It’s a tough week for the RecipeTin Eats community. As of February 6, 2026, the updates regarding to Nagi Dog Dozer (Nagi Maehashi’s famous golden retriever) have moved from a health scare to what Nagi is calling his “final chapter.”
Here are the specific details of what has happened over the last few days:
The Medical Situation
- Double Pneumonia: About two weeks ago, Dozer (who is nearly 14) was hospitalized with a severe double lung infection.
- Existing Complications: His recovery is extremely difficult because he has laryngeal paralysis (diagnosed in 2024). This condition means the flaps in his throat don’t open and close properly, which makes him highly prone to “aspiration pneumonia”—where food or liquid accidentally enters the lungs.
- The ICU Struggle: He has been in and out of the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in Sydney. Nagi shared that he was discharged a couple of times when he seemed to improve, only to be rushed back into the ICU within hours (once only 2 hours later) due to recurring complications.
Nagi’s Decision
On February 3, 2024, Nagi posted a heartbreaking update titled “The Final Chapter: Life of Dozer.” In it, she was very candid about the reality of the situation:
- Stepping Back: Nagi has officially stepped away from the business to be by his side 24/7 in the hospital.
- Operations: Her head chef, Jean-Baptiste (JB), and her brother, Goh, have taken over the blog and recipe sharing so she can focus entirely on Dozer.
- The Goal: Nagi’s current hope isn’t for a full recovery (given his age and the severity of the lung damage). But rather to get him stable enough to bring him home. She wants him to have a “final page”. Where he can be in his favorite place, get neck rubs, and perhaps visit the beach one last time.
Why it’s hitting so hard
Nagi Dog Dozer isn’t just a pet; he’s essentially the co-star of the brand. He is on the cover of both her cookbooks (Dinner and Tonight) and is the “Chief Taste Tester” in almost every video.
“I’ve cried a thousand tears and there’s a million more to come… His story only has one ending. But my greatest hope is that before we get to the final page he can spend some time at home.” — Nagi Maehashi
The community has responded with over 5,000 comments on her latest post. With many fans sharing their own stories of losing their “soul dogs.”