Christmas Eve, 2022

On Christmas Eve 2022, Kabosu stopped eating and drinking on her own. She was diagnosed with acute cholangiohepatitis, an inflammation in the digestive system, and chronic lymphoma leukemia, a blood cancer. On Instagram, Sato wrote that her dog was in “a very dangerous condition.” CNN and NPR carried the news. Within days, Sato reported that Kabosu's appetite had returned. But she was moving less than before, and more slowly.