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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog has just suddenly died!

61 replies

ChooseAnotherUsername · 31/07/2016 00:04

Regular poster but have NC for this as I don't want it tainting my usual username as I'm sure you can appreciate. As the title says, my beloved old Rottie, Kai, just died unexpecedly an hour ago and I just need to talk it through.

He was looking peaky yesterday morning, as though he was in pain, so I took him straight to the vet. He needed help walking and as expected his spondylosis in his spine was starting to affect him. The vets did some blood work, which showed he was a bit anaemic, and also did x-rays and a scan, which confirmed his spondylosis was now severe. They put him on a Aqupharm 11 Hartmans solution drip (I'm not sure why), gave him Comfortan and Metacam, and by 7pm he was OK to bring home. He was prescribed 100mg of Tramadol twice daily and 600mg of Gabapentin twice daily, the first doses he took at 11pm last night.

This morning he was groggy and uncoordinated but I was warned this would be a possible side effect of the drug so I wasn't overly concerned. But I had to coax him to eat his breakfast and that wasn't like him, and he didn't want anything to eat for the rest of the day which was a worry. He had a good drink of water though. He had his first doses at 8am and the 2nd at 7.30pm. He started to get even more sedated throughout the day so I phoned the emergency vet for advice. They said some dogs are really knocked out with the drugs so to try not to worry. But he got worse so I called them back a few hours later, by which time he was so sedated I couldn't get him to move at all. The vet put my mind at rest but suggested I see my vet tomorrow (they have a very brief Sunday surgery thankfully) to look at possibly adjusting the dose.

Then it all went downhill and at 10pm Kai started to make noises, like he was aggitated, but he stopped when I stroked him and talked to him. Then at 10.30pm he made half a dozen gasps and then stopped breathing. That's it. My beloved old dog just died in my arms for reasons I don't know and I'm completely shocked. Was it the drugs? I was looking online today at dosages and 1200mg of Gabapentin is high, but I have to trust my vet. Sorry, I'm rambling. Just had to offload.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChooseAnotherUsername · 31/07/2016 01:09

Crumbs Janus, so sorry about your dog. It is a shock when they seem like they're doing OK then suddenly go isn't it.

OP posts:
Janus · 31/07/2016 01:28

Thank you, it was a shock but actually we've had a couple of dogs since and strangely it was actually lovely to smooth him and hug him and 'let him go'. We have 2 now, oldest is 11 next month, and I so hope she goes the same way, but I could already cry thinking about it! Dogs are part of the family and it's horrible when they go, I do feel for you.

Original poster
ChooseAnotherUsername · 31/07/2016 01:45

I know what you mean about crying just thinking about them dying, even when they're well. I'd shed a few tears over Kai for months just because he was old, so obviously in the last phase of his life.

OP posts:
VulpesVulpes · 31/07/2016 01:56

So sorry to hear about your loss here. I lost a very much beloved cat very suddenly last year so I know how you feel. Please take solace in the fact that you were there for him when he passed.

tabulahrasa · 31/07/2016 07:11

The dosage for gabapentin is per dose...so he wasn't in 1200mg he was on 600mg.

Mine has been on 500mg before, three times a day, he's a bit lighter though.

The tramadol dose isn't big either, mine is usually given twice that.

tabulahrasa · 31/07/2016 07:14

Oh god...and I'm really sorry for your loss, I meant to put that, I just got caught up thinking about dosages.

TeaRexit · 31/07/2016 07:19

Flowers Im sorry about your boy x

dudsville · 31/07/2016 07:26

How awful. I hope the time alone helps you. I'll want the same when the time comes. I hope the vet can give any reassurances you need to help you during this time and that there aren't any further concerns to complicate your grief.

Bubble2bubble · 31/07/2016 07:51

Goodness, what a shock for you, so sorry :(

Lonecatwithkitten · 31/07/2016 08:18

Tramadol is towards the bottom end of the spectrum for a Rottie and the Gaba was a pretty normal dose. Sometimes the presenting signs are merely masking a more sinister problem and this is what I would be suspicious of in your dogs case.
It sounds like you are a kind,caring owner who gave a rescue dog a super home that they wouldn't have otherwise hadFlowers.

exWifebeginsat40 · 31/07/2016 10:01

so sorry for your loss. I had a rottie years ago who we lost when he was 2. he was the best dog I've ever had and I'm so excited for getting another one when we move later this year.

you were with him at the end. he knew how much you loved him and he loved you for it. I hope the loss gets easier for you to bear.

