my dog died out if nowhere

[jenapatterson]

Today is Saturday.  Thursday night my pug (Puglena) was her normal silly bouncing self while I cooked dinner. I put her in the kennel so not to trip over her. About 9-10 pm she vomited so I out her and our other dog outside in case she did it again as they sometimes do. When I tried to let them back in she didn't come.  I gave her another minute and then went out with the flashlight. I found her laying down on the brick walk not able to stand. I brought her in ans sat by the fire to help warm her. I don't think I ever got her paws warm. Her legs stayed cold and she just looked at me. She did make it from the bed by the fire and jump on the couch. I covered her with a towel and payed her in one. I sat next to her praying she just had a stomach irritation. She seemed lifeless like a person who had dry heaves. I was going to take her to the vet at 7 am. She never whimpered. I stayed awake till 2 am but finally dozed off. When I woke up at 4:30 am she was gone. She has also had  diarrhea which was bloody but no worms present.  I am still in shock. As far as I know there's nothing she got into such as rat poiso n. Our other dog has eaten the same food and is still ok.
Does anyone know of anything that could have caused such a quick death? It's been a couple of very sad days around here and other dog and cat know she's missing. We have wonderful memories but will miss her talking to us daily.

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't know the average life expectancy for your dog but 11 is in the upper range at least.  Still hard to take the loss of a loved one.

Thank you for taking her in, she needed rescue and you gave her that and more, love, she surely knew that.  So, she gave it back, dogs are wonderful in that way.

[jenapatterson]

Thanks Margot and Jerry. Puglena may have been 11 yrs old. We've had her for 7 and she was a rescue and they thought between 3-4 yrs old then. I did make a complete run through my yard and shed when it was daylight and did a lot of yard pruning this weekend. I was almost hoping to find a partially eaten rodent but did not. She could've eaten a bug since she's known to do that. I wasn't able to ask the neighbors about bug spraying.
We're slightly behind shot records but last year she didn't have heartworms, which was another concern. There's nothing to bring her back but just 'why' would be comforting. Right now my comfort is that we have given her a very loving home and she has brought so much joy to us for the last 7+ yrs. I'm content that she didn't suffer long and other than weakness didn't appear to be in pain. I think I'm more upset that I thought she was eating grass and when I had to get her out of the cold that she was just laying in the hard cold concrete not able to get herself up.

[Margot49]

Not too many symptoms but agree with Jerry it could be poison (plants, anti-freeze, eating a poisoned rodent). I would do a thorough inspection in and outside the house.
Some years ago, a friend called me frantic as both her dogs were having seizures (very odd) and she was at the ER with them.  They were in very bad shape and she had no answers why.  As her home backs to a field, my first suspect was they had eaten a poisoned rodent that came in the yard or a cat left.  I left and went back to her house to look at the yard and found nothing.  Then I noticed some digging marks and saw a couple of walnuts from a neighbor's tree!  Green or rancid walnuts can be poisonous.  Went back and told the Vet.  That was probably the cause.  Luckily, they both survived but you wouldn't want that Vet bill.
So sorry for your loss and hope you can come up with an answer.

[Jerry_NJ]

Very sad tale, my (and all of us) send our sympathies, my heart goes out to you and you lost dog.

You didn't say anything about the age of the dog, but from you description it sounds like the dog was not old, the dog was active.

It sure sounds like poison to me, you seem to be sure there is not inside your house (such as mouse proof  -  I use the stuff).  Then there is the question of what the dog has access to outside...and I take it there is a fence or other constraint to keep your dogs on your property.  

I think a careful inspection of you yard in full daylight to see if there is any partially eaten animal or piece of meat... in you yard.  If there is you'd have to then ask how did it get there.

I am just trying to think "out loud" and don't suggest I have any answers.

God bless and wishes for a speedy adjustment,

Jerry in NJ.