Ask the Frenchie Vet - Learning About Loss
lorihuntdvm June 28th, 2008
My husband and I just recently lost our healthy Frenchie (She passed on her 5th birthday June 15, 2008).
We dropped her off at our vet around 11 am to be boarded and we received a call at 8:30 am the following morning that our dog (Poonch) was exhibiting seizure like activity. She was rushed to the emergency vet facility and we immediately headed home (6 hour drive). We were told that her blood levels were way out of whack and she was going into liver failure and her feces were dark and bloody. Her pupils were also constricted.
When we finally made it home, I was shocked at her condition. She passed away 10 minutes later. We are dumbfounded and overcome with grief. My husband and I have to know what happened so we drove her to Virginia Tech for an autopsy. We are still waiting toxicology results.
The initial autopsy confirmed that the left side of her heart was enlarged, her liver was enlarged, she had stomach ulcers, and blood clots throughout her body. No neurological damage. We are desperate for answers.
Could she have gotten into something at home or in the care of our vet? The vet assured us that there is no way she was accidentally given another dog’s medicine. I was hoping that maybe you might be able to provide any possible causes for her death or give us any suggestions.
We would really appreciate it! I feel like I can’t rest until I know what happened.
Dr. Lori writes -
I am so sorry about your sudden and terrible loss of Poonch! I can only imagine how hard it must be for you two.
It is difficult to say what could have caused it, but it definitely could have been a toxin of some sort. It could have also possibly been anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) to something like a bee sting, bug bite, or some other cause. The seizure activity could also have gotten so bad that it is possible that it shut down all her systems that quickly.
Was she on any meds? or a new food? I think the toxicology results will be telling for you.
Please do give us an update when/if you get some answers.
Lori Hunt, DVM
