My Sweet Dobie Died Of Bloat Day After Halloween Options

[sweetmissy]

Warning...very long...

First, a little history on my baby who passed away.

Missy, an eight year old dobie who was to turn 9 in January belonged to my uncle in NY. Back in November of 2005 right before Thanksgiving, my uncle had passed away when he was home alone. His wife was in a rehabilitation center. Someone found his body a week later with Missy, his companion lying beside him. The police came in and threw Missy in a shelter. I was living in CA at the time and right away, I searched all of the shelters on line in that area to find Missy. I found her and called to see if she was still available. I jumped on a plane the day after Thanksgiving, rented a truck and drove to the shelter to get her. She was a mess. She was very thin and very scared. The owner at the shelter had told me that she wasn't eating the regular dog food they were giving her so they would give her table scraps. I took her back to my aunt's house and the next day jumped on a plane back to Cali.

A couple of days after I returned, she was wheezing. I called my vet and took her in right away. She had kennel cough so we gave her some medicine and she was on the road to recovery. About a month or so later, she had bouts of diarrhea and blood in her stool. I took her in right away and ended up having to take her to the emergency hospital. Her platelets were low and they really didn't know what was going on with her so they kept her for a couple of days. They sent her home with prednisone and said that she had an auto immune disorder. She was fine for a few days and then the same thing happened. I took her to the hospital again and the doctor felt that her prognosis was poor. From what I can remember, he said that again, her platelets were low and that she had pancreatitis(sp?). Something else was going on but now I can't remember for the life of me. Anyway, she pulled through and after four days I took her home and gave her the prednisone and some chemo drug for a few months. I had bloodwork taken every two weeks and finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel. She seemed like a normal dog except for her nervous and timid temperment, which btw, I thought was odd for a dobie. She came around in those three years that I had her. She wasn't afraid of strangers, she started showing some affection, she jumped on the couch, learned to use the doogie doors and got along great with my two other dogs. She adjusted well.

After about a year or so, she would have her days where she felt off. She wouldn't eat and would roam around looking uncomfortable. The vet really didn't really explain to me what he thought was going on. He told me that she might have acid stomach and that I should give her pepsid. So that's what I did. She showed the same signs as the ones I saw this past weekend. Walking around aimlessly, head down, tail down, trying to vomit, etc. She as also at the time not interested in dog food so I would bake chicken for her and mix it in with some dry kibble. Sometimes she got chopmeat but mostly chicken. I fed her chicken up until six months ago when my twins were born and I decided that she needed to get with the program. Now of course, I wish I hadn't changed the menu.

So here's my story:

On Saturday, November 1st, I woke up my usual time to feed my six month old twins. I had a vet appointment at 10am to take my Aussie Mix Buddy in for shots. Missy was up and in good spirits. My husband had fed her a small bowl of dry food and gave her two little biscuits. The water was out in the garage and she didn't really make it a habit to drink unless she was on her way to do her business outside. I returned around 11:30 and Missy was right there begging for my egg sandwich that I had picked up from dunkin donuts. She was acting totally normal. At around 12:30, my husband left to run some errands. I put the girls down for a nap at 1pm and on my way down the stairs, I saw Missy in the living room lying down. I thought it was a bit odd that she was lying on the living room floor and not on her favorite spot on the couch. Afterall, she was a total couch potato that loved her creature comforts.

