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.

[Maytodecember]

What a shock. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Possibly an undetected heart problem or possibly related to the brachy face. You gave her a good home, you gave her lots of love.
The vet who had to put my youngish cat to sleep said it’s the quality of life that matters to an animal, not the longevity. 💐

[SheldonesqueTheBstard]

It sounds silly but I always felt better when their ashes were ‘home’.

The person who put that wee packet of forgetmenots and the poem along with her did a lovely thing.

Remember her with smiles in your heart. BD will be your reminder that love goes on. 🐾 🐾.

[user1471538283]

You have given them a lovely home!

I know it doesnt seem real and its hard to reconcile but there must have been something undiagnosed. There was nothing you could have done.

I'm so sorry.

[BuyorRent]

Got GD’s ashes yesterday along with this lovely pack of forget me not seeds with a poem❤

[BuyorRent]

A ‘jug’ is a pug, jack russel cross.

GD definitely favoured the pug side, much flatter face, big snorer, more tubby (we used to call her our little sausage roll!)
BD by comparison is much leaner, more athletic, doesn’t have much of a flat face etc. I wonder if that’s a part of it.

You are all right though and have allowed me to reflect on it in a different light today. She was loved, in her bed and likely didn’t suffer much, if at all. Thank you all for that. Definitely going to get an extra check for BD now though.

[Blossomtoes]

So sorry @BuyorRent, losing a much loved dog breaks your heart. It sounds as if she had a lovely life with you. 💐

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Or did you mean ‘pug’?

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

I’m so sorry, what an awful shock for you, and how very sad.
You did your very best for her, though - you couldn’t have done any more.
But what’s a ‘jug’ dog, please?

[LiesDoNotBecomeUs]

Sorry you lost her. It sounds as if she had a great life with you and enjoyed it to the last minute.

Our childhood spaniel always seemed healthy and fit but had a heart condition ( he was 'a pink-puffer') and died in just the same way as your pug. We were with him when it happened.

He had a few days being reluctant to walk (so didn't) and was perhaps puffing a bit more than usual.

With no other warning, he suddenly pooped and died while lying quietly on my mother's foot. A trained medic just happened to be sitting there too - but there was nothing that could be done.

Our little dog went out like a light. He did not seem to suffer at all.
We still miss him -30 years later- but remember him with much joy.
May it be so for you.

[tenyrsago]

@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.

yes this. It’s a great way to go. And it’s good that BD was there as he’ll understand she’s dead and not be wondering where she’s gone etc. sorry for your loss, it’s so hard

[Floralnomad]

Sorry for your loss @BuyorRent , lovely way to go for the dog even if her life was too short . If I were you I’d have the other dog checked for heart issues just in case . If it were mine I wouldn’t be having a PM as ultimately it will make little difference knowing exactly what happened and PMs are a dreadful desecration of a body ( just my view)

[Isaidnoalready]

Perhaps an extra vet check for the sibling? my friend had two sudden deaths in a litter and tested the third to make sure there wasn't something congenital going on fortunately the answer was no two deaths across two seperate houses was surprisingly a coincidence

[BuyorRent]

Thank you everyone and sorry for all your losses.
The children have written her a card and drawn her pictures, I do think she knew how loved she was, especially by my oldest, she kind of became ‘his’ dog.

@TheHideAndSeekingHill Thank you for your kind words. That’s really interesting about letting animals know about their companions passing. I was so worried for BD as they’ve spent every minute together for nearly 6 years, but he seems relatively unfazed by it today. I know it sounds cheesy but I’m glad she had her brother with her at the end and she wasn’t alone. I think BD had some time to come to terms with it and that gives me comfort.

[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.

[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.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

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

[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

[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. ❤️🌈

[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

[Bellyups]

Had she been running before?

[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.

[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

[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. 💐

[leccybill]

Sorry for your loss. Run free, lovely girl x

[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.