Milo in healthier times.
Milo, our 14 y.o. Kerry Blue terrier, has been battling kidney disease and nasal carcinoma for 15 months. We were treating his cancer with a new oral drug, Palladia and it seems to have held the cancer at bay for all this time. He's been doing amazingly well but over the last couple of days, he became quite sick and lethargic and not eating even the foods he really liked.
Overnight, he was barely able to stagger out his doggie door several times to go to the bathroom and I had to help him back in each time. Finally, very early this morning on another attempt, he collapsed outside the door.
I rushed him to an emergency vet who was very concerned over his problem controlling his limbs to walk especially in light of his chronic diseases. I opted to do tests just in case it might be something simple. Unfortunately, the labwork indicated somewhat of a perfect storm combination of sky high kidney numbers, anemia, dehydration, a urinary tract infection and ominous cells in the urine. He had also sneezed blood this morning a disturbing indicator that the cancer might be on the rebound. Any treatment would have to start with rehydration, drugs and blood transfusion; my partner and I opted not to put him through any more such measures. He passed on to the Rainbow Bridge with me stroking his head. It was very peaceful.
We have no regrets in how we dealt with his diseases and are convinced that the Palladia extended his quality and quantity of life by probably a year. We had recently cut back on the Palladia in the hope that his kidney numbers might be stabilized but apparently to no avail. We will get another dog at some point down the road because the unconditional love they show is well worth the heartache of a day like this.
R.I.P. Boo-boo.