Over the last year my 16 year old dog became very frail.In November our vet told us she was old and suffering with dementia,she did not have much life remaining but she was not suffering.Since then she had become no better but no worse.Last year we changed her kennel for one we believed better suited her needs.She boarded there on 2 occasions and she seemed happy.This month we had booked 3 nights away and she was boarded at the same kennel.We were totally reassured that when we left they understood her condition and fragility.She was poor at standing and walking on slippy floors,did not go out much,slept a lot,incontinent,deaf and had a good apetite(sounds bad but she was happy in her own little world).We were phoned early on our last day to say she was ill and could someone be there ASAP.My mum and sister collected her and with what the staff told them she had been well cared for.But I cannot get something out of my head.Both my mum and sister remember being told the same sequence of events.Friday she was herself.Saturday she became uninterested.Did not want to do any thing or go out but was still standing and eating.Sunday the staff had concerns.She did not want to move or do anything.She would not stand and she was cold.They had to encourage her to try and do things ,made her a bed to keep her warm,massaged her legs to try and get her going. Monday she was cold and stiff,they thought she had passed away but then saw her breathing so warmed her up.We did manage to get her home,she was in no distress just seemed to have nothing left in her.WE did have her put to sleep that night.I totally blame myself.Her general condition was I believe not suited to kennel conditions and this is why she deterioated so rapidly.Unfortnately I learnt the hard way.I might be an emotional wreck at the moment but I cannot stop asking myself why we were not contacted on the Sunday.They were concerned and she had deterioated,surely we should have been told of this.I am angry at the moment so do not want to contact them in case my feelings get in the way.Are they?Am I being ungrateful?Should we have been contacted sooner?

Firstly, I am so sorry for your loss, 16 years is a fantastic age for a dog.

Secondly you are grieving, give it time and don't start beating yourself up over things, its going to feel wrong, the dog was a member of the family.

Perhaps the the staff at the kennel thought she would be ok, they knew she wasn't in the best of health and as they dont see you dog everyday maybe they thought that/hoped it was just an off day, however maybe they should have took her to a vet, the kennels we use have a vet which comes out in these cases. Im sure they did look after her though.

I dont honestly think they have not contacted you early out of malice or neglect (not that I know them) but as you said, she seemed happy to go there before so they were obviously nice people.

I would say they didnt want to distrub you until it became essential.

My opinion would be that they did what they thought was best. Dont beat yourself up about putting your dog in kennels, you werent to know what was going to happen, and you choose a kennel were you dog previously was happy!.

Your dog loved you and you loved your dog. See the rainbow bridge video, then close your eyes and you will see you dog as a pup again, 16 years ago, happy playing and waiting for you..........................xx

I'm going to echo TattyBear's comments ;)

You were only due to be away for 3 nights, and they were well aware that your dog was suffering from the usual complaints associated with old age, and managed her condition very well from what you've told us. You were due to return in only a couple of days, and don't forget, they don't have the same yard stick as you do for measuring her ongoing health

You did everything you possibly could to look after her to the end, and who is to say that this wouldn't have happened had she been at home? It sounds as though she had a good long life, and was well cared for, and unless you were willing to put everything else on hold until she passed away naturally (which could have been a couple of years), things could not have been different

Take solace in the fact that she knew you loved her, and you were there at the last. The kennels seem to have done an exceptional job of looking after her, and had you left her anywhere else, you may not have had the chance to say goodbye properly :(

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Again, I echo everything TattyBear said. They don't see your dog every day so aren't sure what her 'normal' behaviour is like and also probably didn't want to ruin your break without being sure it was serious. Maybe it is a coincidence that this happened when she was in kennels - maybe it also would have happened had she been at home. Please don't blame yourself.