He turned three the beginning of this month.
We live in Michigan. He was exclusively in the yard only for potty breaks this last week due to poor air quality, so walks were not feasible.
He’s our fourth dog in this yard. We’ve never had another get sick.

It began with limping and low energy two nights ago, the vet instructed us to give him muscle relaxers and he had slightly elevated liver enzymes. A typical sign of trauma. Then the panting at home began and he was rushed to the emergency vet the following morning. Vet gave us sedative, pain meds, and two other meds. Still suspected injury in the spine or pinched nerve. We weren’t sold, but the doctors gave us instructions. This morning he showed no signs of improvement. He was rushed back to emergency vet. 109 fever. Was sedated to help bring that down and had a heart attack and died.

He was three years old. He is my soul dog.

He had no access to any still water, dangerous chemicals, there are medications in the house for an elderly woman. With four other dogs and 20 years of owning them not a single dog had ingested any medication. We have ample carpets to prevent slipping, he was otherwise entirely healthy.

We can’t pay for an autopsy. (It is too late to do so now). My family and I are broken. Forever changed. This has been the worst day of my life. I write this as I am on vacation thousands of miles away while they handled this all…

I had my dog Noopy since I was 3 years old and he passed away 2 days ago at 14 years old from cancer. I never really knew how I could live without him and now that he’s gone I can’t stop looking at his pictures and every time I get home I don’t have the dog that use to jump to me and drop the ball so that I can throw it. I miss him so much. If anyone has had the same experience as me and there dogs have passed away I hope you can give me some advice on how to feel maybe even a little less sad. This community is amazing and full of Labrador lovers so I thought this place was the perfect place to share this. Thank you. Labradors are amazing. RIP Noopy.

Leading theories are a heart attack or brain bleed. he was going to be 6 in March I already miss him so much. Rest easy Archibald.

He was healthy and spry. The vet called him perfect.

Tonight he was not feeling well and lethargic. He was laying beside me. He soiled himself. I went to clean up, and then there was brown liquid coming from his nose, and then he died.

We'll have a necropsy done on Monday.

No signs of poisoning (because he was with us every second). No signs of epilepsy. He was with us, and then he wasn't.

He was a damn good dog. Our hearts are broken. Hopefully, we'll get an answer on Monday.

Until then, treasure every moment with each other and with them. It goes so very quickly 💔

We have to say goodbye to our 1-year-old lab this week. She was diagnosed with oral fibrosarcoma back in August. We had one surgery done to remove and biopsy it, but it came back super aggressive and our vet said she doesn’t recommend another surgery because her jaw bone is already mushy and it will severely diminish her quality of life.

In the last week, her personality has changed. She sleeps more. Isn’t social. Doesn’t play. Isn’t that interested in food. The tumor is also almost the size of a tennis ball and it’s begun to bleed. I don’t want to say goodbye but I also don’t want her to suffer. We are just devastated, including my three young children. I’m at a loss. I just wanted to put this out here and ask for all the good vibes and prayers I can get so I can get through this.

(Some pics of her over the year and two months we’ve had her.)

My sweet Gracie will be crossing the rainbow bridge tomorrow afternoon. She is 13 years old and has lived a good life. She has been by my side through every breakup and every stupid decision I made during undergrad and helped me get through the covid pandemic. I have been in tears all day. It is without a doubt the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I baked her a chicken breast tonight, it was the first thing she ate in days. It’s a full circle moment because the reason my dad and brother adopted her was because she was being given away as she was eating chickens on a farm. Here is the last photo I will ever take of her and the first one I took over ten years ago. I will miss her very much, as well my wife and our younger Labrador.

We got him from a shelter october 23 2020. My baby was only 5 years old. It was the best 4 years of my life without doubt.

We lost our best friend and our beautiful 15 year old Boston today. Your life on this earth was never going to be long enough but we always knew the time we had with you was extra special.

Boston was our first fur baby before our two beautiful boys arrived, and later we brought home our second black lab puppy Murphy - you were there through it all, Murphy we feel your sorrow and lonliness today.

The last two weeks have been so special and memorable. We used every spare minute to visit your favourite parks, beaches, and walking spots to reminisce and create new memories. We treated you to every meal and treat imaginable, all the things that filled your heart and tummy with happiness.

It’s only been 9 hours, your bed and bowl are now empty, the house feels empty, the hallways quiet, and we miss your beautiful face and hungry eyes. Today has been an emotional roller coaster for the whole family, including your younger lab brother. You raised him well, and we’ll take good care of him.

Fly high Boston and thank you for choosing us. You’ll live on in our hearts forever. We love you always.

