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Dog Died Suddenly with No Signs of Anything Particularly Wrong to Cause Death.
My family and I just lost our dog out of the blue around 6pm on August 22nd.
He was 8 years of age, approximately 80lbs, and showed no signs of being sick before he passed.
The night before he played like he always had and ate his dog food as usual. On the morning of his passing he was with me in my room most of the morning. He slept most of the time (which was normal for him) and I gave him crust from a sandwich I was eating. Before that my mother had put him outside before she went to work and he came in after a short time and ate some dog food then proceeded to my room. Around 1pm my father put him out and he urinated and came back in. My father saw him the whole time and he didn't do anything but his "business." My mother came home from work around 4pm. She cooked dinner approximately 30 minutes later and our dog was fine walking around the house observing everybody as he had always done. While my parents were eating in the living room around 5pm, my dog laid down on the floor as usual and went to sleep. This was a normal routine for him and nothing was out of the ordinary all day. After dinner around 5:30pm, I asked my mother to help me in my room.
We didn't notice anything wrong with our dog and stepped over him like we normally do when he's sleeping. There were no signs of death at the time.
We were in my room for 5 or 10 minutes. Mom left to go into the kitchen to get some water and noticed our dog was laying oddly with his back legs sprawled out like his front paws which was pretty unusual. My father looked at him and told my mother our dog was dead after noticing feces and vomit on the floor. My mother didn't believe it because our dog was absolutely fine all day and showed no symptoms/signs at any point. She thought my father was joking which was not a normal joke for him to say. He repeated our dog's passing after touching him. Our dog was still warm and felt life-like but he was limp with no breathing. My father believes it was a heart-attack.
The only thing we know was a week or less prior to his passing, our dog was having smelly gas which he's had many times before with no problems. He's had a benign tumor removed from between his toes on a front paw about a year or two years ago. The doctors told us we had nothing to worry about after that and our dog acted completely fine so we don't think that had anything to do with his passing. But the vomit was dark green with a long blade of grass in it but that's all we know.
It was so out of the blue and sudden that it's hit our family really hard because he wasn't just a family pet; he WAS family.
We just would like to know exactly what could of happened. Thank you.
He was 8 years of age, approximately 80lbs, and showed no signs of being sick before he passed.
The night before he played like he always had and ate his dog food as usual. On the morning of his passing he was with me in my room most of the morning. He slept most of the time (which was normal for him) and I gave him crust from a sandwich I was eating. Before that my mother had put him outside before she went to work and he came in after a short time and ate some dog food then proceeded to my room. Around 1pm my father put him out and he urinated and came back in. My father saw him the whole time and he didn't do anything but his "business." My mother came home from work around 4pm. She cooked dinner approximately 30 minutes later and our dog was fine walking around the house observing everybody as he had always done. While my parents were eating in the living room around 5pm, my dog laid down on the floor as usual and went to sleep. This was a normal routine for him and nothing was out of the ordinary all day. After dinner around 5:30pm, I asked my mother to help me in my room.
We didn't notice anything wrong with our dog and stepped over him like we normally do when he's sleeping. There were no signs of death at the time.
We were in my room for 5 or 10 minutes. Mom left to go into the kitchen to get some water and noticed our dog was laying oddly with his back legs sprawled out like his front paws which was pretty unusual. My father looked at him and told my mother our dog was dead after noticing feces and vomit on the floor. My mother didn't believe it because our dog was absolutely fine all day and showed no symptoms/signs at any point. She thought my father was joking which was not a normal joke for him to say. He repeated our dog's passing after touching him. Our dog was still warm and felt life-like but he was limp with no breathing. My father believes it was a heart-attack.
The only thing we know was a week or less prior to his passing, our dog was having smelly gas which he's had many times before with no problems. He's had a benign tumor removed from between his toes on a front paw about a year or two years ago. The doctors told us we had nothing to worry about after that and our dog acted completely fine so we don't think that had anything to do with his passing. But the vomit was dark green with a long blade of grass in it but that's all we know.
