Hear from other pet parents like you
20 similar experiences
Dog
Kelle &
Eddie
Pug(M) 14 yo
arthritisdeafnessincontinenceHe has a big hump in his spine. It looks painful.Chronic pain from arthritis and spinal changes limiting daily activitiesSignificant mobility decline with loss of independence and frequent wobbling or stumblingNighttime anxiety and restlessness affecting sleep and overall comfortCognitive decline with confusion, running into things, and changes in engagementSlowly worsening incontinence and hygiene challengesUncertainty about whether breathing changes contribute to his tiring easilywobbly when walkingruns into thingsunsteady on legsbarking a lotsometimes does not seem to know where he issometimes distantfecal incontinencedefecates in the housecannot heararthritis described as badon pain medication from veterinarianbecomes anxious at nightHe barks at me when he wants something
Dog
User &
Cubby
Borgi (border Collie X Corgi)(M) 13 yo
signs of kidney diseaseArthritis (ongoing)Frequent anxiety and difficulty settlingReduced appetite over more than a week without weight lossDaily brief staring or unresponsive episodes becoming more frequentMobility changes with shorter walks and occasional need for helpIncreased clinginess and behavior changes affecting routinespreviously voracious appetiterecently not finishing food at each feedingapparent hearing lossapparent vision loss
Dog
Steve &
Brody
Maltipoo(M) 17 yo
seizure disorder (on seizure medication)Frequent pain and discomfort limiting daily activitiesBreathing difficulties occurring most days and slowly worseningSignificant decline in mobility and steadiness, with reduced walking distanceIncreased anxiety, restlessness, and trouble settlingCognitive changes including disorientation and altered sleep–wake patternsHygiene challenges and indoor accidents slowly worseningOverall sense that Brody is now having mostly bad dayscurrently taking gabapentinon seizure medication for 20 monthsno seizure episodes since initial diagnosissleeps most of the timepreviously on dry dog foodchanged from dry to canned dog foodstopped eating dry foodeats twice a daywalks dramatically shorter distances than beforewalking reduced to about 20% of previous distance over last 3–4 monthsseems disoriented in the yardsometimes seems disoriented in the housevery hard of hearingsignificantly declined eyesightnot steady on feet
Dog
User &
Rhymer
Labrador(F) 16 yo
kidney failureFrequent and worsening pain limiting daily activitiesBreathing difficulty present most of the time and clearly limiting lifeReduced appetite with noticeable weight loss despite encouragementAnxiety, confusion, and restlessness disrupting sleep and routinesMobility decline and increasing hygiene challengesMore bad days than good days overallpainconfused
Dog
Sharon &
Little Miss Gracie
Yorkie Havanese Mix(F) 13 yo
arthritisintestinal/digestion issues (history, long-term treatment)Daily discomfort and weakness affecting activities and restPossible breathing effort even at rest that has been present for a long timeRestlessness, frequent repositioning, and difficulty fully settlingIncreased itchiness and skin irritation despite current treatmentsHearing and vision decline changing connection and navigationReliance on added water in food to maintain hydrationsleeps much of the time each daysleeps so soundly she gets startled when touchedmuscle mass decreasesagging skinprominent hip definitionvisible rib cage definitiondecline in hearingdecline in visionabdomen distended mostly after eatingoften legs slip out of sockets and go back in without interventionasks to be picked up and carried back home during walkswants to play but seems too tired and lies downused to sleep right against owners, now chooses a spot away from them on the bedmoves from place to place every 20 to 30 minutes and plops downweak muscles (owner description)
Dog
Anonymous &
Scruffy
Cairn Terrier(M) 12 yo
PancreaticLiverOngoing vomiting and diarrhea in the context of pancreatic and liver conditionsPotential impact of digestive symptoms on hydration over timeNeed to monitor how frequently Scruffy’s days still feel mostly goodBalancing stable daily comfort with underlying chronic health issuesVomitingDiarrhea
Cat
User &
Mr Mittens
(M) 16 yo
cancerinflammatory bowel diseaseReduced appetite and slight weight loss with small, hard stools and occasional vomitingIncreased drinking and urination compared to Mr Mittens’ usual baselineLow engagement, increased hiding, and fearful behaviour suggesting emotional withdrawalMuch lower activity with mild stiffness and occasional hunched posture, raising concern for discomfortSlightly unkempt coat and skin irritation in a senior cat with cancer and IBDhiding more than usualnot wanting to eatsleeping a lotDrinking lots of water. Peeing more. Skin irritations.
