Aa
unexpected death of my dog
my dog was her lively self this day but when i returned from my bike ride dhe was dead on the floor, she had vomited , pood and weed. i was wondering what could of caused this unexpected death as she had no symptoms of being ill or anything.
She was a 9year old staffordshire bull terrier.
She was a 9year old staffordshire bull terrier.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It has been a sad couple of days on Medhelp! I am terribly sorry for the death of your pet. I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier myself and I know how horribly sad I would feel at his unexpected death.
Could you please supply some answers to the following questions so that I may be able to give a more detailed answer?
1. How long was your bike ride?
2. Could your dog go outside unsupervised?
3. Did your dog have access to garbage, and other non-food items, chocolate, or raisins?
4. Do you have neighbors or others that had access to your dog from inside or out?
5. Was your dog up to date on vaccines, and was your dog on heartworm preventative?
6. Had your dog been examined recently, and could you list anything that was found to be abnormal, no matter how trivial?
There are also some more questions below, listed informally.
When any mammal dies they will automatically release the contents of their bowels and urinary bladder, since in death there is no longer any power controlling the anal and urethral sphincters, but they do not usually vomit.
Since it was so sudden, could she have ingested a toxin or chemical, chocolate, raisins or grapes, or a dead carcass of an infected animal while you were gone? Did you apply any new flea or tick product? Did you give her any medication of any kind? Ingestion of a toxic substance could even have occurred several hours prior to seeing symptoms.
The general possibilities of sudden death are: ingestion of a toxin, or ingestion of something that could have caused a severe allergic reaction resulting in an anaphylactic reaction, heart disease resulting in heart failure, or a tumor in the abdomen. There are many less likely causes also. The only way to find out definitively what the cause of death was is to have your dog's body necropsied (an animal autopsy); if not, I can only speculate. However, if you give me more details I will try and help further.
Could you please supply some answers to the following questions so that I may be able to give a more detailed answer?
1. How long was your bike ride?
2. Could your dog go outside unsupervised?
3. Did your dog have access to garbage, and other non-food items, chocolate, or raisins?
4. Do you have neighbors or others that had access to your dog from inside or out?
5. Was your dog up to date on vaccines, and was your dog on heartworm preventative?
6. Had your dog been examined recently, and could you list anything that was found to be abnormal, no matter how trivial?
There are also some more questions below, listed informally.
When any mammal dies they will automatically release the contents of their bowels and urinary bladder, since in death there is no longer any power controlling the anal and urethral sphincters, but they do not usually vomit.
Since it was so sudden, could she have ingested a toxin or chemical, chocolate, raisins or grapes, or a dead carcass of an infected animal while you were gone? Did you apply any new flea or tick product? Did you give her any medication of any kind? Ingestion of a toxic substance could even have occurred several hours prior to seeing symptoms.
The general possibilities of sudden death are: ingestion of a toxin, or ingestion of something that could have caused a severe allergic reaction resulting in an anaphylactic reaction, heart disease resulting in heart failure, or a tumor in the abdomen. There are many less likely causes also. The only way to find out definitively what the cause of death was is to have your dog's body necropsied (an animal autopsy); if not, I can only speculate. However, if you give me more details I will try and help further.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If she did not have access to any toxin or harmful substance than it must have been a failure of a organ, or a tumor.
Heart disease is a strong possibility because it can result in sudden death, without any previous symptoms. Prior to the heart failing, there could have been a bout of nausea and vomiting. Her autonomic nervous system would empty her stomach during a case like this, because it is the bodies' way of relieving pressure on the diaphragm (from the contents of the stomach) to further relieve pressure in the chest, or she could have simply been nauseous prior to death; which would explain the vomiting.
If there was only a small amount of vomit, it may not have been vomiting at all. It could have been post-mortem release of the stomach contents that occurs with the relaxing of the esophageal sphincters; and this could occur with any disease process, including heart disease.
Heart failure can occur from heartworm disease, a hereditary predisposition or congenital heart problem, tumor in the heart, as well as many other disease processes.
Another possible cause of death is hemangiosarcoma, or other tumor in the abdomen. A tumor of the liver or the spleen (liver hemangiosarcoma or splenic hemangiosarcoma) could have burst in the abdomen. This could also cause sudden death with out prior symptoms. In this case your dog's gums and tongue would be very pale, though.
As I wrote in the previous post this is all speculation. It would be best to have a necropsy performed for a definitive answer as to cause of death.
Heart disease is a strong possibility because it can result in sudden death, without any previous symptoms. Prior to the heart failing, there could have been a bout of nausea and vomiting. Her autonomic nervous system would empty her stomach during a case like this, because it is the bodies' way of relieving pressure on the diaphragm (from the contents of the stomach) to further relieve pressure in the chest, or she could have simply been nauseous prior to death; which would explain the vomiting.
If there was only a small amount of vomit, it may not have been vomiting at all. It could have been post-mortem release of the stomach contents that occurs with the relaxing of the esophageal sphincters; and this could occur with any disease process, including heart disease.
Heart failure can occur from heartworm disease, a hereditary predisposition or congenital heart problem, tumor in the heart, as well as many other disease processes.
Another possible cause of death is hemangiosarcoma, or other tumor in the abdomen. A tumor of the liver or the spleen (liver hemangiosarcoma or splenic hemangiosarcoma) could have burst in the abdomen. This could also cause sudden death with out prior symptoms. In this case your dog's gums and tongue would be very pale, though.
As I wrote in the previous post this is all speculation. It would be best to have a necropsy performed for a definitive answer as to cause of death.
thanks for`your answer and no turner was locked in the house she had no access to anything harmfull.
My bike ride was around 1hr and a half she hadnt been recently checked but she was fit and healthy.
she had some gravey & chips for dinner which she loved and ate/ them all of the time, i have another staffy who is 6 month older than turner he is 9yr 6 month turner was 9yr 1 month.nobody had access to my house while i was out everything seemed just normal as always.
My bike ride was around 1hr and a half she hadnt been recently checked but she was fit and healthy.
she had some gravey & chips for dinner which she loved and ate/ them all of the time, i have another staffy who is 6 month older than turner he is 9yr 6 month turner was 9yr 1 month.nobody had access to my house while i was out everything seemed just normal as always.
thanks for your concern and i am sorry for your loss, i really hope dr cheng can help as its very upsetting not knowing what happend even more that i wasnt there with her,
I'm so sorry, Linzi. I just lost a kitten today. I'm sure Dr. Cheng will be in soon to help you.
You are reading content posted in the Animal Health - General Forum
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Has your pet ever swallowed your prescription medicine? Vet tech Thomas Dock explores the top 10 meds that harm pets and what you can do to prevent a tragedy from happening.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