I immediately thought that she was throwing up as she has at least one bout of vomiting on our rug a month. I chased her into the garage and she ran around my truck and looking sneaky as if she had done something wrong. Up until a couple of weeks ago, she was peeing and pooping behind my truck so I thought she was up to no good. She ran in the house through the doogie door and walked into her pop up tent in the laundry room. I thought this was a bit strange, but not out of the ordinary b/c when she wasn't feeling good, she used to go off somewhere for peace and quiet. I asked her if she wanted to go outside in the back and she followed me so I let her out. I glanced out a few times to see what she was up to. Our backyard is pretty big and she went over to the furthest corner of the fence and looked as if she was trying to vomit. I didn't have my glasses on and just thought she was vomiting bile. I kept looking out to see what was going on and she was in different spots of the yard lying down. She would lie down and then get up and lie down again. I didn't think anything of it. I let her in about a half hour later and she went into the laundry room. As she was walking into the room, I noticed that she had a little bit of white foam on her lip. I chalked it up to her eating grass. I've seen it before and wasn't too worried. Still, I had no reason to believe that she was in horrible pain and that death was inevitable. She was walking hunched over but she had a very nervous disposition and we had seen this walk before.

My husband returned home about two and a half hours later. He walked over to the family room and while he was talking to me, Missy came over and jumped in her favorite spot on the couch, but then jumped off after a couple of seconds. I did not hear any panting, she was not drooling, not making any noise whatsoever. Since she jumped on the couch, I thought she was back to her old self. A little while later, she was roaming around the kitchen. My husband took her out in the garage to see if she wanted to go out. He then came in and told me that her stomach looked very distended and felt really hard. I ran out and felt her stomach and it looked abnormal. I didn't remember it looking like that earlier or maybe I just didn't notice it. I immediately called the emergency hospital b/c our vet closed at noon. They told me to bring her right in and that it sounded like it could be gastric torsion. I had no idea what that was. I went out in the garage and my husband was getting ready to put her in the back of the truck. She walked over to him and her legs looked very unsteady. She then collapsed but was still with us. He picked her up and again, she did not make any noise like she was in pain. He drove off to the hospital. The hospital was about forty minutes away. I looked up gastric torsion on the internet and was horrified when I read that it was a deadly condition that needed immediate treatment. About a half hour later, he called to tell me that he made it to the hospital, but it was too late....our precious Missy was dead. I was in complete shock. I don't think I believed him until he came home without her. That was the day my heart broke in a million pieces. I felt like a part of me died with her. I am at a loss now. I don't know why this happened. She didn't eat alot nor did she drink any water. She jumped right back on the couch after she ate.

Now I sit here and blame myself for her death. I keep rehashing everything that happened that afternoon. I saw signs, but the signs I saw were no different than the signs she showed when she had an upset stomach. I wish she had done something like pant, drool or yelp because then I would have known that something was very different and I could have taken action sooner. If I had acted sooner, then she may be alive today. I have been crying nonstop since it happened. Every time I think of her which is every minute of the day, I cry. I keep blaming myself. She was suffering and I did nothing. How could I not see that those were signs of pain? I feel awful. Not to mention, as soon as the girls were born, my attention went right to them and not the dogs. I feel like I neglected her and my other two and some days I wasn't so nice to them. When they barked, I told them to shut up because I didn't want them to wake the babies. That's horrible. How could I talk to my beloved animals like that? I wish she never left me. I can feel her presence and every time I look at her favorite spot on the couch, I lose it. It was so sudden. I can't believe she's gone. My husband is sad but he is worried about me. He keeps telling me that I have to snap out of it. I have my family to take care of and my two other dogs. I know that some day they will also leave me but hopefully not like this. Bloat is a terrible disease and I wish I had learned more about it before it took my precious baby away. Thank you all for listening to my story. I really appreciate it. My heart goes out to all of you who have lost a beloved pet or pets. It's an awful feeling and people don't understand what we are going through unless they are pet owners. I am so happy that I found this site.

Kristin

[LoveThem]

I am so sorry to hear about Missy. I recently learned about bloat doing the same thing to another pet here. See the Topic Starter Luv4myjake in this Section..the title is about "lost my boy Jake".
I did some research about bloat when I read her story and put a link to a site that talks about it and also has comments from others who had it happen to them and they talk about how fast things happen. Maybe reading her story and checking out the link will help you. Sometimes it does help to read how helpless this disease has made others feel. The last posting there is from me with the link and is dated Oct 11, 2008. Hope it helps you.

