Dog Died

[Art0ir]

Boxer bh, just about to turn 12. Fittest and most energetic dog of that age I'd ever seen. Had bad arthritis the past few years in her back legs but never stopped her leaping around like a pup any time I called down to mums.

Stuck in work and got a call to say she was out running around chasing leaves in the wind then came inside. Half an hour later mum found her in her bed. Vet reckons it was just a heart attack. Brother is in the process of burying her in the back garden.

Anyway, silly post, just devastated

[Art0ir]

We have a friend in the USPCA so going to make some calls tomorrow and see what pups they have in, might even get lucky and find another boxer. Sounds so stupid to those who don't "get" bonds with pets, but mum is in bits god love her.

[Art0ir]

fistofsteel said:

There is a condition called 'Boxer cardiomyopathy' characterised by an occasional rhythm disturbance in the heart which is not detectable without an ECG. Can affect dogs of different ages, unfortunately one of the presenting signs is sudden death, where the heart suddenly starts to fibrillate and the patient very quickly loses consciousness and dies. There is no pain involved (unlike a human myocardial infarction) and the end is very quick. This may have been what happened here, as sudden death in pet species is very uncommon in comparison to humans. If this is the case it would have happened at some point (with or without medication) and the dog will not have suffered at all. Condolences.

That sounds exactly like it. She was curled up in her bed in position she always sleeps in so she wasn't struggling or in pain which is one positive I guess.