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43K views 361 replies 137 participants last post by  goldensmum 
#1 ·
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum.

My family and I lost our beautiful 3 year old golden called 'Daisy' at the weekend and we wanted to share our story to help others out there.

Daisy was born in 2008 and was the most wonderful, loving beautiful golden. We have never had a golden before, she was our first and she sure taught us why they are so well loved! Daisy was energetic, funny (her Dad was known as a clown and she picked up this trait), well behaved, loving and most of all she loved life.

She was always a good eater and loved her food, but recently she became picky. We knew that this was strange so took her to the vets. She had a blood test done as the vet suspected a pyometra...but this came back clear. After a week we still weren't happy with her lack of appetite so took her back again.

After running various blood tests we found out on 23rd December that our precious Daisy was in renal failure, most likely congenital. We were in absolute shock – no other signs except the slight loss of appetite. She was taken to the veterinary hospital and put on fluids in the hope of flushing her kidneys out. Unfortunately this made no difference and her bloods were still off the chart. She spent all of Christmas in the hospital and was so, so brave and stayed on the fluids for 5 days. One vet wanted to put her to sleep on Christmas Day, but a second vet intervened and said that she was willing to fight for Daisy as she was so well in herself. An anti-sickness drug was introduced into her drip to try and help her overcome the sickness and start eating again. After more bloods there was still no change in her numbers.

They let her come home on the 27th December to see how she coped off the fluids and in the hope that we would get her eating again at home. We were just so pleased to have her back with us, even if it was only for a short while. However, we tried every food possible to try and tempt her, she ate a little, but hardly enough. We took her back to the vet every 2 days for check ups and monitoring and she was on many different drugs - anti acid, anti sickness, antibiotics, she had an anabolic steroid and B12 injection, but nothing seemed to help her improve. We had more bloods done, but her numbers were still off the chart.

Daisy refused to give up and she fought so hard against this. Gradually though we could see her declining, she was tired, she couldn't face eating or drinking, it aged her and this horrible kidney failure had taken over her. She deteriorated over the last few days rapidly due to lack of food, weakness and she was developing respiratory problems. The last vet to see her said she may be developing pneumonia and her heart rate was increasing.

On the 7th January (this weekend) we made the most difficult decision ever to let her go, we had no alternative and wanted to free her from the suffering. My family and I are devastated, our home is no longer the same and we all just miss her so much. I felt it important to share our story as our baby Daisy had only just turned 3 in October and if we can raise a little bit awareness of the symptoms

I have attached a photograph of our beautiful angel Daisy – with a big golden grin on her face x
 

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#5 ·
Oh my God, I'm so very, very sorry for your loss! Daisy's a beautiful girl!

You've found a wonderful place in this forum. I'm so sorry it's under these circumstances.

You have many here who know exactly how you feel right now. Please keep posting.
 
#6 ·
Welcome to the Forum. I am so glad that you have found this community, where people understand what it means to lose a beloved fur person.

I just ache for you, knowing all too well how dreadful renal failure is. My Sabrina was not quite 3 when she was diagnosed with congenital kidney disease. We were lucky enough to get the news in time to change her diet and together we fought her kidney disease for almost 5 years, until cancer on her heart stole her away from me.

Please share stories about and photos of your Daisy with us.

Holding you in my thoughts and prayers,
Lucy
 
#8 ·
I'm very sorry... :(

We went through something very similar with our first golden. In his case, he never was a good eater and then his last 6 months were hell for all of us. Having gone through cancer with two dogs since then, I'll take cancer over renal failure, any day.
 
#9 ·
How tragic!!! I'm so sorry that you lost your most special girl so young. She was stunningly beautiful. Always remember that you gave her the greatest and most courageous gift.... you took on her pain so as to free her of it. You will find a community here that will give you much support and always be here with shoulders to lean on and ears to listen. Hugs to you and your family.
 
#10 ·
Welcome, and I am so sorry for your loss of Daisy. So sad, so young...My Heart goes out to You and Your Family.

Daisy is a Beautiful Girl and will always be in Your Heart. She is Running with the Wind...
 
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#12 ·
I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful girl.
 
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#14 ·
Thank you very much

Your story is so sad and I sincerely hope that, when the time comes, you can find another Golden heart to love and who will love you in return. No dog will ever replace your Daisy, that's impossible. But love goes on and I wish you lots of it.

I really want to thank you for telling us of what you and your girl went through to better inform us and perhaps help to prevent other losses like yours. In a time of grief, it is most generous of you.

A sincere 'thank you' for such a thoughtful gesture.
 
#15 ·
Congenital means "born with" sometimes the issues are hereditary . Goldens can have a hereditary issue with renal dysplasia....
 
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#18 ·
It is heartbreaking, such a beautiful young girl. I am sincerely sorry you have lost her. No words.
Run free sweet Daisy.
 
#22 ·
I'm so sorry for your loss. Daisy was so beautiful. Losing her at 3 is so very unfair.

RIP beautiful girl!
 
#23 ·
What a tragic story of your girl. I am very sorry. Hugs to you and your family. Run free at the bridge, Daisy.

I hope you can let another golden into your heart when you are ready.
 
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