This is for all business people who have reached the target that they wanted or have achieved success in their own terms.
I would like to know that what was the turning point, the light bulb, or the epiphany moment during the struggles and the process of getting there.
Would love your experiences that would help struggling business owners and inspire them to continue since I believe those who fail are those who quit
My wife and I lost our Shorkie last May 1. It was very painful. We thought he will live up to 15 years because he is such an active dog who likes walking twice a day.
He has been with us before we got married and moved with us after the wedding. He was our first baby before our baby arrived in June 2024.
He had a GI infection last Nov 2025 so we did labs and even xray. Vet said all organs are normal, and his bloodworks are all normal. I was relieved as he turned 10 last Dec 2025.
Then around February he starts having accidents but I dismissed it because of old age so I tried no to make him hold his pee that much and walk him earlier. Also he stopped eating his dog food so i thought he was just being picky.
His normal weight is 7kg. When he had the GI infection he was 6kg because he ddint eat for days. I notice when I touch him he is becoming thinner. He prefers more chicken so that's what we give him and mixed with rice.
By March he was around 5.1kg when I brought him for deworming. The vet said at his age he might have a hard time recovering muscle and prescribed natural protein foods like chicken breast, fish etc.
He started becoming more choosy on his food and he showed signs of fatigue on our walks. Sometimes he would just stop and doesn't want to go. We became worried and planned another vet visit.
By April 10, he was not eating anything even his fave treats. He is becoming weaker and thinner. He was around 4.6kg. the vet decided to do bloodworks and found his crea, bun, and phos very high. She suggested forced feeding of recovery food plus kindey meds.
After 2 days, he vomitted like 5x and having labored breathing. And we decided to bring him for confinement. The vets said he aside from stage 4 renal disease, he has hypertension, low temperature, severe anemia, severe dehydration and he could go anytime. She also gave us an option to euthanize. We can't do it because it was my wife's Birthday that time. We said we confine him for a day coz we know he is fighting.
That anytime became 4 days. His weight grew to 5.1kg, less anemic and almost normal dehydration. From end stage to stage 3 kidney diseade. We brought him home did all the meds, the renal diet, subQ fluids however he vomited twice in that span so I had to lower his food so he won't vomit. Also the vet prescribed antacid (Famotidine).
We had a trip so brought him again for medical boarding. From 5.1kg to 4.2kg and very dehydrated. For 6 days he was on IV fluids so we were positive he can bounce back again and not be dehydrated again.
During those days he vomitted even at the clinic so the vet gave him Cerenia as anti-nausea. When we came back for him, his crea and phos was normal. Bun and SDMA still high but decreased a lot. However he looked weaker as his weight is just 4.1kg, lower than when I brought him.
Tried feeding him the night and he vomited. So I had to feed him less the next day. He kept on standing so I thought he was like trying to become normal but I realized this made him more comfortable compared to lying down or the sphinx position. He still urinated but not a lot anymore and he didn't drink that much because of nausea. That night he was not comfortable and whipered every hour. I tried to help him stand and bring him outside to pee. When he is lying on his side, he cries.
That continued on the next night, his last night. My wife said our baby has high tolerance for pain and hearing him cry meant he was really in pain or discomfort. She wanted to revisit the euthanasia option but I was not in favor of it because he is still aware, trying to stand and walk. Maybe he just needed anti nausea.
So the next day I brought him there and also have him assessed. I asked the vet if there's a chance he can feed on his own. She said no. What we were doing was just address the symptoms since the disease is irreversible. His labored breathing was back. So I called my wife crying and I agreed to the last option of putting him down. I told the vet that I will comeback and fetch my wife and daughter. And I told our baby to wait for me, I will comeback.
While we were preparing and about to go, the vet called us and said that our dog was breathing very fast and near collapsing. I tried to drive faster but we didn't reach in time. He died on his own terms. We were not just there to witness it.
We feel devastated going back home without him. Every corner reminds us of him. Going out yesterday was painful as we walk there for several years. I hope he appeared in a dream to tell me how is he doing.
PS. He died May 1 and not in April ( my wife's birth month) at 4:12PM (4/12 April 12, my wife's birthday)