My dog died suddenly this morning....

vrex · 02-15-2009, 19:46

Lucky was an 8 year old docile and kind lab/pitbull mix I rescued from a shelter for my parents in 2004. She was a happy dog,her health was good though she was a bit overweight. She had been acting very "clingy" to my father the last few days. Early this morning around 5am my parents called me, they were awakened by a deep, weak crying from the kitchen. and told me Lucky was on the kitchen floor and not responding, bleeding from her anus and fluid coming from her mouth. Within minutes, she was gone. She was due for her yearly vet appt. soon and was good at her last one other than being a bit heavy. Ive been reading on what could have caused this and think it might be gastric bloat, although nowhere do I see symptoms of anal bleeding associated with it. If anyone has any clue or knows an online source for information, it would be appreciated.

deadday · 02-15-2009, 20:44

I'm sorry brother...

scoose · 02-15-2009, 20:45

RIP Lucky

sdglock22 · 02-15-2009, 21:02

Sorry for your loss, it really sux to lose a trusted friend.

**Javelin** · 02-15-2009, 21:07

Sorry to hear about your doggy.

***sdsnet*** · 02-15-2009, 21:45

The dog in my avatar, Toby died suddenly at the age of nine. He was always highly allergic, we had his blood tested and he was allergic to basically everything - grass, wheat, eggs etc. We gave him cortizone shots occasionally and benadryl as well. He had been scratching a bunch at night in our bedroom night after night. One night I decided we needed a break and I shut our bedroom door before he could come to bed with us.

The next morning my wife found him dead outside my son's bedroom door. My son was up late that night and said he saw him sitting there just staring at our bedroom door from the area outside his bedroom. He petted him and then went to bed himself. He died in his sleep as he was laying down on his side when we found him.

I took his body to the vet and asked him to please find out what happened if possible. Our vet was a very nice older man that didn't charge much especially in a situation like this. In fact he didn't charge me to do the autopsy and he only charged me $15 to give him a group burial with other dogs. The vet said he found that he had an aneurism in his stomach and bled out from the inside. He told me that it was nothing that we had done or could have prevented as it is a problem that some retrievers are born with. It was so upsetting. I miss him to this day and that was ten years ago.

The last time I had taken him to the vet he told me that he wasn't going to live much longer and that retrievers often do not live past the age of ten. He was such a sweet dog and was super loyal.

They don't live very long but they sure bring joy and love to our lives. I'm sorry for your loss.

Maybe after awhile you can rescue another one that needs a good home.

Blitzer · 02-16-2009, 04:13

***Patricia*** · 02-16-2009, 06:17

I'm so sorry for your loss.

MrsKitty · 02-16-2009, 10:32

I'm sorry.

***pesticidal*** · 02-16-2009, 10:45

rugercat78 · 02-16-2009, 11:12

vrex, so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers

**Zonny** · 02-16-2009, 11:58

Terrible thing to wake to. I'm sorry...

Deployment Solu · 02-16-2009, 12:12

Sorry for your loss. I know your pain. We had to put down a 12 year old Basset that suddenly went downhill recently. Liver problems, fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing, nothing that could be done.

May your pet rest in peace!!!

Platz · 02-16-2009, 16:39

Oh my goodness, I can not even imagine....

I am so sorry.

HK-N-THE-HOUSE · 02-16-2009, 17:17

Nothing hurts like the loss of a best friend , Sorry.

chuck pullen · 02-16-2009, 17:21

Very sorry for your loss. Did your dog chew up some sizeable bones in the last day or so? Our dachshund did a ham hock several months ago and it caused him very serious pain, w/ anal bleeding, for 2 days, but he pulled thru.

Cody Jarrett · 02-16-2009, 18:20

My beloved GSD died two years ago. She would have given her life to protect us without hesitation. She was my constant companion, protector and daughter... only she had four feet and fur. I had her cremated and she still sits atop my fireplace mantle in an earn. My condolences to your family as these are nothing short of children to us. Although I now have a wonderful young border collie I can't part with my little one's ashes. So she stays forever.

RLB · 02-16-2009, 18:44

Sorry for your loss. RIP Lucky.

dkbrucedvm · 02-16-2009, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrex

If anyone has any clue or knows an online source for information, it would be appreciated.

Just guessing, but possibilities include:

- A mesenteric or intestinal torsion (the intestines get twisted around the mesenteric root),

- An intestinal intusseception (the intestine telescopes within itself, often at the junction between the small and large intestines, with or without a foreign object in the intestine)

- Maybe a bloat (gastric dilation with volvulus). But as you mention, those are upper GI, so they don't usually have any rectal signs at all.

Other possibilities would include toxin ingestion, splenic torsion, or hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. But splenic torsions don't usually have blood or fluid involved, and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis usually has a LOT of vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Without a post-mortem examination, it's tough to say.

Sorry for your loss. What a shock!

vrex · 02-16-2009, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkbrucedvm

Just guessing, but possibilities include:

- A mesenteric or intestinal torsion (the intestines get twisted around the mesenteric root),

- An intestinal intusseception (the intestine telescopes within itself, often at the junction between the small and large intestines, with or without a foreign object in the intestine)

- Maybe a bloat (gastric dilation with volvulus). But as you mention, those are upper GI, so they don't usually have any rectal signs at all.

Other possibilities would include toxin ingestion, splenic torsion, or hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. But splenic torsions don't usually have blood or fluid involved, and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis usually has a LOT of vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Without a post-mortem examination, it's tough to say.

Sorry for your loss. What a shock!

Thanks. do you think this could be some kind of poisoning? I'm not certain. I was thinking hemorrhagic gastroenteritis . Either way it is very sad. Thank you everyone for your kind responses.

keith56 · 02-16-2009, 21:57

Sorry for your loss.

dkbrucedvm · 02-17-2009, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrex

Thanks. do you think this could be some kind of poisoning?

That always has to be considered in cases of sudden and unexplained death. Poisonings usually aren't malicioius, though, and usually aren't things that we think of as toxins. Pets will eat many household chemicals (dishwashing detergent, cleaners, etc) because they are perfumed. Many pet medications are flavored as well, as are some children's medications. Dogs can get into those and eat whole bottles.

It always pays to have a careful look around after one of these incidents, looking for anything out of place.

speedsix · 02-19-2009, 22:26

I am sorry to hear. We should have a dog memorial thread and sticky it.

I fear I am soon to lose one of my dogs and I am crying as I type this. Dogs are everything that is best in humans. At least it was sudden. Too sudden. I feel for you man and hope things go as easy as they can in the coming days and weeks.

Every dog I have lost has torn a new hole in my heart. You don't get used to it and sometimes you are too hurt to get another dog. When my Shepard die (hit by a car), I couldn't even think of getting another dog for several years. Once I did, I was glad I did.

Losing a dog hurts so much that it is tempting to avoid the whole mess and not get another one. I don't think that is the answer. Loving and hurting is part of life. Those who never hurt and feel loss, never had anything worth losing.

Cody Jarrett · 02-20-2009, 12:07

vrex, very sorry for your loss. My border collie recently spent 5 days in the hospital after bleeding and discharging as you describe. The vet found it to be acute pancreatitis. We were lucky that she recovered. He suggested the cause was that the dog ate 1/2 of a ham and a bowl of whipped cream on Christmas day when no one was in the kitchen. Two days later she was deathly ill.

***Chuck TX*** · 02-20-2009, 17:31

Sorry about your pup, vrex. Losing a "man's best friend" is never easy, especially when it leaves you wondering what in the heck happened. At least you gave her a good life.

Rest In Peace Lucky.