Shouty personDay 31 has been mostly about snoozes.
It’s day 32 and today’s photo is blurry because this Potato has been in a playful mood.
Unfortunately, because of the state her heart’s in, playtime is followed by fainting and seizures. But she’s still here.
It’s day 33 with Kira in heart failure.
Today started out rough. She had a little seizure first thing. That’s not unusual in and of itself, but it took a while to recover. However, once she did, she’s been in a good mood all day.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 34 in palliative care and she’s still here.
We’re trying to find a balance between keeping her calm and letting her enjoy what time she has left. But happiness leads to excitement leads to fainting & seizures.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 35 has been a good one so far.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 36 and she’s still going … presumably so she can take advantage of Lemmy’s grooming services.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
A small brindle dog grooms a snoozing brown dog
Day 37 has been a tough one. Not for Kira, I mean – for @xtaldave and me.
Today started off with Kira refusing to go outside because it was rainy. But she’s on a shedload of diuretics … so she just waited until no one was looking and pissed on the floor. Twice.
And then she ran around like an idiot, giving herself two full-blown seizures and a couple of fainting spells.
She’s happy; we’re exhausted.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 38 and she’s still going.
This morning, Kira ran into the garden, chasing a squirrel. She got to the back wall … and had a seizure under a hedge. Twenty seconds later, she got up and ran back in to recover on her bed.
Since then she’s had a good day.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 39 has been a snoozy one for this Potato. But she’s still here.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 40 has been another quiet one in the Potato household. But she’s still going.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
It’s day 41 … and Kira’s still here.
Part of keeping her alive is giving her two pills four times a day. Fortunately, she takes them more easily than some dogs (cough, Ozzy, cough), but it’s still a lot of work. We grind them up and hide them in wet food and sesame oil, and she’ll at least think of eating it.
Whatever it takes.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 42 has been another tough one … but she’s still here.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 43 has been a struggle, but she’s holding in there. Mainly she’s just annoyed I won’t give her my cake.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Today is day 44. At this point, every day with Kira is a gift. But I don’t think there will be many more.
She’s wearing her harness because we can’t let her outside on her own anymore … and the drugs she’s on mean she has to pee A LOT.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Day 45 is the final one.
Major Kira Clarke left us today just after 12.00.
I’ve been here before, but this was absolutely the worst one yet. In its own way. As they all are.
I hate this.
These are her final photos.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
I absolutely love this image of Kira created by Jerry Fess from one of my photos of her.
I miss her so much and it’s only been six hours.
#dogs #palliativecare #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #MajorKiraDog
Jinx 
Bob Thomson@clacksee In really sorry to hear she’s gone, sorry for your loss.
@bobthomson70
Thank you.
Thank you.
Catherine Lundoff@clacksee Much sympathy sent. It’s so hard to lose them. 😢
Crucifixion's a Doddle@clacksee I know sending hugs is ineffective, yet still I send hugs.
We have one of our pack who is 14 years old now and will, at some point, need help to leave, like a couple of our dogs before him.
It's heartbreaking.
I have a final photo of my boy Rabbit, I won't share, you don't need it. Just know that you've done the best and you had the privilege of the best friendship we can have.
Rosie and Susie@clacksee so sorry. I think it gets harder every time. But… when you least expect it, a new doggo will land plop in your lap. Kira will have sent them. Take care! Hugs from Rosie and Susie.
Geoff@clacksee 💔 So sorry. It must have been so hard for you, but you helped her enjoy her final days.
Alicja (and Artemida and Mara, see bio)
RandomYarning@clacksee I'm so sorry :(
d.w.
T.M. Baumgartner@clacksee I'm so sorry. She seems like an amazing dog.
Not The LBC Guy@clacksee I’m sorry she’s gone and I’m glad you gave her a wonderful life right to the end. Big hugs.
Jane Dallaway
Joe Fernandez@clacksee I'm so sorry for your loss... 😢
@clacksee aww... Poor Kira.
@dvewlsh
Thanks, Dave. I know you know what it’s like.
Thanks, Dave. I know you know what it’s like.
@clacksee The hard part is no matter what you do, they still make the decision themselves when they've had enough.
I still remember waking up one day and my Ichi was on the couch and just looked up at me, didn't want to move. I knew that was it and called his vet.
I'm really, really glad you're able to give Kira these nice moments and love.
@dvewlsh
They don’t, though. Some do, but others definitely won’t. I learnt this lesson when I kept my first dog alive long after he wanted to let go. Because he wanted to please me and I wanted him to live. And I screwed that up, causing him extra pain and fear.
Kira is still herself now. Her mind and personality are still intact. And she’s not in pain. But she’s at ~1% battery and she’s having frequent seizures.
I think it’s time, but then she smiles and wags her tail and… I don’t know.
John Wilker 👨🏽💻
FediThing 
This thread is so bittersweet as it brings back memories of a similar situation with my dog. Thank you for sharing.
Hope things are going well there, and that all of you are coping. These bits of time really do matter, they will always matter.
@FediThing
Most of my dogs have lived very long lives (for their respective sizes) and yet, when the end has come, it’s been largely unexpected. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a situation like this one.
Mind you, the last time the vet told me my dog would be exceptionally lucky to live another 3 months, she stuck around for 3.5 years.
I’m not expecting that. But every day is a bonus.