Cocker Spaniel died suddenly

[Josiqueen]

My 12 year & 1month old cocker spaniel, Jarvis died 12 days ago. I arrived at the beach at 6pm & he was howling with excitement & running round as he hadn't been to the beach in months. After half an hour, I suddenly heard a squeal from behind me & saw him wriggling on his back. I rushed over but even though he was only a few feet away, by the time I got to him, he'd stopped wriggling, was on his side, gave two deep sighs & stopped moving. I just didn't know what to do, a woman on the beach ran over, trying to help she attempted (very bravely) to give him mouth to mouth & massage his heart, but he had already gone. Having walked a fair way out on the beach, I had to carry him back to the car, he wasn't the lightest dog in the world & was a little overweight, but I blamed this on the steroids that he had been on for all of his life because of colitis & I eventually made it back to the car & onto the vets. My vet confirmed that he had died probably of a heart attack. I am absolutely distraught not only because of his death but because my other cocker spaniel, Harvey had only died 4 weeks previously, he was 13.5. When Harvey died, Jarvis just didn't know what to do with himself, I work full time & continued to go home every lunchtime to see him & take him for a walk as I had done since I had them both as puppies, but he was missing his pal. I am wondering whether he died of a stress induced heart attack because he was missing Harvey & me whilst I was at work, if it was a heart attack, old age or what? The speed of this happening could suggest an aneurysm, stroke or from what I have read even a bee sting (but surely this would have been obvious). When I picked him up from the vets & took him to the crematorium, as I said goodbye, blood was coming out of his nose, would this suggest a blood clot or heart attack? I've just no idea. My vet still thinks it was probably a heart attack. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

[marval]

I can't answer your question, but please accept my sympathy for the loss of your two dogs. Pets have been known to miss their friends.

[divegirl]

Oh honey....you must be devastated to lose them so close together....my heart breaks for you.

As to why Jarvis died, I agree with your vet. But....unfortunatley the time for answers has gone as the only true way to tell would have been to autopsy your boy.....not something I would wish if I was to lose an 11 year old companion. That said....dogs do most definatley pine for their missing friends. I'm sure Jarvis wouldn't have known a thing about it....and passed whilst having the best of fun.

Please take heart that your boys are together now.....and just remember the good times, also hard to do right now....but your memories will make you smile eventually....I promise! I lost my boy 2 and a half years ago....and still miss him like mad. But I can also smile at our time together. Miss you Floyd.

My thoughts and love are with you

Lisa xxx

[brenda]

I am so very sorry to read about Jarvis , you must be totally devastated by the events which took place. Please accept my sincere condolences in this time of heartbreak. Thinking of you .Brenda.x

[blackcat77]

It sounds that whatever it was, it was quick and painless for your poor dog, and to lose two in such rapid sucession must be devastating for you. Please accept my sympathies, I feel sure that your dogs are together again.

[horselady]

My daughter's retreiver died 3 years ago, very suddenly while in kennels. Playing one minute, collapsed and died the next. We were told probably heart attack or bee sting and like your dog, she had blood coming from her nose. Could have had a post mortem but it wouldn't have chnaged what happened. The shock and grief were awful, we all adored her. You have my sympathy, try not to tear yourself to pieces wondering what happened, we did that but to be honest it's best to believe that the dogs knew nothing and didn't suffer. xx

[daginge]

When you have a dog, you have it for life. The life of the dog you love with all your heart and who loves you in return. You have to realise that dogs live a far shorter life than their human friends. This is not harsh it is a reality. Dogs have been man 's and woman's of course; best friend for hundreds upon hundreds of years, please don't feel alone, you are not alone. The sadness you feel now must be replaced with happiness and fond memories of all of the fun and special times you shared together; failing that you will not move on.
Dogs are very special friends and when they move on never be forgotten. My Mum's dog Mandy (My Mum has been dead for over 30 years) is still brought up in conversations at family parties!

[wendilla]

you have my sincere symphathy.I had to have my beautiful Labrador put to sleep 5 weeks ago as he was going off his legs. He had been under vet treatment. How sad for you to lose 2 so close.Yes you will think of them always as they were part of your family. I burn a candle every evening beside his photo.It helps as I am sure he knows I am thinking of him and will never forget. It was hard as he was too intelligent. I know what you are going through and people on here helped me when I lost mine.

[morbius5]

I'm so sorry to hear about Jarvis and Harvey. It must be hard to lose them one after the other like that, but I don't think it was anything you did or didn't do. The fact that they were both getting on in years probably made it much more likely that you would lose them in close proximity to each other. People often have pets that are the same age or close to the same age and it oftens happens that they lose them within months of each other (I work at a vets so see it quite a lot, so much so that I have made a point of having at least 4 years age difference between each of my pets to hope to avoid it). I think it's just one of those things that can happen, that doesnt help I know but I really don't think it was stress etc, and probably was just a heart attack and there was unfortunately nothing you can do.

I know it's hard not to question why what happened happened but I'd recommend this site:

http://www.pet-loss-matters.com

Hope this helps a bit at least.