Dog
Debra &
Kira
Boston Cross(F) 17 yo
Frequent anxiety and distress signalsProgressive mobility decline with slipping and fallsIndoor accidents beginning to affect routinesAge‑related hearing and sight loss impacting confidenceMild but noticeable changes in awareness or behaviorsleeping more than usualhearing losssight lossfalling on stairsreluctant or afraid to go outside without ownerbehavior change related to presence of new downstairs Great Dane
Dog
Carolyn &
Benny
Labradoodle(M) 14 yo
Progressive mobility loss and loss of independenceIncontinence and increasing hygiene needsReduced appetite with noticeable weight lossFrequent anxiety, restlessness, and possible discomfortCognitive changes with confusion and pacingMore bad days than good days overalldifficulty standingslipping downneeds help to get upbowel incontinencebladder incontinenceprefers treats over dog foodextremely hard of hearingwhite pupils
Dog
Nicholas &
Jackson
Schipperkee(M) 19 yo
arthritis (almost certainly at his age)eyesight less than optimal (again, a given at his age)deaf or nearly soGradually worsening mobility with slipping, stumbling, and reduced walking distanceSporadic appetite with skipped meals and periods of eating very littleIntermittent signs of discomfort and restlessness that may suggest painOccasional indoor accidents indicating some decline in continenceRare but present coughing episodes and brief periods of unsteadiness or uncertaintyeating habits are sporadicsometimes does not eat at all for dayssometimes eats very little for daysless steady on his feet than usual during a recent incidentless sure of his surroundings than usual during a recent incidentstumbled into his water dish during a recent incidenteyesight seemed to deteriorate temporarily during a recent incidentsymptoms of unsteadiness and apparent eyesight change have passed since eating more preferred foodhesitates in doorways, but this could be a personal quirk, as he has always been wary of getting stuck in confined space
It was nice to get a comprehensive, clinical--yet understanding--perspective on my dog's current quality of life.
Dog
Sara &
Toby
Border Collie Mix(M) 15 yo
Daily pain clearly limiting activitiesSlowly worsening mobility and difficulty with basic movementsIntermittent but concerning breathing difficulties and heavy pantingReduced appetite with mild weight lossIncreased drinking and urinationSometimes noticeable anxiety or restlessnessMore good days than bad, but comfort feels more fragile
Dog
Linda &
Odie
Labrador Retriever(M) 9 yo
bone cancersevere separation anxietyProgressive limb pain and discomfort possibly related to bone cancerReduced mobility and shorter walks with increasing rest and leg guardingExisting severe separation anxiety that may interact with physical discomfortBalance between good and hard days as mobility slowly worsenslimpinglump on legtumor has grownstopped putting weight on affected legholding affected leg up and seldom putting weight on itgetting around but following owner a little less than usualwaiting before getting up to follow ownerspending more time in bedreduced walking around when outsideoften sitting or lying down outside instead of walkingfrequent licking of hind endgood appetiteurinating normallybowels normaloften seems happystill gets excited to see visitorsstill going to toy basket and selecting toys
Dog
Doris &
Sparkle
Cavapoo(F) 13 yo
Nightly convulsive‑type episodes during sleepIntermittent loss of use of hind legsReduced appetite and very low water intake over the past monthSporadic breathing changes with increased lethargyIncreased clinginess, startle response, and moments of confusion or freezingloss of use of hind legs lasting two daysepisode of loss of use of hind legs 2–3 months agomobility has returnedno interest in foodno interest in waterexcessive clinginessmust be physically close to ownerbody seemed to be convulsingloud bowel soundsstaring and seeming frozen in place
Other
Anonymous &
Fari
No Breed(M) 3 yo
Cat
Jennifer &
Jake
(M) 20 yo
kidney failurehypertensionblindnessOngoing pain and crying during urination with frequent accidentsEpisodes of confusion, restlessness, and increased anxietyNoticeable decline in grooming and overall cleanlinessMostly bad days with reduced activity and mild stiffness in a very elderly catpain when urinatingfrequent urinary accidentsconfusion episode with restlessnesswalking around and meowing for an hourgood appetitestill interacting with ownermostly staying on heated pad on the couch
Dog
Cynthia &
Cooper
Bully Mix(M) 10 yo
bladder stonesFrequent, limiting pain that is slowly worseningIntermittent but worsening breathing difficulties affecting activityOngoing appetite loss with noticeable weight lossUrinary incontinence and difficulty defecating despite supportQuickly declining mobility with reluctance to get upNon-healing, painful lesion around the lower jawweight lossloss of appetite except for certain foods and treatsurinary incontinence (dribbling urine when walking or lying down)extreme dryness, cracking, non-healing area around lower jaw at lipbloody area around lower jaw at liparea around lower jaw at lip hurts to touchdifficulty defecating despite Metamucil and probioticsreluctance to get up and go outsideno interest in toys
Cat
Anonymous &
Mitzy
(F) 14 yo
Dog
User &
Diva Doolittle
Chihuahua Rat Terrier Mix(F) 17 yo
Reduced appetite and noticeable weight lossBreathing changes that limit daily activities and are slowly worseningSignificant cognitive and sensory decline with confusion and withdrawalFrequent indoor accidents and hygiene challengesMobility decline and increasing dependenceOverall pattern of more bad days than good daystotally blindlost hearinglost sense of where to go to the bathroomurinates all over the housedefecates all over the housecomes out of kennel only long enough to try to eat and then returns
Dog
Stacie &
Neveah
American Staffordshire Terrior(F) 13 yo
gallbladder issuescataractshard of hearingOccasional vomiting and diarrhea in a senior dog with gallbladder historyMild but stable mobility changes, especially hesitation or refusal on stairsMonitoring hydration and comfort during digestive episodesNoticing any shift in the overall balance of good versus harder dayshard of hearing
Dog
Janet &
Mandy
Poodle Maltese Mix(F) 11 yo
Increased thirst and urination affecting routinesNotable weight loss with increased appetite and abdominal enlargementMobility changes and possible discomfort that are getting worseSigns of restlessness, clinginess, and possible anxiety or distressincreased urinationdrinking more water than usualabdominal enlargementweight lossincreased appetiteeating rapidlydifficulty jumping onto or off furnituredifficulty jumping in and out of the carincreased clinginess, wants to stay near owner