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.

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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?

Or did you mean ‘pug’?

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

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.

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

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.

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. 🐾 🐾.

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. 💐