Famous Shiba Inu Who Inspired ‘Doge’ Meme Diagnosed With Leukemia, Liver Disease

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Kabosu, the 17-year-old internet sensation who spawned the “doge” meme and dogecoin, has been diagnosed with leukemia and liver disease.

The puppy’s owner, Atsuko Sato, posted a health update video on her Instagram account, showing footage of Kabosu lying on the floor of their home, eating and drinking while wrapped in blankets and limping slightly as she walked through their living room. Sato ended the video with a photo of herself resting with Kabosu and her cat.

In her caption, she wrote: “The names of Kabosu’s diseases are acute cholangiohepatitis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. At this time, the liver level is very bad and jaundice appears.”

She added that there was hope for recovery, saying that “antibiotics will definitely improve (his health)” and that Kabosu “has an appetite again” and “can also drink water.”

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In a post the day before, Sato said she was taking Kabosu to the hospital for a check-up because she had stopped eating and drinking on Christmas Eve.

“To all those who are worried, thank you very much 😊,” she said.

Thousands of comments flooded the post, wishing the Shiba Inu luck. One commenter said, “I wish the family strength and a painless journey for Kabosu. We love you Doge. You defined an era and generation on the internet. Good luck!” Another said, “Kabosu, the whole world is cheering for you.”

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In 2010, Sato posted an image of Kabosu lying on his stomach with his legs crossed and giving the camera a knowing look. The image spread like wildfire across websites like Reddit and Tumblr, along with a text describing what they imagined to be the dog’s inner monologue.

A few years later, in 2013, the meme inspired the creation of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. Kabosu’s viral image became the cryptocurrency’s representative image, and it is considered the cryptocurrency’s first “meme coin,” according to CNN.

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Sato said she was still amazed by the far-reaching impact of Kabosu’s photo, writing on Instagram last year: “Never in my life would I have imagined the impact my Kabosu photoshoot would have on the internet.”

“It’s a moment that has evolved and come to life over the last decade,” she added, “being shared millions of times and creating an entire community around the Doge meme.