It was so out of the blue and sudden that it's hit our family really hard because he wasn't just a family pet; he WAS family.
We just would like to know exactly what could of happened. Thank you.
My dog, Gill, died suddenly also. He was fine and had been to the vet a few weeks earlier. I went for a walk with him earlier in the morning. I sat down with him at noon and fell asleep. I have never taken a nap in my life. I woke up around 3:00 PM and Gill was not beside me. I called him and he didn't come to me. I looked around and he looked like he was sleeping on the floor. I went over and petted him. His eyes were open and looking back at me like he does most of the time. I felt his nose and it was cool and moist, but he was not breathing. I turned him over to do CPR. He had a huge amount of clear fluid coming out of his mouth, but no dark or blood fluid. Gill was a blue merle Australian Shepherd and had blue eyes, so I could see his pupils easily. He was gone. I am devastated without him. He was my best friend and my family. Gill was my proof that there is unconditional love. I will miss him for the rest of my life. I had a dream a few days ago though that was very calming. I dreamed that I was walking and came to the end of a road. There was a man there with so many dogs of all kinds and all sizes. I asked where? He said, "This is Heaven." I said, "I am looking for a dog named Gill." The man told me that Gill was still working and was watching over me as usual. He said that I would need him to be there for some future
event-watching from up high. He said some people aren't people and some dogs aren't dogs. Some are angles unaware. Gill is your angel and he still has work to do, but he will be here when he is finished with his job..
event-watching from up high. He said some people aren't people and some dogs aren't dogs. Some are angles unaware. Gill is your angel and he still has work to do, but he will be here when he is finished with his job..
Hi Theresa, I'm sorry for your loss and have difficulty in responding since it all is too raw for me. Franky is still very quiet but at times shows more energy than before. I spend as much time with him as possible and take him with me in the car whenever possible.
We are thinking of a new companion for all of us, perhaps another Wheaten. Rufus was special to all of us. He was his own personality, a bit domineering but that's what made him loveable. We'll pursue this in the spring of 16 but won't right now because of other commitments. Take heart and I hope things become easier for you and Lynda too.
PeterinToronto
We are thinking of a new companion for all of us, perhaps another Wheaten. Rufus was special to all of us. He was his own personality, a bit domineering but that's what made him loveable. We'll pursue this in the spring of 16 but won't right now because of other commitments. Take heart and I hope things become easier for you and Lynda too.
PeterinToronto
I just lost my beautiful giant Chihuahua, Flash this Monday. He was just 7 years old. We also have a giant chihuahua, Peanut, who is 10. The reason I call them giant is because they are the size of a little beagle, and about 22 pounds each of muscle, not fat. At least, Flash was all muscle! Every morning it was the same routine, I would get up around 4:30 AM and let Peanut out in the pen to pee. Flash didn't always get up then; he liked his sleep. Then Peanut would get a cookie and lay down in the kitchen, while I went back to bed for 1/2 hour more of sleep. That was Flash's time to snuggle under the covers, and rub his head in my hair! I got up and put the coffee on, fed and walked them both, and went to work at 7:15. i would normally leave the dog run door open, but it was only 45 degrees out and I thought it was too cold for them. They had the run of the house. When I got home at about 1:45, I heard no barks from the house. I opened the kitchen door and Flash was lying on the floor like he was asleep. He didn't move when I called him. Peanut ran in the hallway. i started screaming, and my son ran in the room. He had just gotten home from school. (I am so glad that he didn't find him first, it was his puppy.) I dropped to the floor and tried to shake him, but he was cool to the touch already, and his legs were getting stiff. When I picked him up, I noticed he was damp underneath where he was laying on the tile. I thought that it was sweat (forgetting that dogs don't sweat like we do), but realized later that he must have urinated on himself, even though it didn't smell. We grabbed both dogs and rushed to the vet, but she said he was definitely gone. She said that it was probably a heart attack or stroke, but we had gotten his teeth cleaned a few times and his heart seemed fine on their charts. I asked about an autopsy, but it was $1700.00, and my son said it wouldn't bring Flash back. It is just killing me because I don't know what happened. He threw up a little Saturday, but ate, pooped and etc. fine. He had a sensitive stomach,, so we fed him and Peanut prescription dog food. He was also very high strung; I always called him my "typical Chihuahua" because he was a bundle of energy, and he never wanted to sit still until it was time for bed. Then he would sit in front of you and stare, until you went to bed with him and Peanut.
