My dog died in an hour and a half, why?

[beng020]

Hi...
My dog died on Friday night after a very weird episode. I am naturally very upset but am now in the questioning stage of my grief. I was wondering, if I list what went on last week with her does anyone have any ideas as to what it could be? The vets are doing a PM but I wotn know the results for a week or so, if they can find the reason. Any ideas would be appreciated as it was so quick I am still wondering what on earth went on.

Hazel was an 8 year old English Springer Spaniel. Before we had her she belonged to a an old man who became sick so form the age of 5-7 she was very over-weight and wasn't exercised very much (her owner got sick and housebound). Her son asked me to take the do gon and so I put her on a controlled diet and she lost weight in a healthy way and i gently upped her exercise to the point of her loving a good run about every day. Strangely, Hazel was not your typical Springer. she was quiet and spent most of her days asleep. I would say she was more of a lapdog and spent her time wanting cuddles and hugs.

When I took her out with my lab she would run then lie down run and lie down etc. She could keep up the pace but would pant quite loudly after each long run.

Last week I came home to patches on the carpet where one of them had been sick (it had been eaten before I returned!). It happed 3 times. On Friday night Hazel was quieter than normal (if that could be possible) and didn't come and lay her head in my lap as usual, instead she just flopped about. At 11:30pm she looked up at me then was violently sick, she retched after being sick which struck me as unusual. It was pale lumpy sick (she hadn't had her food that night, first time ever). I took her outside where she walked around a bit then came back. Then she started panting. Again, I had nights like this before where she has pantied a litte (not been sick) but it had always stopped after half and hour or so. I would say within a year of having her it had only happened twice. During the week she had also sneezed and breathed a little like she had a blockage but it soon cleared. At 12:30am her panting got worse and she looked distressed. I am normally quite cool about dogs and their silly ways but even though it had only been an hour and it being late I called the vet. I saw her gums were pale and tonge was too and knew this wasn't right. The vet said it would take 30 mins to get to the clinic and open it up.

Hazel's breathing then got worse. I thought she had GDV (is that what its called?), the twisted gut problem. Her breathing got shallow and then i knew it was serious. I wrapped her up and put her in the back of the car. I got to the clinic opened the back up abd saw she was almost gone. I held her and then she went. She died at 1am. The vet came 10 minutes later and was shocked she had died so quickly, she felt her tummy and ruled out GDV as it wasn't swallen.

So, I am a loss. She has clearly, now I have worked out, been a bit ill all week - although she still walked well and ate until her last night. She was no more quiet than she was normally and didn't whimper or whine (even when dying). I am guessing being fat has weakend her heart and maybe it was only a matter or time.

Has anyone every experienced this before? I still can't believe she went so quickly,

Sorry to post such a down posting! I accept these things happen and its part of life and death - She had a god home and a good life so no regrets, I am just a little miffed.

Ben

[peekawho]

I am so very sorry!  Like Jaybay, I'm thinking a possible heart condition, but of course, it could be virtually anything.

I'm glad you're getting a PM done.  Its so sad when there is no answer.  I hope they find one that gives you some peace and closure.

Please let us know.  

[Jaybay]

Oh how sad!  Please don't be sorry for making a "down" post.  If you read through the archives, many people come here wanting to know why their dogs died.  I applaud your excellent attitude about it.  You're right - this is a part of life and the good thing is that she didn't appear to suffer, even through the end.  I also applaud you for having the PM done as that is the only way you will know exactly what happened.  Since you have another dog, it's important to rule out a communicable disease or even a poison.

I tend to suspect a heart problem based on her behavior over the past year, but I'm no vet.  Please let us know the results of the PM, and know we're all thinking of you and Hazel now.  :-)