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HEALTHY 5 yo Greyhound dies with NO symptoms
My wife n I have had several greyhound rescue dogs, This one was EXRTA special. Very affectionate, aware, playful . I am disabled with cardiac disease and a broken back neck , my wife MS. So this dog was very special to us, keeping out spirits up as we fought off, 15 heart procedures, MS relapses, and most recently possible Stomach cancer. I was released from the hospital last Thursday and had a ENDOSCOPY procedure the next day. I awoke at 3 am unable to sleep and as normal LUNA followed me into the back room ( she was my shadow).
She was fine even jumping n yelling at me for a treat n fresh water, laughing at her antic's I obliged.
Soon she had to go out side...like any GREYHOUND she locked onto a squirrel and she was out the door at 40 MPH. Soon she returned and came in n laid down starring at me knowing something was wrong with me. Soon she got up n vomited WHITE FOAMY spit...I let her out so she could get some air.....When she returned I heard her crying , whimpering.... .I noticed her front legs were fine but she kept falling to her right. So I helped her in and soon I checked her for possible hurt legs or back...NOTHING but the FOAM around her mouth worsened n her panting became to fast. I called the Emergency Vet telling them to be ready with help as I can not lift her and she is going down fast. AS I struggled to lift 75 lbs of dead weight I finally got her in the back of SUV. I proceeded to the VET, but on the way SHE WAS SCREAMING....she could not see me so I pulled over 4 times in 1 miles to comfort her.
They met me at the door n rushed her in but all blood test etc were coming back normal.... she was stable at say 6'15 am and even spoke of this NEUROLOGICAL SWITCH that sometimes turns on n off as if nothing happened.
I laid with her on the floor for 30 minutes calming her...Eventually she was nearly herself....putting her paw on my shoulder as I per her head...I thought WHAT THE ???? and felt after my procedure she would be fine n we could take her home...WRONG.
As soon as I got home the phone rang... on the way for an MRI she stopped breathing but re-started on her own, The DOC said he thought it was NEUROLOGICAL and said 50-50 she'll be ok..... as I got ready for my appointment they called again she is now in distress with a fever of 104 n going in and out of consciousness and now told me 25% of full recovery her asked if I wanted to STOP treatment and of course I said IS SHE SUFFERING??? He assured me she was not so I said FIX HER !!!! Now I had to leave and was caught between cancelling my procedure and being with her as she was by my side so often when I was very sick , but knew my symptoms were bad N I needed to have this done. On the way the phone rang.... she was no shutting down and they had her in a BATH OF ICE with a fever around 108 -110..... as I arrived at the hospital The phone rang and I knew.....this is it. he now said she was shutting down, bleeding out of all orifices and now suffering.
I will NOT allow her to suffer n though just 5 4 days prior made the decision to have them STOP everything n put her down...she did not deserve to suffer. After my procedure the docs wanted me to stay but I told them either release me or I'll walk out. With promise I would not drive go right to bed we left to say GOODBYE.... The sight was terrible...She was already in rigamortis,, you could still see blood around her nose,, teeth n ears. WE cried knowing we would never be the same in that empty house which was as much hers as ours, We took some of her GOLDEN HAIR, n said goodbye...but nothing is the same my heart has been in constant angina, my already degenerated back was in extreme pain and my wife on the verge of an MS relapse which she as just put on Social Security because of it's progression. Since then we have cried to sleep each night and can not even pick up all her toys around the yard. It haunts us because she was SO healthy, happy, loving, and especially smart.
We need to know what happened and when I asked the VET all he could say is maybe something NEUROLOGICAL OR AN ANEURISM or BRAIN TUMOR. He never got a chance to diagnose her as her rapid decent kept him chasing the next symptom. WE are trying but with my health failing, my wife is inconsolable and I need to tell her what happened.... for some closure...though nothing will bring her back we are frozen, sitting her eve now is painful as she would normally get up with me n lay at my feet but instead I lay her alone sending you this letter. CAN you PLEASE help us make sense of losing the healthiest Greyhound we ever had ( we have had 4
others two passed early two lasted past 11) LUNA was free of all ailments and filled with LOVE, playfulness n compassion, she was so good she was to become a THERAPY DOG.....now she is gone, and out hearts broken.
Please any kind of explanation that makes sense would help.... but nothing will bring her back.
broken hearted,
Luna's dad...........
She was fine even jumping n yelling at me for a treat n fresh water, laughing at her antic's I obliged.
Soon she had to go out side...like any GREYHOUND she locked onto a squirrel and she was out the door at 40 MPH. Soon she returned and came in n laid down starring at me knowing something was wrong with me. Soon she got up n vomited WHITE FOAMY spit...I let her out so she could get some air.....When she returned I heard her crying , whimpering.... .I noticed her front legs were fine but she kept falling to her right. So I helped her in and soon I checked her for possible hurt legs or back...NOTHING but the FOAM around her mouth worsened n her panting became to fast. I called the Emergency Vet telling them to be ready with help as I can not lift her and she is going down fast. AS I struggled to lift 75 lbs of dead weight I finally got her in the back of SUV. I proceeded to the VET, but on the way SHE WAS SCREAMING....she could not see me so I pulled over 4 times in 1 miles to comfort her.
They met me at the door n rushed her in but all blood test etc were coming back normal.... she was stable at say 6'15 am and even spoke of this NEUROLOGICAL SWITCH that sometimes turns on n off as if nothing happened.
I laid with her on the floor for 30 minutes calming her...Eventually she was nearly herself....putting her paw on my shoulder as I per her head...I thought WHAT THE ???? and felt after my procedure she would be fine n we could take her home...WRONG.
