MY GERMAN SHEPHERD HAS DIED..BLOAT? - Page 1

My german shepherd died 9th August. I am very upset and distressed by his passing and am wondering if someone who knows anything about bloat or some other cause can offer me some insight into what may have happened to my precious boy Tsar, as I am not an expert  on shepherds or a breeder, he was just a very much loved family member.

Tsar was 9 years and 4 months old. He was a very healthy and happy dog. He has never had to go to the vet for treatment with the exception of checkups and vaccinations and one other time in the past few months when I thought he was having trouble opening his bowels, but the doctor cleared him and said that we should consider desexing him in the future for prevention of problems with his prostate but apart from that he was well and we could take him home.

So all had been fine and well since then..although admittedly his energy levels were down on what they were when he was younger but I thought that was to be expected considering his age.We also thought he was looking a little thinner so we were trying to fatten him up with some extra food. He was walking and bounding around fine and had been his usual happy self. Our family got up on Sunday and when one of the kids went out the back he was already gone. It was such a shock and I am feeling so guilty wondering why I didnt hear him or what may had happened to him. He hadnt been sick or had any change in himself or he would of been taken straight to the vet. I am absolutely heartbroken and shattered.

I had no knowledge of bloat or what causes it, it has been my desperate search on the net to look for answers and a phone call to a vet after the event that this possibility has come to light. Is it possible for bloat to occur and not hear him while Im sleeping in bed.He was lying only about 15 feet away at the back door down the stairs.I didnt hear a thing. He looked like he had been asleep, he was lying on his tummy with his head on one paw and the other paw was a little out in a 90 degree angle from his face.There was no vomit or blood near him..some dribble near his mouth and thats it. On inspection of our backyard there was a bit some regurgitated dog food near the clothes line enough to equal approx 3 or 4 cups.He had been fed late in the afternoon and the biscuits as a treat before we went to bed.Could it be bloat? Is this what happened to my Tsar?He couldnt have been ok one minute and gone the next and had some disease that I should now about could he?What is the life expectancy of german shepherds?I thought I had a few more good years with him yet, surely he wasnt old enough to just be an old dog and pass in his sleep at 9 and a half?

He obviously was on no meds as he was well,but in the previous week he had been heartwormed,frontline for fleas and given some garlic as well.Tsar was fed mostly dry food but enjoyed leftovers at dinner (no bones except for uncooked chicken necks) some doggy biscuit treats and the occasional ice block with the kids..plus a scoop of icecream once a week with them.

I should of thought of an autopsy but I didnt think of that until after pets at peace had already returned his ashes to us...so now Im punishing myself with the unknown. I would really appreciate it if someone knows anything that may have caused him to pass like that, I feel like Ive lost my best friend and have been crying for days.

Thankyou for listening.

DINT THINK ABOUT THE AUTOPSY .TWENTY YEARS AGO I HAD A BIG 9 YEAR OLD GSD DIE SUDDENLY .SIX HOURS AFTER HE FIRST GOT SICK .HE DIED AT THE VETS OFFICE .I HAD AN AUTOPSY DONE IT SHOWED NOTHING .SO I LOADED UP MY DEAD DOG AND TOOK HIM TO CORNELL FOR A SECOND AUTOPSY .THATS WHERE THEY FOUND THE TWIST .IT WAS ALONG THE BACK BONE AREA .THE WORST PLACE TO GET A TWIST AS THERE IS ONLY SIX HOURS ON THAT TWIST TO SAVE YOUR DOG .EVEN THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALMOST IMPOSABLE TO SAVE HIM .LONG STORY SHORT .WHEN CORNELL SHOWED ME THE PLACE THE TWIST WAS IN I WAS SICKENED .MY DOG HAD BEEN CUT OPEN FROM HIS THROAT TO HIS RECTUM .IT DID NOT BRING MY DOG BACK .THEY HAD NO ANSWERS AS TO WHY IT TWISTED THERE ..CORNELL PUT HIM IN A FEW DOUBLE BAGS AND I DROVE HIM HOME CRYING TO BE BURIED . I CRIED WORSE AT THE WAY HE WAS CUT UP TO FIND THE PROBLEM . I CRIED THE HOLE TIME I DUG THE HOLE TO BURY HIM IN AND I STILL CRY . THE ONLY THING I GOT OUT OF IT ALL IS BLOAT JUST HAPPENS .SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS .SOME ONE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT BLOAT HERE THEN ME .I KNOW I FEED DIFFERENTLY AND EXERCISE LONG AFTER FEEDING AND WATERING .I THINK  DOGS WITH LONGER BODIES AND DEEPER CHESTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BLOAT .

