9 Month Old Golden Retriever Died in 3 Days

[Grandma695]

My son boarded his beloved 9-month old golden retriever for 3 nights in Baltimore while visiting me in Florida this past weekend. The day my son was flying back to Baltimore he received a call from the boarder stating his dog was not his playful self & hasn't eaten in two days. When he was getting on his plane, he received a call from the boarder stating they were taking his dog to an emergency clinic because his dog was not himself. After getting off the plane, he went to the clinic and found his dog shallow breathing & very sick looking. The clinic tested for Lyme disease & the results came back negative. My son took his lethargic "friend" home at 3:00 in the morning then took him to his regular vet 9:00 the same morning. Extensive blood work & testing was done; at 5:00 PM they called my son stating they found nothing wrong and released him to go home (with 2X/day medication). My son called me at 6:45 this morning (less than 14 hours after being released) with devastating news that his dog just died. We are all so sad and confused at this loss of his best friend; my son ordered an autopsy be performed because he dropped off a loved, healthy & extremely taken care of dog for boarding and picked up his buddy near death. What can cause such a quick death in such a young, healthy golden retriever? Everyone is in shock!

[tonyb286]

Words cannot express my anger, shock and sadness, presuming the assumption that someone at the kennels did this. Where does your son live (country)? I know there are certain things your son could do in the UK about such suspicions, but not sure about USA or elsewhere. Others may offer advice if it's outside the UK. Is there a possibility this could have occurred by accident - for example, if the pup jumped up and fell over, or do the necropsy results indicate human intervention? I am just finding it so hard and horrible to think a human working at dog kennels could have done it, although I do know it's a possibility. It is very bad that the vets didn't spot this injury. They are also partly culpable, in my opinion, for unprofessionalism and lacklustre diagnosing.

I feel dreadful for your son, who must be feeling dreadfully guilty - without justification, of course. He was doing all he could to ensure his pup was going to be well looked after.

So sorry, like Lynne, I'm also rambling and venting. This kind of thing just makes me so angry.

Tony

[DarbiesMom]

Oh Dear God, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. This is horrific on many levels. Your son will find justice as the investigation will show who was working at the kennel during that time and I hope and pray they are penalized to the fullest extent of the law. I would also throw a volume of books at the heads of 2 veterinarians. There is no excuse for such a lame diagnosis, especially knowing the pup was not in the care of it's owner at the time. Absolutely Shameful! It sickens me to no end that this happens and my heart is breaking for your son, and for you...I can only imagine how you're feeling and I am rambling and venting, too, which is not helpful to you at all.

But, please know I wish you all comfort,peace and justice. You were the greatest, loving chapter in this little pup's life.

Most sincerely,
Lynne

[Grandma695]

Thank you for your kind responses to what could make a healthy 9-month old golden retriever die within 3 days. The necropsy results determined my son's beautiful dog bled to death from a broken rib that punctured his lung... otherwise he died a perfectly healthy dog. My upset son called me as soon as he received the results; he was hoping to hear something was genetically wrong, that there was nothing he could have done to prevent his buddy's death. He is beside himself finding out someone abused his baby and feels like he put his best friend in a death camp. We're all shocked in addition to being filled with grief.

My son called the police who referred him to animal control investigators. He filed a report of abuse and submitted photos/videos of his dog before & after the kennel stay. The kennel is now under investigation. (NOTE: My son's dog was one that got very excited & jumped all over the place when he saw people. They believe someone at the kennel kneed or kicked the dog to settle him down when getting him in or out of the kennel.)

We can't comprehend how someone could do this to an innocent animal AND we don't understand how this was missed by 2 doctors. My son feels he lied to his dog when he laid next to him through the night petting him and telling him everything was going to be okay. The diagnosis both vet visits came up with was that the bones in some large breed dogs experience a lot of pain from growing too fast & most likely his dog was one of them. My son was given medicine with instructions to return to the vet in a week if symptoms didn't change. His dog passed away less than 14 hours following 8 hours of testing at his vet's clinic.

I'm sorry for rambling with my thoughts & words going all over the place. Thanks again for listening.

[tonyb286]

Yes, Circovirus is certainly a possibility isn't it. I read this about it recently, which may be helpful, just for information to other dog owners:

https://www.avma.org/kb/resources/pages/circovirus-in-dogs-frequently-asked-questions.aspx

When I last checked, there was no vaccine available, which means no guard against it and little in the way of treatment. It may be a subject worth following up on a different thread to see if things have changed.

Tony

[Margot49]

How very sad and I am so sorry.
Just crossed my mind that there is a relatively new virus circulating but have had heard much lately.  It is called Circovirus.  
I hope the necropsy shows something and he gets some answers.

[tonyb286]

This is so sad and I can appreciate your son must be completely devastated. If the blood results and vet couldn't find anything, it is possible this was a neurological or cardiac problem. There is a vast array of genetic factors that could develop while a dog is quite young - and then become fatal - often without any obvious symptoms presenting themselves. It will be interesting finding out what the autopsy (necropsy) shows and I hope it offers your son some answers and some respite from the confusion, frustration and sadness he is no doubt feeling.

Tony

[bailee2007]

Sorry for his lost ...hugs.