Long post...sudden death of young dog

[One Girl In All The World]

This is a bit of word vomit...sorry.

I posted here a few months back because we were adopting a young (16 months now)  border collie mix and needed harness recs. We did adopt the pup, whom we named Rosie, and she was the most amazing dog you could possibly ask for. Calm with my children, quick to learn, loved to play, not too mischievous. She was absolutely meant to be a part of our family.

A few days ago, my husband and I awoke around 4 am to find that she had gotten sick -  a bit of vomit and normal looking poop - in our hall way. We called the e-vet and described her symptoms - there was no blood in her vomit or poop, or on her at all, no diarrhea - and they said to watch her. A little while later, she started trying to move but without the use of her back legs. At first, it looked like she was just rolling a bit like she would do normally - onto her back to sleep. But we realized that no, she was purposefully not moving her back legs. Before we could react - calling the e-vet back or just taking her in - her body failed. I realized suddenly that she was not breathing, and my husband rushed her off to the e-vet that is near our home, but of course, at that point there was nothing to be done.  She passed little more than an hour after we realized she was ill.

Without diagnostics the vet was at a loss, and we declined an autopsy because we couldn't stomach the thought of putting our precious baby through that without being sure that we would have answers. Nothing I've googled gives any clue, except maybe a heart attack or some other similar event. While I wish we had more answers, I don't think anything could be done as fast as she declined, and I am trying to at least focus on the fact that she was with her family who loved her. 

 I don't really expect anyone to have any answers or anything. This has just been one of the most traumatic experiences I think I've ever been through. My entire family is just devastated by the loss.

[jm1982]

I'm so sorry. I'm not a reg on this board, but i wanted to offer my condolences.

[mcmel]

I'm so sorry how horrible.

[cmeon]

How awful- I'm so sorry for your family. Sudden, traumatic deaths are so terrible to go through- you're left wondering if you missed something, not having answers, having that visual burned into your mind.

Thank you for giving her a family to love her- I hope you all get to a better place about the experience and loss soon. She was beautiful, and obviously knew happiness with you!

[Deleted]

I'm so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful dog and clearly very loved.

To me it sounds like she may have had a severe seizure. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.

[One Girl In All The World]

Sorry for the post and run. Thank you all for your thoughts.

[christy082]

I'm so sorry for your loss. How heartbreaking. She was a beautiful dog.

[labbie]

I'm a lurker here but I wanted to offer my condolences to you and your family. How traumatic for all of you, I cannot even imagine. She was a beautiful girl. You are right in focusing on the love and happiness she experienced in her life and I hope you take comfort in the fact that she knew she was loved.

[dr.girlfriend]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. She looks like the sweetest girl. I can understand that this might take a while to come to terms with, especially with no definitive answer as to what happened. You acted exactly as you should have...it sounds like this was too sudden and catastrophic to be prevented even if it had been detected earlier.

[caz1221]

I am so sorry for your loss.  No matter how long they are with us or how old/young they are, they are part of the family. She was so lucky to have you for the time she did, and I'm sure she knew how much you loved her. Now she is running free across the bridge.

[redheadbaker]

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your Rosie.

[kelley182]

I'm so sorry. I can't imagine losing a dog so young. (

Is that her in your signature? She looks a lot like my Ollie.