Sleep well Riley

My brave boy Riley crossed the Rainbow Bridge early yesterday morning.

Sleep well big fella, please find peace and happiness at the bridge. You didn't deserve any of what you went through, but you fought so hard and made me so proud. You were only 2.5 years old, taken before you're time, but you're free of all your troubles now- there will be no more nasty medicines, vets, horrid tests or being pulled about, I promise sweetheart.

I only had a year with you, but you shall never be forgotten. We all love you so much and you'll be missed more than you know. Benson will look after you up there, he loved chasing squirrels as much as you did and you’ll have the strength to do it again now, have fun my darling.

Goodnight Riley, I’m so sorry

Aw poor Riley, and poor you Emma.... My condolences...
RIP at the Bridge Riley...

Oh gosh... what a heart felt farewell!!! So sorry for your loss Emma, he has some fab company at the bridge!

Such sad news, he was so young. Hope you're ok.

sorry to read this Six Star - Riley was such a young dog - hope he is chasing squirrels in another world.

thats so sad, r.i.p

Thanks everyone. He had been very ill for a long time, so it's comforting to know he is at peace now. It's been a very long road, those of you who are on TD may already know his story.
 
Riley had anorexia. He wouldn't eat, simple as that. Over the year we had him he had every test under the sun- countless blood tests, numerous x-rays, stool/urine samples, internal examinations, appetite stimulants, allergy tests, had precautionary medications etc- you name it, he'd had it done, and everytime the vet concluded nothing was medically wrong, but still he wouldn't eat. We had good days and bad days, sometimes he'd eat almost normally, and other times he'd go a couple of days without anything to eat, but we kept going, and despite everything, Riley was a happy, fun loving boy- who was healthy in every way, according to the vets. 
 
However, things got serious just after christmas and we were finally referred to a specialist at a veterinary hospital. Riley was kept in being drip fed for a couple of days and then allowed home, with an intravenous drip that I had to inject with a solution every two hours, it kept him alive basically, and was a lifeline to give us another week trying to get him to eat. In the week, he only ate a steak, but the vet agreed it was progress and gave us another weeks worth of medication to give us another week to continuing trying.
 
A member of another forum, who has been of immense help and is going through a similar thing with her dog, told me of a lady who had an anorexic dog like Riley and her dog had been helped by going to a completely different environment. So Riley went to stay at my sons house (someone Riley knew well) to see if he did better in a one-dog household, and the vet agreed to a further few days of medication for the drip, to bide some time.
 
Sadly, there was little to no improvement, and the day before Riley was due back at the veterinary hospital, the appointment where he would have been put to sleep, he collapsed again and passed away.
 
I just hope Riley is able to find the happiness and peace at rainbow bridge that he couldn't find here. He was a happy, healthy, bouncy, alert young dog and we will never know the reason why he wouldn't eat. It's been an exhausting time, and I can't get my head round the fact he is gone, I just want to know what went on in his mind that made him view food as so bad.
 
He was a gorgeous boy, a stunning fawn brindle, the colour of Greyhound I've always adored and he was a little gem, as good as gold. He didn't deserve any of the misery he went through, thank heavens he is in a better place now.