12 Year Old Golden Retriever...Died Unexpectedly...Time of Death Question?

[CindyTx]

My sweet 12 year old Golden Retriever died three days ago.  I am so heartbroken.  I don't know why or when she died and I am dealing with a great deal of guilt that I was not at home when she died.  It might help me if I could figure out the approximate time she died.

When we found her, Chelsey's body was cold (except her belly was still somewhat warm) and rigor mortis was beginning to set in.  We examined her body for injuries or blood and we could find none.  She weighed about 70 pounds.  How long would it take for her body to get cold?  How long before rigor mortis sets in?  I am guessing about 3-4 hours?     Also...it was about 75 degrees outside and humid and she was found on the porch in the shade under the outdoor sofa.

In regard to cause...we just are not sure.  We noticed that she was not quite herself the night before (she didn't want to come inside)...and in the morning she had a difficult time standing up from the lying position to go outside (she slept inside our house every night).  In the hours that I last saw her...she was sleeping on our outdoor sofa.  This particular day was very busy for me since it was my kids' last day of school before the Christmas break.  They had Christmas parties at their schools so I was not at home to tend to her during her final hours.  My husband found her at 630 pm in a resting position under the couch she had been lying on.  I last saw her sleeping on the couch at about 1130AM.  I think she was gone by 3 pm.  Does this sound right?

Please help me resolve her approximate time of death.  It would help me a great deal.

Thanks so much!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I am so sorry about your loss, and at such a sad time!  Please be assured that you are correct about the time or her passing.  

Did you happen to get a look at the color of her tongue or gums.  If they were pale she could have died from a ruptured abdominal tumor, such as a hemagiosarcoma.  A paler than normal tongue or gums would have been the only sign.  Her passing would not have been painful if this were the case, or the case of heart failure.  I know someone mentioned toxins or foreign bodies, you would have seen some evidence of such had that been the case.

12 years of age is a good life span for a Golden.  Golden's are now the number one cancer dog in the country, and therefore their life expectancies are dropping into the age 10 or so range.  There are many possibilities of a natural death, and there would have been nothing you could have done for her.  I think that you are blessed with having had a wonderful  companion all these years, and without your having to make the sad decision to put her to sleep had she had an inoperable cancer.

[donnaMc]

Sorry for your loss.  I also had a golden retriever that I lost several years ago.  Her name was Hannah, and we rescued her from an abusive situtation.  She was an angel.  One night she just layed down in the floor & took her last breath.  We will never forget her.  Losing her was like losing a member of the family.  I cried for 3 days.
Time helps heal, but you will never forget the love they give.
Don't feel guilty, just remember all the good times!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

To Mara2222,   I am very sorry for your loss.

[mara2222]

Last night our golden retriever collasped and died.  He was not feeling well that week and blood tests showed that he had an infection.  He was on antibiotics.  We were with him when he died.  My 10 year old had to witness this terrifiying experience. He collasped on the floor and had shallow breathing.  Then he took one big breath and died.  His eyes got really wide.  I tried to start his heart but could not.  Don't feel guilty even if you were there  probably was nothing you could do.  He got stiff in about 45 minutes. We loved Buddy more than you can ever imagine.  It was a great loss for our whole family.  I don't ever regret gettting him.

[kathy0556]

I am so sorry for your loss. I just loss my Golden who was to be 10 in April on February 2, 2008 in what is sounding like the same manner.  My husband was with him , had fed him, and was walking him and in the seconds my husband turned to scoop his business he turned around and "Cupid" had collapsed and was shaking and was limp and dead in about 5 more seconds. We still cannot believe it! The reason I am telling you is that there was probably nothing you could have done. My husband scooped him up and a neighbor opened the van door and off he drove to the vet as he called me, but he was not breathing and we just have to find comfort in that he passed so quickly with no pain.
We gave him all our love and attention as did our 23 and 18 yr. old for the last 9+ years and he will always be with us. My 23 yr. old seems to be taking it the hardest as every day she would call from her apt and I would put the phone to his ear as I did that morning and he would run
circles around her! Be glad he went in the comfort of your home and for the joy and time you all had!   Take Care, Kathy

[Michaela824]