As soon as I got home the phone rang... on the way for an MRI she stopped breathing but re-started on her own, The DOC said he thought it was NEUROLOGICAL and said 50-50 she'll be ok..... as I got ready for my appointment they called again she is now in distress with a fever of 104 n going in and out of consciousness and now told me 25% of full recovery her asked if I wanted to STOP treatment and of course I said IS SHE SUFFERING??? He assured me she was not so I said FIX HER !!!! Now I had to leave and was caught between cancelling my procedure and being with her as she was by my side so often when I was very sick , but knew my symptoms were bad N I needed to have this done. On the way the phone rang.... she was no shutting down and they had her in a BATH OF ICE with a fever around 108 -110..... as I arrived at the hospital The phone rang and I knew.....this is it. he now said she was shutting down, bleeding out of all orifices and now suffering.
I will NOT allow her to suffer n though just 5 4 days prior made the decision to have them STOP everything n put her down...she did not deserve to suffer. After my procedure the docs wanted me to stay but I told them either release me or I'll walk out. With promise I would not drive go right to bed we left to say GOODBYE.... The sight was terrible...She was already in rigamortis,, you could still see blood around her nose,, teeth n ears. WE cried knowing we would never be the same in that empty house which was as much hers as ours, We took some of her GOLDEN HAIR, n said goodbye...but nothing is the same my heart has been in constant angina, my already degenerated back was in extreme pain and my wife on the verge of an MS relapse which she as just put on Social Security because of it's progression. Since then we have cried to sleep each night and can not even pick up all her toys around the yard. It haunts us because she was SO healthy, happy, loving, and especially smart.
We need to know what happened and when I asked the VET all he could say is maybe something NEUROLOGICAL OR AN ANEURISM or BRAIN TUMOR. He never got a chance to diagnose her as her rapid decent kept him chasing the next symptom. WE are trying but with my health failing, my wife is inconsolable and I need to tell her what happened.... for some closure...though nothing will bring her back we are frozen, sitting her eve now is painful as she would normally get up with me n lay at my feet but instead I lay her alone sending you this letter. CAN you PLEASE help us make sense of losing the healthiest Greyhound we ever had ( we have had 4
others two passed early two lasted past 11) LUNA was free of all ailments and filled with LOVE, playfulness n compassion, she was so good she was to become a THERAPY DOG.....now she is gone, and out hearts broken.
Please any kind of explanation that makes sense would help.... but nothing will bring her back.
broken hearted,
Luna's dad...........
Thank you both for your kind words.
We could not get past with all the bad news about my health my wife was in tears for days...to make it worse...I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer MAY 1...So with her b-da y the next day I surprised her with a PERFECTLY HEALTHY 18 month old ALL BLACK GREYHOUND
SHE cried but at least this time they were tears of joy.... still the thought of me having cancer has her so upset I am afraid of her having a relapse of her disease.
Your kind words are very appreciated.
MYLUNA
We could not get past with all the bad news about my health my wife was in tears for days...to make it worse...I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer MAY 1...So with her b-da y the next day I surprised her with a PERFECTLY HEALTHY 18 month old ALL BLACK GREYHOUND
SHE cried but at least this time they were tears of joy.... still the thought of me having cancer has her so upset I am afraid of her having a relapse of her disease.
Your kind words are very appreciated.
MYLUNA
I am so sorry to read this and am sorry for your loss. It sounds like Luna was a great companion to you. I also had a Grey, that looked very similar to your Luna. We list him a while back to Lymphoma. We flunked Fostering 101 and adopted him. We also helped with rescue,fostering and "Greysitting" for a number of years. They can all be so different but that Grey scream is unmistakeable!!
I wish you had some answers. My first thought was poisoning due to the symptoms you described including the High fever, which in itself, could have caused seizures. Not sure what blood tests the Vet ran. If there was no chance she got into poison at your home or in your yard, makes me wonder if she but that squirrel and the squirrel had ingested poison. I have heard several stories over the years of dogs getting poisoned from eating poisoned rodents/animals.
Yes, have seen or heard of Grey's dying young and old. Two young ones that I know of were perfectly fine one minute and gone very unexpectedly. Owners had necropsies done and one was due to, basically, heart failure and the other was from a brain aneurysm.
I had Shelties for years. Fed my dogs before work one day, all ate and were fine. Came home from work to find one female down and in shock. Rushed to the Vet but she passed. I had a necropsy done to find she had a liver tumor that had burst, never saw any indication she was I'll with anything and she was a younger dog.
Sometimes, we just have to accept the fact there may be no answers.
I think Luna was pretty lucky to have been in a living home for the time she was, off the track and out of the kennels.
Wish I could be of more help but hope she is with all the other Grey's running free now. Hugs.
I wish you had some answers. My first thought was poisoning due to the symptoms you described including the High fever, which in itself, could have caused seizures. Not sure what blood tests the Vet ran. If there was no chance she got into poison at your home or in your yard, makes me wonder if she but that squirrel and the squirrel had ingested poison. I have heard several stories over the years of dogs getting poisoned from eating poisoned rodents/animals.
Yes, have seen or heard of Grey's dying young and old. Two young ones that I know of were perfectly fine one minute and gone very unexpectedly. Owners had necropsies done and one was due to, basically, heart failure and the other was from a brain aneurysm.
I had Shelties for years. Fed my dogs before work one day, all ate and were fine. Came home from work to find one female down and in shock. Rushed to the Vet but she passed. I had a necropsy done to find she had a liver tumor that had burst, never saw any indication she was I'll with anything and she was a younger dog.
Sometimes, we just have to accept the fact there may be no answers.
I think Luna was pretty lucky to have been in a living home for the time she was, off the track and out of the kennels.
Wish I could be of more help but hope she is with all the other Grey's running free now. Hugs.
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