I wish he wasn't alone when he died, he hated being without people. I worry about Peanut being truly alone now that Flash is gone,. All I want to do is hug and hold Flash again, and give him kisses on his head.
This morning I took Peanut out for a ride in the car just to get out. He has been looking for Flash for 2 days now. He has started to sleep on Flash's bed. I don't want to leave him alone, he is so sad. I can't stop crying either. I have been kicking myself wondering if it was something I could have done OR if it was something that i had done.
Lynda, I too wonder if it is something I could have done. I took bot dogs to the vet at least 2x a year. Flash had allergies and I sometimes gave him benadry when he was itchy or sneezing. . I gave him one Saturday or Sunday night, i can't remember which, it is all a blur. What if i gave him an ibuprofen by mistake? They both look the same, but one is orange and one is pink, and I took both that night b/c I had a headache. Would one tablet have killed him? i can't believe I am even thinking these crazy things. Then I thought well, maybe he choked on something or ate something outside that poisoned him, but I know that is unlikely. the vet said he didn't look like a dog that had been poisoned. He had no blood or vomit around his mouth. His tongue was between his teeth but he hadn't bitten it. Even his eyes were a little opened, just like they were when he slept. He looked so peaceful and calm, it is hard to believe he is gone.
Peter, you may have to think about a new dog for Franky. I know that I will too, so Peanut will not be so lonely.
I miss the howl that Flash gave every time the phone rang, and Peanut's barking at him for it! Now he is just laying on the dog bed.
I am so sorry for all of your losses. Thank you for liste.ning to me. I feel like I lost a child. I know because I have had many losses in the family these past 2 years I don't know what to do.
Theresa in New York
I wish he wasn't alone when he died, he hated being without people. I worry about Peanut being truly alone now that Flash is gone,. All I want to do is hug and hold Flash again, and give him kisses on his head.
This morning I took Peanut out for a ride in the car just to get out. He has been looking for Flash for 2 days now. He has started to sleep on Flash's bed. I don't want to leave him alone, he is so sad. I can't stop crying either. I have been kicking myself wondering if it was something I could have done OR if it was something that i had done.
Lynda, I too wonder if it is something I could have done. I took bot dogs to the vet at least 2x a year. Flash had allergies and I sometimes gave him benadry when he was itchy or sneezing. . I gave him one Saturday or Sunday night, i can't remember which, it is all a blur. What if i gave him an ibuprofen by mistake? They both look the same, but one is orange and one is pink, and I took both that night b/c I had a headache. Would one tablet have killed him? i can't believe I am even thinking these crazy things. Then I thought well, maybe he choked on something or ate something outside that poisoned him, but I know that is unlikely. the vet said he didn't look like a dog that had been poisoned. He had no blood or vomit around his mouth. His tongue was between his teeth but he hadn't bitten it. Even his eyes were a little opened, just like they were when he slept. He looked so peaceful and calm, it is hard to believe he is gone.
Peter, you may have to think about a new dog for Franky. I know that I will too, so Peanut will not be so lonely.
I miss the howl that Flash gave every time the phone rang, and Peanut's barking at him for it! Now he is just laying on the dog bed.
I am so sorry for all of your losses. Thank you for liste.ning to me. I feel like I lost a child. I know because I have had many losses in the family these past 2 years I don't know what to do.
