concerned about my dog's death

[marlamous]

I had a beautiful 13 yr old pit/chow mix.  She was in good health, had recently been to the vet & had blood work done.  the vet told us whatever we were doing to continue doing it that Shady was in good health.  On Oct. 15th my husband let the dogs out of the garage to go to the bathroom then he got the bowls put dry food in them & brought them in the house to prepare.  We add cooked brown rice (with carrots & peas) and a little canned food.  Shady did not come back in the garage.  She loved to eat so this was very unusual.  It was still very dark so I turned on all the spot lights (we live in the country on almost 3 acres).  I walked around the house calling her name & blowing the dog whistle (she was hard of hearing) when I came around the side of our house I heard heavy breathing.  I stopped to see where the sound was coming from & I looked down.  Shady was laying on her side breathing heavy.  she tongue was hanging out.  I called my husband.  He picked her up & we placed her on a bath towel to pick her up (she weighed about 55 lbs).  We placed her in the back of my SUV.  I ran in the house to change clothes to take her to the vet when my husband came in & said she was dead.  I ran back outside & saw her move.  I petted her & talked to her & she took a few final breaths several seconds between breaths & then she was gone.  I am very devastated & have no answers.  I worry because she was part pitbull that someone may have given her something.  I have read recently on the internet about killing pits bulls during the Halloween time.  We just wanted her to rest in peace so my husband & I wrapped her in a blanket with her ball (she loved to run after a ball) and buried her under an oak tree & our blackberry bushes.  I hope no one poisoned my dog.  She was the sweetest dog we have (we still have 2 others) and loved all people.  This is a major loss for me.  My husband thinks she had a stroke or heart attack.  Can anyone tell me from the symptoms what this sounds like?

[skydnsr]

She could have had a stroke.  Dogs don't generally have heart attacks, but they do have strokes, and her symptoms fit that.  A stroke is sudden, and it can happen to a seemingly healthy dog,especially an older dog.  It is something that would not have been due to anyone's action or inaction.  I'm sorry for your loss.

[angeleyes43506]

dont know hun i just lost my 11 year old beagle a week ago she was throwing really bad and the next day she died i have no idea what happened i know she wasnt poisioned bc she was an inside dog i feel ur loss as i am going thru the same thing its not easy but sometimes we miss signs that something is wrong and we dont know until its 2 late they are a part of our family