What killed my dog?

[Meliss1019]

My 2 and 1/2 year old Staf terrier died last week.  She was spayed, up to date on all shots, and had never had any health problems.  She was 100% normal on Sunday, then somewhat lethargic on Monday.  She started having VERY bloody urination on Monday night.  We saw the vet on Tuesday morning and he thought it may be a bladder infection and put her on some antibiotics.  She refused to eat or drink anything, layed on the couch all day, unmoving,  and by Tuesday night could barely walk.  I got her to dring some water with a turkey baster, but she threw it up within 5 minutes or so.  There was no blood in the vomit.  We called the vet on Wednesday night and he said that her bloodwork showed no signs of kidney or liver problems.  We knew she was dying at that point.  We woke up Thursday morning to find her very yellow- eyes, skin, etc.  We took her to a different vet to see if there was any hope.  She said that putting her down would be the best way to go at that point.  The first vet had metioned poisoning, but we are with her all the time, and I've turned my house upside-down, and come up with nothing.  I also have 3 cats and another dog, who are all healthy.  I'm at a loss and would like to know if I'm missing something.  Is there something laying around that could kill my other pets?  Is this my fault?  Anything advice would help me sleep at night and stop racking my brain.  Thanks- Melissa

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

Your story is very sad and I am sorry to say that I am at a loss to be able to give you a definative answer as  to what happened to your poor dog.  I must say that I don't believe that you are in any way at fault for what happened.  

When you mentioned urinating blood I thought that perhaps your pet had gotten into rat poisoning. A common rat poison can cause bleeding out at any orifice, so  you would probably have seen bruising (which is bleeding under the skin), and bloody nose's, bloody stool, and bloody vomiting.  Another possibility is anti-freeze (ethylene glycol) toxicity.  This kind of poisoning is very insidious,  a bit of anti-freeze can drip on the garage floor or driveway and a dog or cat can lick it up and develop kidney failure.  Ethylene glycol tastes sweet and is quite edible to cats and dogs.  Another possibility is that your dog may have gotten cancer of the liver, kidney or spleen or other abdominal organ, although it is uncommon in a younger dog it can still occur.  Additionally, some toxins work in such a way that blood work will be normal at first and blood work abnormalities will not show up until later.

Unfortunately, a post mortum would probably be the only definative way to find out for certain what happened.  

I am so sorry for you loss!

[suzi-q]

I just want to say that I am very sorry for your loss. I put my dog down last weekend and am having a difficult time with it...I hope that you find peace.  You did nothing wrong and did everything right.  

[peekawho]

We had lived in our old house for well over 2 years, and I found a small container of rat poison in the basement, from the previous owners.  Thank goodness I found it before the dogs did.  It was well hidden.  

I am so sorry for your loss.  Its horrible enough to lose a pet, and then to have it happen with no explaination.  I'm so sorry.

[Khani]

Hi,  I also lost my little Sheltie who was only 22 months old to rat poisoning.  It has been the most difficult 9 months of my life.  I know exactly how you feel.  Your explanation of what was happening with you dog does sound like rat poison effects to me but I am not an expert, it is just very similar to Koa's symptoms.  I am sorry.