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yesterday my 11 year old maltese suddenly died...why...the doctors say they don't know.

I can't remember exactly which is awful, but my maltese is usually energetic even though she was aging and small. A year ago she had most of her teeth extracted and sometimes she would throw up either after eating too fast or after drinking water. I should've taken her to the vet- but I am just a child, living under my parents roof. we are not rich either so my  mom only takes my dog to the vet if it is an emergency. So before her death, I can't remember exactly, but she wasn't that energetic so I thought a treat would cheer her up since she wagged her tail. But as i was changing the channel, suddenly i heard her yelping as if she were choking - I wanted to take her to the vet immediately but I can't drive. so I tried to help her and then she seemed fine. But either later or the next day, for about 3 or 4 days I THINK, she was having trouble breathing, and sometimes she would make coughing sounds as if she were crying. Two days  before she passed away, I showed my mom that our dog was sick, but she said no-that shes fine. On July 23, 2011, we scheduled for an appointment but they said 2:15- my mom asked if they had an earlier time- they said no. For the past few days, my dog Angel, she could walk and pee but that day, I literally had to carry her outside and I don't know if she was able to urinate or not but I think she did. So I  noticed her breathing and coughing was getting worst so on the way, saliva kept coming out and as soon as we got there, I asked for water but she would not drink any. Then I broke down as I saw FOAM in her mouth- I remembered she looked so scared and confused as the nurse said it was probably HEAT STROKE - so they took her back. Ten or Fifteen mins. pass and they call us in. I was so anxious to see her be okay - but the doctor came in alone-
she said: I'm sorry, your dog just passed away. We asked her if she was sure that it was the right dog. ANGEL we said. She asked: The white dog right ? We were devestated...especially me- I was like yelling and my whole body went numb. My mom asked what the COD was- her answer: We don't know. As soon as we took her back she let go and she died. Now, me and my mom were suspicious that Angel dyed from a shock from the cold water - but we were too confused and sad to even ask such a question. My mom of course kept asking why they don't know - and she just kept saying that it was probably something internal..like cancer and also since she was 11 it couldve been her age. Also, she said that Angel coughed blood out before she died.

i dont know if she said this only to cheer us up , but you know how they say that dogs hide before dying? well she said this to us:

Angel was probably holding on for you guys because she loved you because as soon as we took her to the back, she was struggling and she just let go.

(i am crying as i write this)


What awes me is that they DID wet her, since they brought her in slightly wet.
what if .. is all i keep asking myself.........
She said we could do an autopsy, but my parents said no since it is expensive.

I decided to cremate her.

When she brought Angel out, lying on the blanket all wet as if she were sleeping, she felt so cold and I just could not believe it. My baby- dead.

I can't help but feel guilty that it is because of the treat that I gave her...
The fact that it couldve been stuck- so thats what caused her to die.
I feel like I shouldnt be alive and that I should kill myself.

But I've been researching online and there was something about maltese's getting mouth disease- like i said, my dog's teeeth were not in good condition and I remember before her death, I tried wiping her teeth with a q-tip.. along with some tartar, there was also blood and she reacted to it since it probably hurt or felt sensitive. But I'm not sure if this had anything to do with her death.


She just breathed abnormally as if she were gasping for air- she lost her appetite- became weak- and sometimes gaged as if something were coming out - only nothing did.

Did I kill my dog..? I need closure but obviously I'm not getting any so I can't help but blame myself for my sweet angel's death.

I AM NOOO animal expert espcially when it comes to illnesses..but, if it were true that my maltese, who was 11- had some kind of internal illness, wouldn't the symptoms have occured earlier? It's odd and since I AM CONTRADICTING myself, i cannot remember 1OO% if before the night I gave her the treat, if she was also breathing weirdly or not. Part of me says yes, then the other part says hell no - because just thinking about causing my baby's death - it hurts and it makes me feel so guilty to live.


Please help, I need some closure.


Since my dog died after struggling for a couple of days - and the fact that she decided she wanted to end her life then, i wonder if its God's fate. Because WHY is it that the day my mom decides to take her to the vet, her condition gets worse and she dies???????????.


God sure does give and take away .. but I wasn't ready for this yet.

Any coping advice?

