Dog died suddenly last night

[BuyorRent]

I don’t know why I’m posting but I feel like I’m in a state of shock.
Last year we re homed 2 ‘jug’ dogs from a local lady who was struggling to walk them. A boy dog (BD) and girl dog (GD) from the same litter, 5 years old.
We have never had a dog before and I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen a brachycephalic breed but we didn’t want a puppy and when the opportunity arose we decided to go for it.

From day one, we all fell in love and I truly believe we have given them a good home. I work from home so they always had company, never missed a decent walk a day and their food was from Butternut, which they seemed to love.
We registered them at our local vet and they had a ‘healthy pet’ check where all was fine.

GD was definitely more ‘pug like’ with a flatter face and over bite but very active and playful.

Yesterday everything was normal. She greeted me in the morning with a wagging tail, wolfed down her breakfast (as usual) and we had a nice walk. She was her usual self during the day, no concerns. The only thing I did different was another walk. At about 5pm my son said he was going for a run, for some reason (I don’t know why to be honest) I said ‘oh take the dogs with you’. We normally only ever gave them one walk a day which they’d had already had but in all honesty, I was doing a big kitchen clear out and they were a bit under my feet so I think that’s why I suggested it.
My son came back after about 10 minutes and said GD didn’t want to go and kept turning back home. I laughed because she could be quite stubborn! She was panting quite a bit though.

After tea, I needed to go to the shop so we went out, leaving the dogs in the kitchen with their bed and plenty of water. We were gone 1.5 hours max. When we got home, I went into the kitchen and was greeted by BD, I looked over at the bed and GD was on it and I just thought she must be tired. Then I noticed poo on the bed (they are house trained) so I went over and put my hand on her and knew immediately she had died.

I just feel completely devastated. I can’t understand what happened. Was it a heart attack from the extra walk? Did she eat something poisonous? The guilt I feel is immense. I feel like I failed her. I can’t stop thinking about her and what her final moments were like. I also can’t reconcile the seemingly ‘healthy’ dog that I left in the kitchen with the one I returned to an hour or so later. I also feel sad for BD that he was there.
BD is fine, maybe a bit more cuddly than normal but fine. Of course now I’m worrying something will happen to him.

I rang the vet and discussed the possibility of a post mortem but in not so many words she said it’s just one of those things, which I guess it is. My husband has been away with work but is home later today so we will discuss.

Like I said, don’t know why I’m posting. Just can’t stop thinking about my lovely dog.

[Antarcticant]

I'm so sorry. I know what this is like - my dog died suddenly at home two years ago. He was old but it was a dreadful shock as he hadn't been visibly unwell at all.

I'm not a vet but for what it's worth I don't think an extra walk can have been the reason. It must have been something 'waiting to happen'. My dog died straight after a walk too. We comforted ourselves that he was at home, in a happy place, and a quick death was better for him than a long drawn out deterioration.

We still miss him and speak of him daily, but two years on we remember the happy times.

[TheHideAndSeekingHill]

It's really not your fault. Sounds like poor GD had a great life with you, some dogs like some people just have things wrong with their heart etc and suddenly die. It must have been an awful shock. It's normal to mourn dogs, they are family members really.

[ParanoidGynodroid]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know how much I love my dog, so can understand your shock and sadness.
You are a great, caring dog owner, and this is not at all your fault. 💐

[FAQs]

Was she used to running, flat faced dogs shouldn’t be a running companion and panting and runny poo is a potential sign of heat exhaustion, however flat faced are also prone to heart disease etc, so sorry for your loss.

[cookiecreammmpie]

Sorry OP. I would be devastated. It won't be anything you did. My neighbour had a pug and found it dead under a Bush in the garden when it had previously been healthy. I've heard from other people too about this happening with this type of dog and similar.

[uncomfortablydumb53]

I'm so very sorry for your sudden loss it's not your fault You've given them both a happy life filled with love and you've had their health checked regularly so I know your vet said " it's just one of those things"
Medically it does happen and GD may have had a hidden problem you couldn't possibly have known

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe]

I am so sorry about your dog, OP, it's awful when they die and nothing will ease that for you at the moment.

Your dogs had an extra walk; I don't know of any dogs who don't love a walk so rather than thinking that the walk caused her death, focus on the walk being something that she loved - and she had that.

[Cazs818]

So sorry for your loss , I lost my beautiful St. Bernard in her sleep when she was only 3

said good night as normal 10/11 pm wake up at 4 for some reason went let her out to find her unresponsive

my vets where very dismissive and said it was one of those things , not knowing if it was something I missed or did is heartbreaking

[KentuckyDerbyandJoan]

What a shock for you, so sorry for your loss.

