4 year old white shepherd dies suddenly

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by Kario on 29 October 2017 - 01:10

I am baffled. Our 4 year old white German shepherd named Ghost died sometime Friday morning. We were on vacation and our neighbor was feeding and watering him and our Rottweiler. He had a cough that started in June, just a few times a day. He then began losing weight even though he ate normally. He was not lethargic or showed any symptoms of sickness other than sometimes coughing. The vet ran tests, then did a lung X-ray. The X-ray showed what looked like "cobwebs" in his lungs. All other tests were normal. The vet said it might be lung cancer, but wasn't sure. He gave antibiotics which did nothing. I started him on diamaticas earth ( food grade). I also gave him some natural supplements. His weight came back on, but he still coughed a few times a day. He ate, ran around, played, pooped and urinated normally although sometimes the stool was tarry, but not always. Our neighbor checked on them on Thursday, refilled their food and water and played and petted him. Friday late morning he went to check them again and Ghost was dead with mucus and a little blood coming out of his nose and mouth. Any suggestions would be appreciated because I am wondering how he went from playful to dead in one day. The neighbor said there was nothing unusual from one day to the next.

by joanro on 29 October 2017 - 03:10

My condolences for your loss.

Heartworms?

Hemangiosarcoma?

by Western Rider on 29 October 2017 - 03:10

Joanro wondering about the cobweb lungs that the Vet knew nothing about, and the cough.

Does not sound like Heartworms or Hemangio.

I have no idea but this is the second dog who I have heard this about in two days. Not at all related.

by Sunsilver on 29 October 2017 - 03:10

The only way to be sure would be to have a postmortem done, and that will be expensive. Sudden deaths are most often due to bloat, hemangiosarcoma (causes bleeding), poisoning or heart problems. A weak heart can cause the lungs to fill up with fluid, which would explain the cough and maybe the cobwebs seen in the lungs on the x-ray.

Very sorry for your loss!