As far as such a terrible experience...I can understand how devastated you are feeling. No matter what happens to our babies....we always feel we should have done more..even when it is something we know nothing about.

The best way I can cope with the losses is I believe if we are meant to help them stay longer...that happens. But if it is truly their time to leave us, we will be helpless...it will be a battle we will not win..whether it is cancer, kidney disease, bloat, ....there are so many...diseases.

My last boy, Little Guy, was an emergency..he could not breathe...the vet said his gums were blue and put him in an oxygen tent. He was 16 1/2 and could not be put through exploratory surgeries, etc. But I never expected to see him drag himself into our living room..half conscious. It does tear your heart out to see them like this.

But what happens to them is truly not our fault. You did so much for Missy, including rescuing her from that shelter. You just simply did the best you were allowed to do. At times, it worked and helped her. This time (Their final time)...it was not meant to be. It is the cruelest fate of all
when we are helpless because control of their destiny is taken away from us and from the vets.
People who love and care so much for these babies as we all do....always do our best to help them...WHEN we are allowed to do so..by knowing what to do or by our vet being able to help.
When it is their time to go....things are just set in motion beyond our control...and while we react as best we can....we truly will be helpless to prevent these tragedies.

This is a good place to come and write your thoughts and your feelings. There are many here who are listening and we all know the pain of losing such a precious baby...and we all wish there had been more we could have done to keep them with us longer.

Not long before my boy had his emergency I was talking to the vet on the phone about him and while I was talking, he had just gotten out of his litter box and started vomiting so violently I got scared and told her about it. She was not concerned once I said he stopped after a couple of violent motions and did not suggest bringing him in. I read on the Internet later that it is a sign of something wrong when an animal vomits after doing a BM but figured my vet knew if it was something to be concerned about. It was thought he had cancer in his system which would take surgery to see maybe. No x-rays showed anything. Blood tests were normal. There is only so much we can oversee and the professional has to help. But when it is their time to go and it always does come....it will happen no matter what.

I am so sorry what you went through. What I read on that link I was talking about was just so terribly devastating. Things happening ultra fast and barely or no warning.

You did the best you were allowed (by fate) to do. Please allow yourself some peace. Missy is at peace now. You gave her many wonderful years but we never ever win that final battle that always...always shows up whenever fate pleases.

Take care...I am glad you have your family, your husband and your other dogs. Even though such a tragedy can make you feel as if you are alone....I am sure they are very concerned also as they all love you very much. Missy is at peace and doing what all Angels do....listen and watch over you all....forever.

Hugs and peace
Judy

[hope2heal]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your dear Missy. My dog Patsy also had been in remission from an auto immune illness (Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia). I always was on top of things but in her last couple of months I believe I failed her miserably. I was going through a very stressful time in my life and I think I dropped the ball. I had seen changes in her and I failed to get them further checked out. Something kept telling me something wasn't right but I just kept dismissing it--like you said, your dog didn't yelp or scream, neither had mine. I can't help but believe now that she had stones, cancer, or a blockage and I have been sick over this.

Before Patsy was diagnosed with her auto immune illness, in late summer of 06, she had an event where one evening after dinner she went outside and was frantically running around and eating grass. It was scary. I took her to the vet and she seemed to think I was overreacting, just said Patsy was fine. There were lots of times later that Patsy would eat grass (and dirt); none of the vets I took her to ever seemed concerned; one said they thought she looked like she had Cattle dog in her and perhaps she just liked to graze. I later learned that dogs will also do this when they are feeling nauseated. Patsy ate lots of grass and dirt in her last couple weeks of life. She had done this so many times before that I failed to make the connection.

I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am to hear of your loss, and that others feel guilt too. I hope that you will be able to heal and have peace in your heart. It sounds like you did the best you could with the information you had; your dog was truly loved.

hope2heal