What has just happened to my elderly Labrador

[leekandpotsoup]

He's been suffering from neuropathy for a few years. It's got to the point where we very often have to lift his back end up and get him balanced, as he can't get up himself. He's happy, wags his tail, loves his food, doesn't seem to be in pain or stressed and is sociable and well liked in our area

Tonight he seemed to collapse, then rolled onto his side with his legs sticking up and did a big wee - he's normally a very clean dog. He's fine now - for him, he's lying at my feet and has eaten some dog but scouts

So sorry Leekandpotsoup, it's so heartbreaking and such a traumatic shock. I too lost my dog this week after her back legs collapsed and it's very difficult to bear. I am hoping that time will heal the pain for you.

Oh I'm sorry. Sounds like you gave him the very best end though. IME that will be comfort in the future.

Vestibular attack/episode?

@leekandpotsoup

Sad to say we’ve lost him this morning. He'd taken a decline and the vet thought he’d got kidney and/ or liver problems as well as the neuropathy. He lost the use of both legs. V sad.

He was such a big character and everyone loved him and he gave so much love.

I’m really sorry, should have read through the thread.

Run free boy x

So sorry about your pooch. I know mine is in borrowed time and I can’t think of our home without her 😞

@leekandpotsoup I'm so very sorry. It is a terrible business, we all here probably know how you are feeling. It is the worst pain.

If you can carry on reading please know that in a few days/weeks/months/years - whenever the time might be - that rut confusion/guilt/anger/grief you are feeling won't last and you will only ever feel love and thanks (to your darling boy) in your heart. Thanks for all he gave to you and you will understand the thanks he felt for you in his last moments.

Lots and lots of love 💕

So sorry for your loss, OP.

So sorry for your loss. Losing your beloved dog is traumatic It’s been three years now and I still miss my old girl . We had a dog free year where I grieved and missed her immeasurably and then we filled the dog shaped hole in our lives. I could never replace her but adore the girl we have now. I hope you are okay .

Thank you for your lovely comments. I'm sorry I've not come back to post. We both feel so shellshocked by the loss of our lovely cheeky soppy black lab. I keep thinking he's there next to me

I can't help wondering what happened to him on Wednesday evening when he had a "funny turn" he collapsed and rolled onto his side and wet himself and from then on he wasn't himself - he was panting heavily, looking stressed wouldn't eat or drink and couldn't walk, we shuffled and carried him from the kitchen onto his bed with us in the living room. Someone on here asked me if his gums were pale and initially I thought they were ok but later I realised they were very pale to the extent that at first I thought he'd got a piece of white paper stuck in his mouth.

We stayed with him all night - and he didn't show any improvement. I noticed that he'd done a poo on his bed too. We rang the vets as soon as they opened in the morning and they told us to come in.

The vet examined him and said his abdomen was swollen which probably indicated kidney and/or liver damage. This would explain him yelping when I accidentally touched him in that area a few days before. All this combined with the neuropathy which by then was in both back legs quite badly affecting his walking and ability to get himself up or down without our help.

We all agreed it was time for him to go, and even up to that point he licked my face and wagged his tail. He died peacefully thankfully

Because of covid it felt much worse as we had to stay in the car park and the vet and nurse took him and examined him. We were then allowed to be with him inside for the injection.

He was a happy loving boy - everyone knew him and the kids in our street loved him as he was so gentle and easy going with them.

But I can't help wondering what happened when he had that "funny turn" did something inside him "go" or rupture, did he have a seizure or what? Was he in pain?
I'll probably never know but I keep wondering

I’m so sorry OP. Maybe some kind of fit or stroke. I very much doubt he was in lots of pain or he would have let you know. I am so sorry for your loss. Hoping as time goes by you can focus on all the wonderful memories you have of him.

I'm sorry for your loss. You probably won't ever really know . Animals can have strokes or mini strokes where they can have a strange turn and then deeply recover , or as others have said a for of some sort, a neurological episode.

Not deeply - seemly recover *