I am so sorry for your loss.  I am dealing with the same thing. We lost our golden retriever Luke on christmas day. He would have been 8 in March. It started out like a normal christmas morning kids opened their gifts and Luke was all excited like he usually is. We played with him alittle with his new toys and he ate his favorite treat he seem fine. My husband even played fetch with him and he was able to run. I to have been dealing with guilt because, we went to my sisters house for dinner that day and we left him home. I didn't pay to much attention to him the couple of hours before we left because I was getting ready. But the one thing I did notice was how sad he looked right before we left I remembering feeling so bad for leaving him. He sometimes did look sad when we would leave but this was the saddest look I ever saw on him. But I thought he knows hes not coming with us so thats why he looked that way He had a way of knowing when we where going to take him withus and when we weren't.  
So when we came back we found him on the floor not breathing. We took him right away to the emergency vet hospital even though we knew he was gone.  They said he died from hemangiosarcoma he had a tumor in his heart , she also said this cancer is very common in goldens and it happens suddenly they just collapse and die.  And she said most dogs don't show any signs or symptoms.  And even if we would have know he had this there wouldn't have been anything they could have done for him.
But like you I just felt so bad because he was alone when he died and looked so sad when we left . I can't get it out of head. I feel so bad that he spent his last hours home alone and he may have been sad and not feeling well. We did also find vomit on the floor.
After reading about this cancer I found out if the dog does so any signs it is pale gums,they may vomit , have weakness and they can look depressed.  So I think thats why he had a sad look on his face.  I wished I would have looked at him more closely before I left but I didn't because it was hard enough leaving him I didn't want to make it worse but now I wish I did maybe I would have seen there was something wrong with him and I wouldn't have left. I just wanted to tell you my story because the same thing happened to my dog. The only comfort I have is he was lying where he usually does when he is waiting for us to come home so there was a good chance he was sleeping .
I  miss him so much the house is not the same with out him.
You where fortunate that you had your dog for 12 years, My dogs life was cut way to short. I am in so much shock that he is gone because I thought he was a healthy dog and we were going to have him around for atleast another 4 years.  Some people have told me that dogs would rather die alone.  You can take some comfort in that maybe thats why your dog didn't want to come inside.  Also like you it probaby would have been worse for us and our kids if we were home.
I think we feel bad for not being with them because we as humans usually prefer not to be alone when we die. I hope dogs feel different. Because the thought of him missing us and wishing we were there with him just kills me. I'm trying not to think about that ,just all the goods years we had with him. At least they didn't suffer and their life was good up until the end so take comfort in that.
Michaela

[CindyTx]

Dear Dr. Cheng,

Thank you so much for responding to my question.  I am coming to terms with Chelsey's unexpected passing.  I will forever miss her...but you are right...we have so many wonderful memories of our dog during the last 12 years.  My sadness is gradually being replaced with fond memories of our family member who happened to be our dog.  

I did look at Chelsey's tongue and and mouth and everything appeared normal.  I looked her over thoroughly as did my husband and my dad who later helped take her body away so my boys would not see her dead (I took my boys with me for a drive while my dad and husband tended to Chelsey's body).  I asked them to look her over for any "foul play" since my initial reaction was that someone must have done something to her.  My husband and dad both said her body seemed normal.  I  later remembered she did show signs of not feeling well...they were just very subtle.

My boys are doing much better with their grief as well.  We will be getting another dog when the time is right and when we find the right "match" for our family.  Chelsey will never be replaced...but I think another dog will help my boys move on with their first experience with the death of a loved one.

Thanks again for your response.  It is so much appreciated.  Have a nice holiday season!

[CindyTx]

Thanks you for your post and your kind words.  

I don't think she was poisoned.  But I did catch her chewing up a Nerf football about 2 or 3 days before her death.  Maybe she consumed some.  But I would guess that stuff is non-toxic since it is a kids toy.  Both our neighbors are decent people and there is no one who is behind our back fence (it is secured property)...so poisoning is unlikely.  I have been told that Golden Retrievers can pass suddenly of heart attacks or sneaky cancer tumors.  I am thinking it was her heart.

I came home briefly at 3 pm and I did not see her in the yard or sleeping on the couch as she was earlier in the day.  So I am thinking she was already dead or dying.  And I am feeling guilty for not checking on her more closely at that time.  I have three boys and usually they play in the backyard after school on Wednesdays before they go to karate.  But on this day...we had more errands to run and we didn't come home as usual.  So part of me feels so bad we didn't stick to our usual schedule.  But, I am coming around to realize that if we had found her alive but sick and dying 1.) it would have been entirely traumatic for my boys; and 2.)  I don't know what I could have done to help her.  She weighed about 70 lbs. and I could not have lifted her alone.  My husband works a good 1 1/2 hrs away from our house.   Plus I would still need to manage the grief my boys would have immediately been experiencing if they saw Chelsey in a state of dying (they are 8, 5, and 3 years old)...I don't think I could handle my boys and a sick 70 lb. dog by myself.  

So I am trying to accept that she went peacefully and that if I had come home by 3 pm as usual, she would have already been dead.  That is why I am trying to estimate her time of death.

We don't have other pets...and it feels like our family is incomplete without her.  I miss her so much.  

Don't take your pets for granted!  You just never know.  Although my dog was 12 years old...I guess I assumed she would always be there with our family.

I hope she knows how much I love her.

--Cindy

[Jaybay]

I am so sorry!  How traumatic for you and your family, particularly at this time of year.  :-(  I think you've figured out a decent estimate of time of death, although your vet could give you a more accurate picture.  Why not just give his office a call?  I understand the feelings of guilt, but try not to let that overwhelm you.  Death is a part of life, and with no warning at all, you can't expect to have been by her side however much you wanted to be.

One thing that bothers me about this case is her behavior the night before, and the how quickly she died.  It may have been a case of poisoning, either accidental or deliberate.  Are there any toxic plants like oleander or sago palms with seed pods in your yard?  Access to anti-freeze?  Has anyone else in your neighborhood lost animals lately under suspicious circumstances?  If you have other dogs or pets, you might do a sweep of your property to make certain there are no toxins within reach.  Hang in there and try to remember all the good times with your dog.  Those far outweigh her last hours.  :-)