11 yr. old Golden died suddenly, what was it?

[sprgvle]

He had been fine, ate his breakfast with his housemate golden, at 6 AM as usual, I decided to go back to bed for a bit. He woke me, I thought he was dreaming, called to him saying, "wake up, your dreaming, it's okay." Then I heard him again, kicking against the bed. I got up and went to him, he didn't get up, I called to him, he rolled his eyes up to me to look at me and wagged his tail. I think that was the last he knew I was there.  He began breathing fairly rapidly, had pooped, (which I know is what happens with a seizure) , but didn't move, couldn't even lift his head up. He did not have a history of seizures.
     I rode with him in the back, talking to him, all the way. He never really came around, his front legs straightened out a couple times with his neck arching back, as though going aganal, once tucking his head into his chest. I thought we lost him a couple times because it appeared he wasn't breathing, then he'd begin again. We took him immediately to the treatment area, put him on IV's and oxygen. His temp was normal, but his nose & mouth felt so cold. Took x-rays, no cancer anywhere, everything looked normal except his heart was slightly larger and round, no fluids around it or anywhere else. His bloodwork was unremarkable.  The blood was hard to get because his bloodpressure was so low, (he was on the blood pressure machine) He died on the table, his blood pressure never returned to normal, he never came out of whatever it was. What took my sweet boy so suddenly? We know it wasn't heartworm, the 4DX had been done fairly recently.

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

I am very sorry for your sad loss!

I think that there was a good chance that he may have had a brain tumor.  A brain tumor could only be diagnosed with an MRI or CT scan and not be visible on  X-Rays or ultrasound.  A brain tumor could cause seizures with no other abnormalities.  Other causes of seizures would show up in the blood, as blood abnormalities, and these include: toxins,  glucose abnormalities, or chemical abnormalities and some others.

Since his bloodwork and X-Rays were also unremarkable than it probably was a brain tumor.  Of course, to be definative a post-mortum would have to be performed.

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

I lost my wolf to brain cancer.  I know how devastating it can be...

[sprgvle]

Thank you so much for your thoughts. What a love he was, we sure do miss him. He will be in our hearts for always.