Frank’s Journey: Life with Our 18-Year-Old Pomeranian-Poodle Mix

When Frank, our 18-year-old, 9-pound Pomeranian/poodle mix, joined our family just over a year ago, we didn’t quite know what to expect. We’ve had dogs before, but never such a tiny one — and certainly not one that is a super senior. What we quickly discovered is that Frank may be small in size, but his personality is larger than life. He’s quick on his feet, incredibly sharp, and somehow manages to navigate around our pack more gracefully than we manage to get out of his way.

Health Checkups & Senior Care

Earlier this year, Frank went in for his routine vet visit. His bloodwork came back strong, which was a huge relief. His heart murmur remains at a grade 3–4 but hasn’t worsened — another blessing at his age. He did have a urinary tract infection (UTI), but antibiotics cleared it up quickly.

Because of his decayed teeth, the vet mentioned the possibility of long-term antibiotics. For now, though, we’re holding off, since antibiotics can disrupt both good and bad gut bacteria. We’re focusing on supporting him in more natural ways.

A Scary Weekend

Not long ago, Frank gave us quite a scare. One Thursday night he went to bed just fine — but by Friday morning he was weak, vomiting, and refusing food and water. At 18, we had to face the very real possibility that this might be the end.

By Saturday morning, we took him to the Denver Emergency Vet. After a series of tests, the vet found he had a fever and gave him fluids and antibiotics. That’s when we learned something surprising: Frank only has one functioning kidney, while the other is shriveled — a detail that hasn't been recorded in his past medical files.

The Battle of the Pills

The vet sent us home with antibiotics in pill form. We could've chosen liquid, but we've done this hundreds of times over the years, even with cats, so no problem right? The first pill went down easily. The second? Not so much. Frank fought like a tiny rabid raccoon, determined not to swallow it. In the struggle, he actually lost two rotten teeth. Surprisingly, this ended up being a good thing — he felt so much better afterward, and even his dreaded “death breath” improved!

Supporting His Health Naturally

We’ve always been passionate about supporting our dogs’ health through nutrition, and Frank is no exception. Here’s what’s been helping him thrive:

• Kidney Support: Frank gets green tripe regularly, along with a phosphate binder sprinkled on his meals. These small steps help ease the strain on his kidney. Interestingly, his health improved dramatically after switching to a raw diet. As Dogs Naturally Magazine notes, “If your dog suffers from kidney disease, one of the most important things you can do for him is to get him off kibble and onto fresh foods.”Read more here

• Pancreas Support: Since his vet found a slightly enlarged pancreas on the ultrasound, we’ve been adding small amounts of raw beef or goat pancreas to his meals. This natural supplement helps support his digestion.

• Diet: Frank thrives on his raw diet. It’s been the backbone of his good health this past year, even at 18 years old.

Frank Today

Thanks to antibiotics and ongoing natural support, Frank is doing wonderfully now. He loves car rides, naps on his pillow in my office, and snuggles up on the bed at night. Even when the bigger dogs’ waggy tails smack into him, Frank manages to dodge them with ease.

We may never know exactly what caused that sudden illness, but we suspect his dental issues played a role. Since losing those two bad teeth, he’s seems to be brighter and more comfortable.

A Grateful Note

Every day with Frank feels like a gift. We’re so thankful to the kind woman who made the difficult decision to rehome him. Frank has brought so much joy into our lives, and at 18 years old, he continues to show us the resilience, humor, and heart that only a senior dog can.

✨ If you’ve ever considered adopting a senior dog, Frank’s story is proof that they have so much love and life left to give. We know we won't spend as much time with Frank as we would like to (isn't that the case with all of our pets?), but we choose to focus on quality of time rather than quantity.