Theresa in New York
I just lost my beautiful giant Chihuahua, Flash this Monday. He was just 7 years old. We also have a giant chihuahua, Peanut, who is 10. The reason I call them giant is because they are the size of a little beagle, and about 22 pounds each of muscle, not fat. At least, Flash was all muscle! Every morning it was the same routine, I would get up around 4:30 AM and let Peanut out in the pen to pee. Flash didn't always get up then; he liked his sleep. Then Peanut would get a cookie and lay down in the kitchen, while I went back to bed for 1/2 hour more of sleep. That was Flash's time to snuggle under the covers, and rub his head in my hair! I got up and put the coffee on, fed and walked them both, and went to work at 7:15. i would normally leave the dog run door open, but it was only 45 degrees out and I thought it was too cold for them. They had the run of the house. When I got home at about 1:45, I heard no barks from the house. I opened the kitchen door and Flash was lying on the floor like he was asleep. He didn't move when I called him. Peanut ran in the hallway. i started screaming, and my son ran in the room. He had just gotten home from school. (I am so glad that he didn't find him first, it was his puppy.) I dropped to the floor and tried to shake him, but he was cool to the touch already, and his legs were getting stiff. When I picked him up, I noticed he was damp underneath where he was laying on the tile. I thought that it was sweat (forgetting that dogs don't sweat like we do), but realized later that he must have urinated on himself, even though it didn't smell. We grabbed both dogs and rushed to the vet, but she said he was definitely gone. She said that it was probably a heart attack or stroke, but we had gotten his teeth cleaned a few times and his heart seemed fine on their charts. I asked about an autopsy, but it was $1700.00, and my son said it wouldn't bring Flash back. It is just killing me because I don't know what happened. He threw up a little Saturday, but ate, pooped and etc. fine. He had a sensitive stomach,, so we fed him and Peanut prescription dog food. He was also very high strung; I always called him my "typical Chihuahua" because he was a bundle of energy, and he never wanted to sit still until it was time for bed. Then he would sit in front of you and stare, until you went to bed with him and Peanut.
I wish he wasn't alone when he died, he hated being without people. I worry about Peanut being truly alone now that Flash is gone,. All I want to do is hug and hold Flash again, and give him kisses on his head.
This morning I took Peanut out for a ride in the car just to get out. He has been looking for Flash for 2 days now. He has started to sleep on Flash's bed. I don't want to leave him alone, he is so sad. I can't stop crying either. I have been kicking myself wondering if it was something I could have done OR if it was something that i had done.
Lynda, I too wonder if it is something I could have done. I took bot dogs to the vet at least 2x a year. Flash had allergies and I sometimes gave him benadry when he was itchy or sneezing. . I gave him one Saturday or Sunday night, i can't remember which, it is all a blur. What if i gave him an ibuprofen by mistake? They both look the same, but one is orange and one is pink, and I took both that night b/c I had a headache. Would one tablet have killed him? i can't believe I am even thinking these crazy things. Then I thought well, maybe he choked on something or ate something outside that poisoned him, but I know that is unlikely. the vet said he didn't look like a dog that had been poisoned. He had no blood or vomit around his mouth. His tongue was between his teeth but he hadn't bitten it. Even his eyes were a little opened, just like they were when he slept. He looked so peaceful and calm, it is hard to believe he is gone.
Peter, you may have to think about a new dog for Franky. I know that I will too, so Peanut will not be so lonely.
I miss the howl that Flash gave every time the phone rang, and Peanut's barking at him for it! Now he is just laying on the dog bed.
I am so sorry for all of your losses. Thank you for liste.ning to me. I feel like I lost a child. I know because I have had many losses in the family these past 2 years I don't know what to do.
Theresa in New York
I wish he wasn't alone when he died, he hated being without people. I worry about Peanut being truly alone now that Flash is gone,. All I want to do is hug and hold Flash again, and give him kisses on his head.
