Nagi Maehashi, the beloved Australian food writer and culinary force behind the immensely popular RecipeTin Eats platform, has shared a profoundly personal and heart-wrenching update with her devoted followers about her cherished companion dog, Dozer. The typically private cook revealed that her canine companion, who has become an integral part of her brand's identity, is critically ill following several weeks of intensive care treatment at a veterinary hospital.
A Devastating Health Battle
In a raw and emotional blog post that has resonated deeply with her audience, Maehashi disclosed that Dozer, who is approaching fourteen years of age and has existing underlying health conditions, was hospitalised at SASH with a severe double lung infection diagnosed as pneumonia. The initial medical prognosis was described as dire, with the beloved pet deteriorating at an alarming rate shortly after admission.
'I've cried a thousand tears and there's a million more to come,' Maehashi wrote with heartbreaking candour about the emotional toll of watching her companion struggle. 'The initial prognosis was dire, and he went downhill worryingly fast. But my boy is a fighter.'
Remarkable Resilience and Emotional Rollercoaster
Against significant medical odds, Dozer demonstrated remarkable resilience, showing signs of improvement with some lung healing and strong vital signs that offered a glimmer of hope. However, what followed has been described as a devastating emotional rollercoaster for Maehashi and her family. After being discharged from hospital, Dozer required emergency readmission to intensive care just two hours later due to serious complications. This pattern repeated when he was discharged again only to return to ICU a mere ten hours afterwards.
The food writer acknowledged the painful reality of their situation with poignant clarity: 'We're in the final chapter of Life of Dozer and we all know how the story will end.' For Maehashi, whose entire career has been built around warmth, generosity, and the comforting rituals of home cooking, the hope now is profoundly simple and human – the gift of time with her beloved companion.
A Simple Wish for Quality Time
Before facing that inevitable final goodbye, Maehashi expressed her deepest desire for Dozer to return home in sufficiently good health to enjoy his favourite simple pleasures. These include quality time with his favourite people, scavenging for treats beneath the kitchen table, playing with canine friends at their local beach, and simply being by her side as he has been for nearly fourteen years.
'All the neck rubs in the world. All the hugs, all the kisses, all the pats,' she wrote, capturing the essence of their bond. This emotional journey has necessitated professional changes, with Maehashi announcing she will be taking time away from her work commitments to focus on Dozer's care and their remaining time together.
Temporary Business Transition
Her partner, Jean-Baptiste Alexandre, along with her brother Goh, will temporarily assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of both RecipeTin Eats and RecipeTin Meals – the charitable food bank initiative Maehashi founded to support people experiencing food insecurity. In a touching detail that resonated with many readers, Maehashi shared that JB has been bringing recipe samples to her at the intensive care unit, creating moments of comforting normality amidst the clinical environment of beeping machines and emotional strain.
'He's been dropping off recipe samples to me at ICU, which I appreciate greatly, even if eating French delicacies next to beeping machines feels slightly surreal,' she wrote. Alexandre will begin publishing new recipes on the website in coming weeks, with Maehashi noting that followers might gain insight into how they collaborate remotely during this challenging period.
Dozer's Integral Role in RecipeTin Eats
Dozer has long represented far more than just a family pet to the RecipeTin Eats community. Frequently photographed alongside finished dishes, sprawled contentedly in the kitchen, or waiting patiently near the dining table, he evolved into a quiet but constant companion within Maehashi's culinary world. His presence became woven into the fabric of her brand, symbolising the homely warmth and authenticity that characterises her approach to food.
Maehashi was honest about what her followers can expect moving forward: 'I can't promise to share Dozer updates on all his recipes - to be frank, it depends how Dozer is going.' In closing her emotional message, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to her audience for the affection they've shown her companion over many years.
'Thank you for all the years of love you've shown Dozer, for sharing your own fur baby stories, and for making him feel so deeply adored far beyond our little world,' she wrote. 'I hope to be able to share some more light-hearted Life of Dozer tales for the next little while.'
