Bad news

Abby’s bloodwork came back. Her BUN levels — which measure a benchmark toxin in the blood — were over 130. We don’t know how much over, though, because the machine only goes up to this level.

The vet said she has less than a month. Coming back from this level of kidney failure, especially given her age, is unlikely.

So we’re now keeping her comfortable, feeding 4:1 rice and chicken since she won’t eat anything else. She’s slowly losing weight, and seems to be gradually detaching herself from the world.

I can’t yet bring myself to write more about her. She came into my life as a puppy, almost fifteen years ago. We’ve been through a lot of changes together, and she was the one constant in my life, as I was in hers.

I knew this time would come. Just not now. Not yet.