
my soul dog passed today in my arms
my sweetest girl, lucy (15 y.o. toy rat terrier), was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease last monday with numbers dangerously close to kidney failure. she did 3 days of fluids treatment at the vet and came home and it seemed like she was doing so much better, especially because when they retested her bloodwork, her numbers had dropped significantly. over the weekend she lost interest in food and we were grasping at straws getting her to eat anything (baby food, boiled chicken, etc.) but nothing stuck. after taking her in for a quality of life assessment yesterday, we knew it was time to set up her appointment to cross the rainbow bridge and be at peace without pain and discomfort. she got so many special treats after the vet had administered a steroid shot and sub-q fluids for her comfort and we cuddled and went a long walk with me holding her and just spent such a special night together last night. she woke me up several times and every time she was seemingly declining further, she could hardly eat or drink, and she couldn’t support herself up. this morning, her breathing was shallow and labored and we knew we had to do it today. she went so peacefully, staring up at me, her mommy, with loving eyes.
i am a wreck. i know i did the right thing at the right moment because i don’t know if she would’ve made it through the weekend but i miss her so much. holding her lifeless body was so foreign and i could tell her soul had moved on to a better place and that it was just her vessel in my arms. i just am seeking comfort in knowing that she knows i tried everything for her and that i loved her beyond comprehension. that i traded her pain for my own and that i’ll think of her until i cross over. will i see her again on the other side?
i’m just sitting in so much discomfort. she was my soul dog, she spent half of my life by my side and i am struggling with my grief now that she’s gone.