This morning I took Peanut out for a ride in the car just to get out. He has been looking for Flash for 2 days now. He has started to sleep on Flash's bed. I don't want to leave him alone, he is so sad. I can't stop crying either. I have been kicking myself wondering if it was something I could have done OR if it was something that i had done.
Lynda, I too wonder if it is something I could have done. I took bot dogs to the vet at least 2x a year. Flash had allergies and I sometimes gave him benadry when he was itchy or sneezing. . I gave him one Saturday or Sunday night, i can't remember which, it is all a blur. What if i gave him an ibuprofen by mistake? They both look the same, but one is orange and one is pink, and I took both that night b/c I had a headache. Would one tablet have killed him? i can't believe I am even thinking these crazy things. Then I thought well, maybe he choked on something or ate something outside that poisoned him, but I know that is unlikely. the vet said he didn't look like a dog that had been poisoned. He had no blood or vomit around his mouth. His tongue was between his teeth but he hadn't bitten it. Even his eyes were a little opened, just like they were when he slept. He looked so peaceful and calm, it is hard to believe he is gone.
Peter, you may have to think about a new dog for Franky. I know that I will too, so Peanut will not be so lonely.
I miss the howl that Flash gave every time the phone rang, and Peanut's barking at him for it! Now he is just laying on the dog bed.
I am so sorry for all of your losses. Thank you for liste.ning to me. I feel like I lost a child. I know because I have had many losses in the family these past 2 years I don't know what to do.
Theresa in New York
Don't beat yourself up. I know how difficult it is with all the "What ifs? and If I had or hadn't done this". I believe it is a very normal part of the experience of caring that much. It is just over one week now for me and I'm still terribly sad. I'll never be able to forget Rufus. He was my first dog and I'm 67 years old. I'm wondering if I should get another to keep Franky and Oli company and join our family. What saddens me too is that our cat, Oli has been sleeping in Rufus' bed. I believe it's her way of saying goodbye. Franky, our Schnoodle, at times just lies there, eyes opened, very quietly and stares off into space with a very sad look in his eyes. I know they are both sharing in this experience.
Life really does suck right now but there is no way of backtracking to undo what has been done. Also, just feel what you have to and accept it. I believe that is part of the grieving process. I've had many other losses, people and other pets, and eventually the depth of the bad feelings lessen.
I'm very sorry for your loss also.
Peter in Toronto
Life really does suck right now but there is no way of backtracking to undo what has been done. Also, just feel what you have to and accept it. I believe that is part of the grieving process. I've had many other losses, people and other pets, and eventually the depth of the bad feelings lessen.
I'm very sorry for your loss also.
Peter in Toronto
I also just lost my sweet, sweet girl, my Honey Bunny. She had a bacterial infection that she got from my foster dog (who had whipworms). They were both being treated, but Honey was still lethargic and not herself. I had called the vet and asked to bring her in on Friday, but he said to give the meds over the weekend to work and if she still wasn't herself by Monday, he'd see her in the morning. Saturday night (really early Sunday morning), she just collapsed and died. I did do a necropsy and the doctor just called me this afternoon. It seems she had Adisons disease. I had never heard of it and I don't know why she wasn't diagnosed although the doctor tried to tell me that my vet would have had difficulty diagnosing it with the bacterial infection. Either way, I'm devastated. If I wouldn't have fostered the other dog, Honey would not have had the bacterial infection and the Adisions would have been caught (it is a disease they can live with along with medicine) or I'm pissed at my vet because he didn't catch this. Life really ***** right now.
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From your description of what happened, it does sound like it could have been either a cardiac or cerebral event, but the only way to tell for sure what it was would be to have your vet perform a necropsy (autopsy). Many people don't want to put their pet through this, after all it won't bring them back and it does cost money to have done. If you feel it would give you closure, however, contact your vet and arrange to have it done.
Again, my most sincere sympathies to you on your loss.
Ghilly