[CormoranStrike]

I’m so sorry.

we lost our BD very suddenly. I itch hindsight in his final day he didn’t want to walk, was panting more.

that evening he just slowed down in front of our eyes, nothing to put our finger on, then lay down and died.

we didn’t do a post mortem, but agreed with the vet’s diagnoses of heart failure.

he wasn’t as young as yours but the signs were v similar.

[RunningFromInsanity]

If she defecated next to where she lay then it would suggest a sudden death such as a heart attack.

A quick death in her beloved home, comfy bed and with her brother near is not a bad way to go.

[JustJoinedRightNow]

I’m so sorry OP

[Shouldertocryon1]

We lost our 3 year old collie due to complications caused by epilepsy a couple of weeks ago. All very sudden. Have had dogs all my adult life but this was the worst. Sending virtual hugs

[WireSkills]

You poor thing...

The poo thing would possibly suggest heart failure but I very much doubt a second walk will have done it. As a breed type they're known for having heart and respiratory issues, so it's more than likely just something that went unnoticed before.

Please don't beat yourself up about it (easier said than done, I know). Focus on the fact that GD had a wonderful life with you and was loved.

[leccybill]

Sorry for your loss. Run free, lovely girl x

[FVFrog]

So sorry for your loss. Your gave your dog a wonderful life. And a quick death with good health and normal life up until that point is the best way to go. 💐

[SheldonesqueTheBstard]

I am so sorry for your loss.

My rescue girl died suddenly years ago and I’ve never quite got over it. The guilt I feel is still huge because I just didn’t realise she was dying and I wasn’t with her.

I try to console myself that she died knowing a loving owner, a loving home and the best life she could have had after her horrible start to life.

I know it hurts and I’m sorry 🐾 🐾 x

[SheldonesqueTheBstard]

And it is the best way for the BD to know your GD has died. They know. They feel their loss but they know they’ve gone so don’t search for them if that makes sense.

[Bellyups]

Had she been running before?

[BuyorRent]

Thank you so much for all your kind words, I really appreciate them. Dogs really do become part of the family don’t they? I miss her so much, she really was the sweetest thing. I just keep thinking of all the ‘what ifs’ was there anything I missed? I hope so much she wasn’t in any pain.

I was worried for BD last night as they have slept together every night since they were born. I let him sleep in my bed and he seems fine today, enjoying all the extra attention, we’ve not stopped cuddling him today!

Re the running thing, should have clarified… son is only 11 and has a medical condition that requires daily physio so we encourage a ‘run’ a day as part of that, really it’s just a jog in the fields in front of our house, nothing strenuous!
Anyway, GD wouldn’t walk with him yesterday, let alone run so he brought her back. Despite usually being active she was panting so I think that could have been a sign.

Thanks again for your lovely words. I’ll hug BD all that tighter

[GrilledWatermelon]

I'm so sorry, that must be very hard. I'd agree with other posters that it was probably an undiagnosed heart problem, but being at home somewhere comfortable and familiar is not a bad way to go at all.

Don't be hard on yourself, you're a loving and responsible owner who wanted the best life for them. It could happen to any dog any time - my stepson's 9 year old spaniel seemed off-colour recently and he felt bad having to leave her for a few hours (with their other dog). He rushed home at lunchtime to check on her and she'd slipped away. ❤️🌈

[DomesticShortHair]

“From day one, we all fell in love and I truly believe we have given them a good home.”

To be honest, that’s all that really counts.

I’m very sorry for your loss too, though the fact she’s left such a big hole, while awful, is another sign that you did a really good job for her. You should try and take comfort from that. X

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

I'm so sorry for your heartbreaking loss of your beautiful friend.

[diddl]

What a shock.

I'm sure if she could have chosen a way to go that would have been it.

I wouldn't have thought that you did anything wrong.

Dwelling on it won't help although it's understandable that you are.

[TheHideAndSeekingHill]

This is the loveliest, most wholesome thread.

Just wanted to add to what a previous poster said, experienced animal people always let pets know when one of their companions has died. BD obviously knew in this case, but for example in situations where an animal has been put down at the vets many in my family (farmers and animal lovers) would give the other dogs/cats a chance to see them and gently sniff them afterwards, so they know where they are and what's happened. I always assume that a quick sniff gives a dog (with their amazing noses) more info than we'd probably get from a post-mortem, so if anything he probably understands what happened to his sister better than you ever will. It's really sad but as others have said you provided her with a wonderful life and you couldn't have done anything more.