Hoppinggreen · 31/07/2016 12:50

I'm sorry for your loss .
In one way it's good that he died in your arms at home, I hate taking pets to the vets for their " final" visit. We found a neighbours elderly cat dead in its favourite place on a warm metal manhole outside our house once. DD went to stroke him as usual and we found he had died - it was a good way for him to go.

DiscordiaVanDiemen · 31/07/2016 13:46

So, so sorry Flowers

Wordsaremything · 31/07/2016 18:47

So very very sorry. How utterly traumatic. I was thinking, if you didn't want him lying there overnight, I'm sure the emergency vet would look after his body for you . I have checked out these things with my own vet as my own ancient girl is nearing the end and I wanted to know what the practicalities were.

You're being very brave and I absolutely get the need to grieve in private.

Original poster
ChooseAnotherUsername · 01/08/2016 16:16

Thank you everyone for your comments. My local vet had a clinic yesterday morning so I went there to have a chat with them. They were wonderful and I was able to chat with a nurse and a vet which helped enourmously. The vet double checked the drug doseages and they were fine; the upper limit for Gabapentin is 2640mg (dog doses are higher than humans due to metabolism differences) so he was nowhere near overdose, and the Tramadol was fine, so I'm happy with that. As Lonecatwithkitten suggested, it seems there was something sinister going on with Kai that was masked, and it suddenly ovewhelmed him whilst he was coincidentally being treated for spondylosis. The vet said it could have been cancer, or maybe dilated cardiomyopathy, but all we know for sure is that he wasn't regenerating red blood cells for reasons unknown. I suggested an autopsy but he'd been dead too long, so I will never know what killed him.

It was strangely nice having him around after he'd died as I managed to say a longer goodbye than I've had with my dogs before who have been PTS and taken away straight after. The pet crematorium staff collected him earlier today so that's done, and I'm currently trying to arrange to donate his left-over food to a rescue centre. Although it was a shock for me I feel it was the best ending he could've had and I take great comfort at that.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChooseAnotherUsername · 01/08/2016 16:19

Here he is, bless him, taken a couple of months ago. That was his spot on the sofa which he loved because it gave him a great view of the garden. Looks like he's watching something interesting here Smile

My dog has just suddenly died!
OP posts:
trevortrevorslatterfry · 01/08/2016 16:23

Flowers so sorry OP. What a lovely picture of your gorgeous boy.

msrisotto · 01/08/2016 16:29

Sorry for your loss choose. They really do make special place for themselves in our hearts don't they?

TeaRexit · 01/08/2016 16:29

Beautiful boy x

Hoolit · 01/08/2016 17:04

Sorry for your loss, he has a gorgeous face! We had two rotties growing up and they were fantastic dogs.

Owllady · 01/08/2016 17:11

He looked lovely :)
I've had one die at home and it was horrible. She was fine and had a massive seizure and had to be pts (at home) it went from a normal day to a horrible day iykwim. You are bound to be in shock, I know I was. Be kind to yourself xxx

HonniBee · 01/08/2016 19:02

Sorry for your loss. Flowers

Shizzlestix · 01/08/2016 19:38

13 is a good age for a Rott, which is sod all help, sorry. I sympathise hugely, I lost one of mine at 7 and it was bloody awful.

I would query the Gabapentin dosage, there's a small animal vet over on Horse and Hound called Aru. I'm sure she won't mind you messaging her about the dosage.

Look after yourself, I know none owners think it's mad how badly the death of a pet affects us, but I think I was depressed for ages afterwards.

Wordsaremything · 01/08/2016 22:00

What a noble lovely boy. Take care of yourself X

RoosterCogburn · 01/08/2016 22:08

What an absolute beauty, he really has the most gorgeous face - sorry for your loss.