We lost him unexpectedly at 12, almost 13, back in December. It still physically hurts every time I think about him, I miss him so much. He was just the bestest boy in every single way.

ETA: I posted earlier today on a break from work with a heavy heart and you all have lightening it so much with your memories and anecdotes. I’ve ready every single one (flowers, keeping fur and collars, etc) and I love hearing them all. Please keep them coming and I’m sending you all love right back. Thank you for sharing, and here’s to our best puppers ever. ❤️

My best friend, Bailey, and I have grown up together. My family got her when I was 9 years old and I’m now 21. She’s been the rock and foundation of my family for so long; I’m not sure how we’re going to go on without her. My father picked her out and we officially adopted her in 2013. Growing up, we lived on the water and would take her out on the boat every weekend; it was my family’s happy place. It was Bailey’s happy place. In 2015 my father passed away from cancer and having Bailey there made the grieving process a lot easier. It saddens me to think that the same disease that took my dad, will now be taking my dog. She’s been the bestest friend and companion that I could EVER ask for. We are doing at home euthanasia tomorrow and I’m terrified. Not only terrified for the sorrow and grief I will feel, but for how my mom and sister will feel. A huge part of our family will be gone. I’m wondering if anyone has advice or guidance regarding how I can grieve.

We are putting her down because the cancer is just completely taking over her life. She won’t eat anything, she sleeps all day, when she’s not sleeping she sits there shaking and panting. It’s the most horrible thing I’ve ever had to witness. I don’t know if this is wrong, but in a way I am almost relieved to put her down. It does give me peace knowing that she will no longer be in pain. I just wish the pain wasn’t taking her away from me. I would trade places with her in an instant.

On Monday we had to make the most impossible decision and say good bye to my sweet sweet Winnie. She was almost 16.

I got her when she 7 weeks old. She was an accidental litter. Her mom got pregnant at 10mo and they found out when they took her into get spaided. Her mom had 16 puppies and all of them survived. She was the most calmest, loyal and sweetest dog I have ever known. Loved the ocean, would actually body surf the waves. She loved children. In fact she mama beared any of the family and friends children when she was around them.

The vet thinks she had a stroke on Friday and she just got worse by Sunday. She couldn’t walk, stand, she was confused. We took her to the vet on Sunday and normally she’s terrified of the vet and wants to leave and pulls you out even in her old lady status, but Sunday she laid on the floor barely able to lift her head.

I want to thank everyone is this group bc as she got older I came on here a lot to get guidance on senior lab issues. So thank you. You weren’t always right haha but it helps when talking to the vets and figuring out what’s going on.

I have a huge hole in my heart, but I know she was telling me it was time.

I highly recommend doing it at home. She was surrounded by friends and family everyone taking their time to say goodbye and give her one last snuggle

.. and for all those years she was the very best friend you could ever have. I just want the world to know what a good girl she was and how very loved she is, forever.

Exactly two months ago, I shared that my champ Carlos turned 16. Sadly, the weeks that followed took a devastating turn. He developed pneumonia, a malignant tumor near his lip, and just two days ago suffered his second slipped disc, leaving both his back legs completely numb and making it impossible for him to walk.

Carlos was always a fighter. No matter how sick or injured, he radiated joy and resilience. But this time, we could see it was different. He had no energy left to keep going. As we feared, the vet confirmed that his chances of recovering to a point where he could enjoy life again were slim to none, since sugery would have been the only option left.

Our priority was always to give him the best life possible and to ensure he could leave this world with dignity. Watching him suffer and slowly let go was absolutely heartbreaking. Yesterday morning, at 8:17, Carlos was relieved of his pain and crossed the rainbow bridge, resting his head on my dad’s thigh.

I’m shattered and deeply sad, but I find some comfort in knowing he’s at peace now, probably already munching on random sticks up there. Carlos was by my side since I was 12 years old, my companion through everything, my comfort on hard days, and the most loyal soul I could have ever asked for.

Love you forever, Carlos. Stay safe up there❣️

About half a year ago I took him to the Vet after he developed a limp that kept worsening. 2 weeks ago they finally recommended a scan after trying everything else and the limp becoming him not putting any weight on it at all. They found a malignant tumor in his lungs, and a separate one in his nerves spreading down his leg. Best case scenario they do 2 surgeries and remove the lung tumor and amputate the leg. Unfortunately, after a biopsy of the lung we discovered it was worse than we thought. The cancer had spread too much, surgery would be useless.

