dogs death

[circley15]

My yorkie died at the groomers. The groomer said when she went to get him out of the cage to stat grooming that he was dead. He had been in the cage for nearly 6hrs and had already had his bath. I am wanting to know if it was natural causes or is she not telling me the truth and he fell off the table? The reason I am asking this is his face on one side looked flat and his neck was floppy when I got home with him and was putting him in a different box to bury him. He was stiff on the body, but his head flopped around like his neck was broken. When rigor mortis sets in does it not include the neck?

[tonyb286]

Hi. It's very unfortunate that this occurred while you weren't with him, but I think there's every possibility it would have occurred regardless of you being there or not, from the heart issues you've described. Don't beat yourself up over it. We cannot be with our dogs every minute of the day. You did your best for him and that's all any of us can do.

Having lost your husband earlier in the year, this double-blow must be causing you enormous distress. I'm hoping you have a good friend, relative or colleague to support you through this very difficult time. My condolences are truly heartfelt.

Tony

[circley15]

I went today to check with the vet that he was taken to. She said his temp was 109 and his body was warm. She asked the groomer if it was hot in there and she said no. I was told he was gasping when the groomer took him across the drive to the vet, but had no heart beat when the vet checked him. My female yorkie has always been put in the same cage. They were never out of site from each other. The groomer said she went in about 20 min before and both Rowdy and Cricket were sitting up and then she went back to get him to groom and he was dead. I guess I will never know what caused him to die. He did have some fluid on his heart and his heart was rounding. About two mos prior he was given a shot of lasix and I was going to go get some pills that day and start him back on it. He seemed to get choked a lot like he was sucking in fluid in his nose and could hardly swallow, then would get a drink and be okay. the vet does not give them water in the cages or at all. I will always blame myself for taking him knowing he would be there 6hrs. All the vets I have spoken with can't figure out the high temp.I am just lost without him. My husband died March 24th and now my Rowdy, so I am always emotional.

[tonyb286]

Hi. I honestly can't explain why the neck would be relaxed while the rest of the body had stiffened (as with rigor mortis). I agree with Margot, it's certainly worth going to question the vet. He may be able to answer some of your questions.

Tony

[Margot49]

How devastating!  I can't add much more then tony said.  Yes, if groomers are busy, they will often put wet dogs in cages and many actually use dryers that will attach to the cage to dry the dogs, or start the process.
Unless you have a ne rosy done, you just may not get a definitive answer. Did you check with the Vet they took him to?
So very sorry for your loss.  

[circley15]

Why did his head flop around when I picked him up to bury him if his body was stiff? This is why I thought maybe he had fell and broke his neck. She said she took him over to the vet that is across the street and they couldn't tell what he died from. I am blaming myself for leaving him that long. I should have told her I would bring him back at another time so he wouldn't have to stay so long. They do wash them and put them back in the cage until ready to be groomed. I am not sure about water in the cages and he needed water all the time. He would have been 12 in Nov. I am just wondering about the head moving if the neck area also get rigor mortis.