I'm at a loss as to what has happened to my old mate. He was around 11 years old. I noticed him the other morning breathing rappidly and spread out on the ground. Tried to get him up but couldn't lift him (big dog). His tongue was a whitish colour and he felt hot, with his gums quite cold. Thought it may be paralysis tick then all of a sudden he got up and walked before falling in a heap. He was very unsteady on feet - like he was drunk. He seemed as though he had had enough. Unfortunately as we live in the bush we felt the only option was to put him down. I'm hoping that we did the right thing. Closer to the end his eyes were starting to roll around. Can somebody please help me to work out what could have happened. Seemed to be quite thirsty as well. Thankyou for taking the time to read this. We really miss him and would love to have some answers.
2007-01-14 09:48:36 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Hi. I'm so sorry for your loss. It does sound a lot like a tick. The symptoms you described are much like everything I have ever heard about ticks. I used to live in the bush in Australia and have herd of many cases such as this.
There are a few other things it could have been though, as if it were a tick you probably would have been able to feel around his body and find a small lump where the tick was stuck. (I am not sure if you did this).
Recently one of my good friends dogs passed away due to cancer. He was a great dane and close to the day he passed he was very wobbly on his feet, his tongue went white and his eyes sunk. One especially sunk.
Another thing could have been some kind of poisening. Many big dogs are known to eat whatever is left on the floor by accident and there are a few human foods which have been proven to be fatal to dogs, even if given in small amounts, such as onions, grapes, rasins and sultanas.
It is also possible that, as you live in the bush, he could have gone and eaten some sort of berry. Many berries are poisenous to dogs and can cause symptoms such as this.
I hope I helped a little, and I hope you feel better soon. Sorry again for your loss.
2007-01-14 10:03:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-11 13:29:04 · answer #2 · answered by aziz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-02 10:58:04 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry for your loss.
If you really want answers, you'll have to have the vet do a necropsy, and even with that, you may not get an answer. A couple years ago I had a very healthy dog suddenly pass. I had a necropsy done, in part because it was so sudden and in part because my psycho ex was released from jail two days before and part because I feared a risk to my other dogs as well. The whole thing cost about $850 for the necropsy and poison testing for the more common poisons and my vet was not able to identify a cause of death.
She did cite numerous cases of dogs suddenly passing for no apparent reason - unfortunately veterinary forensic medicine is not as advanced as for humans, in large part because it's the animal owner paying for it instead of the authorities.
Even with a necropsy, it's very possible you would not learn why your pet passed.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss, it's very hard to lose our furry friends at any time and especially without an explanation.
2007-01-14 10:49:19 · answer #4 · answered by heart o' gold 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog exhibited all the signs of an extreme case of heatstroke(unsteady gait, disorientation, inability to rise, hot skin) and dehydration(white tongue and extreme thirst). Unless you had been able to get him to a vet within 15 to 20 minutes, he would have died anyway. Dogs are not well equipped by nature to regulate their body temperature and will continue to be active as their body gets hotter and hotter. At your dog's age, and living in the bush as you do, there was no way to save him with the serious symptoms he had. You did the right thing by letting him go.
2007-01-14 10:19:25 · answer #5 · answered by ClicketyClack 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am sorry to heat about your loss. And I don't know if it helps but it sounds like you did the kindest thing that you could for him.
He may have gotten into something poisonous. He also may have has a cancerous tumor that ruptured, especially because you said that his tongue was white (a sign of anemia). Also, could he of possible been hit by a car or other vehicle? It sounds like he may have had some type of internal damage.
2007-01-14 10:01:58 · answer #6 · answered by iluvmyfrenchbulldogs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him to your vet for a necropsy. he could have had a tumor that was sucking all of the blood out of him, or he got into poison. you will not know but a vet will be able to give you a better answer.
2007-01-14 09:53:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only a veterinarian would know the answer to that one. Do you have any that you can talk to?
2007-01-14 09:53:43 · answer #8 · answered by refahs1996 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