I try to think of positive memories we had, but all that pops up in my head is the sound of her coughing for air and her heavy odd breathing...also the last moment I held her and looked into her eyes, not knowing that would be the last time I would get to hold her alive - I didn't even get to say goodbye or kiss her before she died.

I can't believe this is happening.
Best Answer
675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am not a vet, and I might be wrong here, but this sounds a lot like her heart suddenly gave up. A heart attack. It might have been coming on for a few days, then suddenly went. It doesn't sound as if whatever the vets did she could have been brought back from that, and the fact that she passed away so quickly in the vet's office sounds to me like the cold water could have been the final catalyst.
They may have assumed it was heat stroke if it is hot weather where you are, and for a healthy fit dog, a dose of cold water would do no harm. But if she was on the edge of dying anyway, it could have just seized up her heart.
It could have been a blessing in a sad way. Because if she had gone on another week or more she could have suffered a lot. Heart failure is no fun.
I am no way blaming your vet. They had to make a snap decision on how to treat her, and especially as they might not have seen her for quite a while (as you say your mom won't take her to the vet unless it is something very urgent) So they may not have had a clue about her medical history, and had to do what they saw fit at the time.

Please, please do not blame yourself. I can't see how anything you did was wrong. A tiny treat wouldn't have killed her.

Bad heart problems cause breathing difficulties and coughing, sometimes gagging, among other symptoms.

I am so sorry, you must be feeling very sad to lose your girl. Let the tears flow, and remember all the joys she brought you. Find a beautiful place to scatter her ashes, and maybe lay some flowers there.
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Avatar universal
Thank u so muuch for the comforting comments; it really means a lot to me and since all of you are saying that it had nothing to do with the treat, i have some closure now to stop blaming myself. I knew that a day would come for her to leave, it was just so unexpected and
shocking. But for some reason, I wasn't angry at my mom for not taking her earlier because as a Christian, I believe God planned her death and thats why everything happened the way it did.

the thing is though, my dog Angel wasn't outside a lot so I don't know if it could be heat stroke but like u guys said- maybe  it was something with her heart because I remember placing my ear against her stomach gently- her heart was beating very fast and not normally.
I am trying to cope and I will not let guilt get to me where I take our memories for granted.

THANK YOU SO MUCH and I seriously bawled while reading the first comment.
It means a lot and God Bless u guys <3
Helpful - 0
974371 tn?1424653129
Oh, I'm so sorry to read your sad story about your little maltese.  After reading what you wrote, I agree with the others that it certainly not anything you did.  Some of us here have had a number of dogs and other pets over a number of years.  Unfortunately, we have to realize that the day will inevitably come when their lives are at an end.  Your little dog was 11 and that is getting up there in age. You have to remember that dogs age much more quickly then humans.  Some times we know when a pet is sick and can find out the cause of the illness.  Some times we never know.  A necropsy (autopsy) might have shown the cause but my guess is too that it was heart related or possibly a intestinal rupture of some kind that caused the blood. Actually, I had a little terrier mix that died very unexpectedly and showed about the same symptoms your little dog was showing.  Nothing could have been done.  Be thankful you had that time with your little dog to walk the path together for a while on this earth.  How lucky she was to be in a loving home compared to many animals that never have that special home or that love.  You need to take time to grieve the loss of your little pet but the heart will heal and you will always have those special memories.  What a lucky little dog to have had you.  
It would be long to post here, but look up the poem *The Rainbow Bridge". It always gives me comfort.
hugs to you  
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
Hi Joohee & welcome.......I Agree w/ Ginger....You did nothing wrong! I believe it sounds like Congestive Heart Failure, also...  The symptoms you described fit CHF....

Please, try to remember the good times. (Although I know it's hard)...I'm sorry for all your heartache, I hope time will heal your pain.........Take care of yourself.......Karla
Helpful - 0
1731970 tn?1328087070
HI, I think you should stop feeling guilty you loved your dog and she knew it. You didn't cause her death the biscuit would have disolved and certainly not stuck around for four days. The dog may have come out wet because they cleaned the blood off. They didn't want to upset you maybe. You didn't kiss her because you thought they could fix her. Don't blame yourself. Your dog Angel wouldn't want you to be feeling so bad. Take Care and remember you are not to blame.You loved your dog. Your dog knew it. She was old and it has been very hot. I am sending you an internet hug (((  )))) please just remember your lovely dog in the times you were happy.
Helpful - 0
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