Dog groans when lying down

[eoink33]

Hi All, for over a couple months, my 8 year old lab was groaning when lying down.At first we didnt think anything of it and thought it was him just getting old etc and once up and about he was fine and seemed normal. Then last week we took him to the VET for his annual booster and got a full check up and the VET said he was grand and that the groaning noises were nothing to worry about. 4 days later he was dead, he collapsed at home and started breathing funny, loud noises, painful ones coming from him. It started at around 1 am in the morning, he was thrown down in our back garden and was in a bad way. I was distraught and eventually at 3 am i got him to a VET who had to put him down, I am absolutely devastated and blame myself for his death. I wish i did something about the groaning earlier and got it more thoroughly checked out. The VET thinks it was a twisted stomach or maybe a burst tumour that he had. I am beside myself with guilt and am very upset. I keep seeing him on the garden in that state and me like a clown trying to talk to him and help him. I am glad we did get to a vet but wish it was earlier. SO for all of you out there with dogs with groans, maybe it is best to get the VETs to do X-RAYS or something just to double check. Indy was my dogs name, he was a stray black LAB that we took in and gave a good home to and loved him dearly and i feel like my best friend has died and left a massive broken heart . Please look after your groans and thanks for reading this post and good luck with all your pats

Eoin from Ireland

[Ghilly]

I am SO very sorry for your loss.  Our pets are such an important part of our lives and such beloved members of our families that no matter how long we have them with us, it is never long enough.

PLEASE do not beat yourself up over this.  This was nothing that you did or did not do that caused this.  MOST dogs groan as they lay down, they're just like us in that respect.  Some are more vocal than others and will make more noise, some will make less.  Some will make none.  Some will make noise sometimes and not at other times, but that doesn't mean that the times when they do make noise signify that something is amiss.

It could have been Bloat (also called Gastric Torsion with Volvulus) but the only thing that makes me think that is the timeline.  IF, however, he had been exhibiting other symptoms of Bloat, your vet should have noted those symptoms and he should have offered a surgical solution.  In a case of bloat, essentially the stomach and the spleen switch places, with the stomach flipping over on itself.  This effectively seals in the contents of the stomach leaving the dog unable to vomit and unable to move the stomach contents further down into the intestines.  Emergency surgery can untwist the stomach and, as long as there is not too much damage done to the intestine and spleen, a gastropexy (stomach is sewn to the abdominal wall) is performed to prevent it from happening again and as long as the dog makes it through the first 24 hours post-surgically, recovery is usually uneventful.

IF your vet thought that this was bloat he should have decompressed the stomach and prepared for surgery.  This is the first step toward relieving the tremendous pressure.  Had it been bloat, however, your dog would have been trying unsuccessfully (and also quite violently, I might add) to vomit, but would not have produced any vomitus, only copious amounts of foam and saliva.  In the absence of vomiting, it sounds like your dog had some type of cardiac episode.  If it was cardiac, NOTHING that you did was going to save him.  You did everything for him that you could, including taking him and releasing him from his pain and agony.  You lived up to your end of the bargain that you made with him when you took him home to live with you.  He made the deal to give you as many years as he could of joy and companionship and you, in return, promised to love him with all your heart and to never let him suffer.  You gave him the greatest gift you could, and you kept your promise to him.  You didn't let him suffer.

My wish for you is that you will be able to remember him with smiles and love and not tears.  He hasn't left you.  He's still walking beside you, you just can't see him any more.  But he will always be there.

Ghilly

[eoink33]

Hi Ghilly, Thank you so much for those lovely and kind words, i really appreciate it. He did try to vomit once and i honestly thought he was just feeling sick altho he did seem in a bit of pain, it was only when he started to groan louder and shake that i realised it was more serious than I originally though, esp as we had him at a vet 4 days prior and he got the all clear. These are awful times and i feel a big emptiness in the house, a huge loss. I lost my dad 3 years ago to a sudden heart attack and that was hard but this seems harder. I will get another soon tho as i know i have a lot more to give to these wonderful animals, thank you so much again and good luck for you always

[JanisM13]

I am so very sorry for your loss,although words bring
little comfort when a person looses a beloved,very
cherished companion.
When our Rottie started to groaning,we'd though it was
due to her elder age but come to find she had cancer in
her rear leg.( I am not saying this was the cause for your
Lab's groaning) Zena was with us for almost 2 more
years after cancer was first discovered,she had some
pain meds and her Glucosamine and Condroitin and
her "groans stopped with the pain medication( we did
NOT do surgery or chemo on her she was almost 11
when cancer was found)
Many times "groaning" have a hard time getting up or
down is due to joint issues with older age,this may have
been what your vet thought?
YOU did everything you could do to help your beloved
companion,nothing more could have been done,some-
times I regret to say,we never get complete answers
WHY terrible things happen. Again I am very sorry for
your best buddy's passing.
Jan

[eoink33]

Hi Jan

Thanks you for your knd words, they do help and much appreciated. It is a horrible time as u know and i am sorry for your loss too and hope you are getting through it or are over it. Its so raw and vivid at the mo for me, my wife and 6 yr old son. Indy was a dog that was dumped and we found him in 2007 at our front door, we took him in and cared for him and gave him a great life and we are all devastated at his untimely death.We all know it happens but we never expected it at this time, i thought we had a lot more time to go with him. All i can think about is the times i gave out to him and the way he died in the end, its like i cant think of all the great times, i suppose thats part of the grieving process. So thank you again and your word have hlped greatly, thank you

[eoink33]

Anybody have anything similar happen to them?

[LeoGirls]

I am worried about my dog as posted yesterday.  I have had blood tests done and x-Rays and she is eating well.  Pain relief hasn't stopped the moaning.  I was very sad to read what happened to your beloved dog and now am really wondering what to do.  She is 6 years old and 62 kilos which is a healthy weight for her giant breed.  I do fear that there is something serious lurking behind the groaning and maybe the best thing is to get advice from other Vets until we find the cause?
It is really helpful reading other comments and I genuinely feel sad for those who have lost their best four legged friend and want to do what I can to help mine so I can assist her whatever the cause is.  There seems to be a division in comments between those who say groaning is normal and those who have been through dreadful experiences ending in death of their loved companion so I am finding it hard to know how to react. Any thoughts?
Thank you