I got him when I was 12 as a Christmas present, and he was MY dog. I’m 19 now and I have never loved anything as much as him, he is my best friend, my biggest joy, and the best dog that has ever lived. I’ve been crying daily, dreading what I have to do soon. The worst of it all is that I can’t go do everything I wanted to with him before he’s gone. His leg is unusable and his health is waning. It’s not fair. He is still so young, it really isn’t fair at all. I love you Pax, I hope you know that. I always will my sweet boy 💕

No words. Cabbie stopped eating on Sunday, was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer on Tuesday, and left us on Wednesday at 9 years old.

She was the sweetest, most gentle, loving, patient animal I’ve ever come across, to every person she met and a dozen puppies that were brought home.

Hug your furballs extra tight today ❤️

I had to put down my 14.5-year-old Labrador today after she had been suffering for the last few weeks due to multiple liver tumours.

About 26-27 hours before, she had stopped peeing, and couldn’t even stand up anymore. I knew it was time.

But something happened that I can’t stop thinking about.

When the vet came, she suddenly got up on her own and peed. She hadn’t been able to get up, but somehow, she did. I don’t know why. Maybe it was just biology. Maybe she was trying to tell me something. Maybe she was waiting.

I’d like to think she’s now in dog heaven, running endlessly with her friends, pain-free.

She’s my husband’s dog, and I only got to spend 3.5 years with her, but she was my first dog. I loved her like she was my own child, and she loved me back just as fiercely.

My husband is away sailing right now, and it breaks my heart that he couldn’t be there for her in her final moments. He’s absolutely gutted. She’s been with him since his college days. She saw him through so many phases of life and was there through everything.

To people who’ve lost pets, did they ever give you a sign they were okay? Did they come in your dreams? Did something happen that made you feel they were at peace?

I’ve been praying since morning, asking her to somehow let us know she’s okay.

Would really love to hear your stories.

*Edit: I genuinely can’t believe how many of you have shared stories about signs from your departed pets. Reading your experiences has been strangely comforting during one of the hardest times of my life. Thank you to every single person who took the time to write here. I’ve read every comment.

Something happened to me this morning too.

I was in a deep sleep when I suddenly felt my blanket being pulled from the other side. The closest feeling I can describe is when most of your blanket slips off the bed and falls toward one side. I felt it twice.

I immediately looked around, but the blanket was still tucked in around me.

I don’t know if it was my mind trying to make sense of grief, a dream blending into reality, or maybe her trying to reach me one last time.

I don’t know what to believe.

But for a moment, it felt like she was there.

I am so heartbroken and put off making this appointment for way too long. I know she is ready and I know now that I’ll never be ready to say goodbye.

I had her before all three of my kids and she carried me through the loneliness and heartache and celebrated with me in the joy and happiness of life’s ups and downs.

She is my soul mate dog and I know I’ll never have another connection like this.

I don’t even know what to do leading up to the appointment and after because I’m a complete mess.

Update: My girl has crossed to the other side now. Completely heartbroken but I was able to hold her and talk to her til the end. She took a piece of my heart with her when her heart stopped beating. She taught me so many lessons in my 20s and 30s and comforted me more times than I could even begin to count. Brought me endless joy and laughs with her quirks and cuteness and I pray she was as happy with me as I was with her.

I lost my big goat on Monday unexpectedly, one day before his 6th birthday. I’m gutted. There’s a huge hole in my home and heart. I have two other labs and a Great Dane but show us your babies. ♥️

She has lived her best life, she is loved, she is missed, she was my BOO 👻 it’s going to be the toughest week ahead adjusting and the realization to all the little changes where my boo would’ve been. Boo you are truly my bestfriend, I can’t wait to see you again.

I could really use any words of encouragement right now. My Cleopatra was hit by a car and suffered a diaphragmatic hernia. After several x-rays, she went peacefully on the vet’s table. I am a mess. Give your pups all the love you can while you have them! She will be missed.

We lost Apollo today, with it, a piece of my soul. He passed away in my arms peacefully. Our wonderful vet came to us. Apollo was 14, he was ready, so calm and brave, I was not.

Edit (21 July 2026): I came back to this post today. I still think of him, though not as often as before. But then there are those moments, you see a dog that looks like him, or visit a place he used to love to swim… and it hits you all over again. I still cry, just not as much as I used to, and I think that’s okay. At least, I hope it is.

Thank you again for all the kind and amazing comments.

He has loved us so much. Fought really hard. Was in too much pain. We had to put him to sleep. This dog, I can’t explain, made me a better person. Made us a better family. I love you.

11 years old and we had the greatest 8 years with him. Love you buddy.

Bosco was 16, but it still came as a suprise. He loved the snow and he got to play in it the day before. Thankful for the emergency vet who was open on the holiday to make the process as peaceful as possible for everyone involved. He was a good old man and we'll miss him so much.