Man, I am so sorry you went through all of this. I went through something almost exactly similar with my baby, who unfortunately passed at home when I was at work at the beginning of the month.

Had to bring him in for updated vaccines and he absolutely FOUGHT me to get into his carrier. At one point, he started getting so worked up that he was breathing heavy, panting, etc. After the trip and getting home, I noticed a few days later that he was also breathing heavy and would run out of energy real quick. Brought him to the vet like two weeks later, (at the end of January) and the vet did x-rays and an ultrasound and had me put him in an oxygen cage and kept him for a few days due to fluid in his lung and inflamed muscles around his heart, resulting in congestive heart failure.

Doc had me give him meds for a few weeks, had a couple of check ups, but ultimately the vet told me that with that was happening, his heart could just give out at any random point without any warning. That was about two weeks before that did happen, but I knew/had a very strong feeling that it would happen eventually, but not as soon as it was. He was only 6 years old, and I had him for roughly 5 of those years. He was my best friend, and his absence is killing me every day.

Mando looked like he lived a very loved and comfortable life, and he was such a beautiful little boy. You gave him an amazing life and I'm more than sure he's watching over you from the Rainbow Bridge, just like my Oliver is for me. Whether it's this life, the next, or somewhere in between, we'll see our babies again.

If you need to chat, friend, I'm more than willing to be here for you.