive remission with this? Or just advice in general knowing your senior dog has terminal cancer and how to keep the other two in my pack from getting depressed, especially her brother Tuk who lost his best friend Winston not even 6 months ago and now this.
I’m doing this so that possibly she can have some more time with my other dogs and my family. But if it doesn’t work, I’m not going to force it and prep for end of life procedures. What’s the best way to make her comfortable if it comes to that? I’ve never been in this situation and just am asking for some guidance.
u/Mr_BamaSimmons — 3 days ago