It could have been bloat, but, from your description of his position when found, he could have simply died in his sleep from heart or stroke. With bloat, I think it is doubtful that there woukld have been vomiting. ¶It sounds like a stoke to me, so there is nothing you could have foressen, avoided, or done. These things happen to people, too. ¶ You said Tsar was happy and playing before bedtime.. Remember and focus on that. You gave him a wonderful life in a loving home. He knew he was loved and knows it still. He will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. ¶Wuzzup, You are shouting again. :-)

I'm so sorry for your loss.  How heart rending, how awful for you.  Please know that others here feel your pain.  Cry it out, it's ok.  You gave him a good life.

MYSTERE THE DOGS TOOK OFF WITH MY EYE GLASSES I CAN NOT SEE WITH OUT THEM AND WITH OUT THEM I CAN'T SEE TO FIND THEM . I AM TYPING WITH GLASSES WITH ONE LENSE MISSING AND ONE EYE CLOSED .   THE GLASS I AM USING IS NOT EVEN MINE         

I am so sorry for your loss.  We have lost 3 gsd's to bloat since 1990.  All different situations. The first one happened in kennels while we were at the Seiger so we came home to find he had died 4 days earlier, The second survived the operation but died in the night,  the third was so twisted that gangrene had set in by the time they operated and he was not allowed to come round.   Last year our 9 year old male, who already has Pancreas problems, started to blow very quickly, managed to get to the Vet in time. I  was told we had 45 minutes to save him from the time it started. We live 25 minutes away from the Vet!  He was on the table for two hours but survived.  He had pneumonia for two weeks after the operation and looked like a plate rack he was so thin. 1 year and 3 months later he has just had his 10th birthday. He will never look fit and healthy but he is able to enjoy his life. He is also worth every penny it cost!

We never exercise directly after feeding.  They are not allowed to drink too much too quickly after exercise, We feed 3 times a day, (four now in the case of the male who was ill last year).  It is a dreadful thing and it appears that no one thing actually triggers it off so if you don't happen to be there and notice when it starts you don't have much of a chance.

Please try to remember the good times you had together and that he new he was loved.

   Jeannette.

to answer your question about hearing him,i doubt he made a sound.
dogs deal with pain extremely well.
i have pictures of my dog chasing my daughter on the dirtbike just
10 hours before he died of intenstinal blockage,the vet and the evidence said he was plugged for a couple days
and showed no signs.after chasing her he started wobbling around,
took him to the vet and he died in surgery.
good luck and dont beat yourself up.
better days will come.

jamie

I'M PRETTY SURE DOGS WITH BLOAT WILL THROW UP THERE FOOD AS THERE IS NO PLACE FOR  THE FOOD TO GO ONCE THE TWIST IS THERE . PLUS THEY PROBABLY DINT FEEL SO WELL IN THE BELLY . I KNOW MY DOG WAS THROWING UP. HE ALSO KEPT LAYING HIS BELLY UP FER ME TO RUB ..HE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME IT HURT. .I KNEW HE WAS IN PAIN IN HIS STOMACH .I ALSO KNEW IT WAS SERIOUS .

iam so sorry for you loss i have had a dog die from blot and by what you say i dont think that it was blot when my dog died his stopoch was very swollen and he was in a lot of pain by the way you found him it sounds like a heart attack or stroke it is a horrible thing to loss you dog so quick  i have lossed a lot of dogs over the years and my advice to you is to get another dog soon thay dont replase the one you lose  but it really helps by what you say you offer a good and loving home

WELL MAYBE IT WASNT BLOAT .THESE THINGS JUST HAPPEN .I AM SURE YOU DID ALL YOU COULD. TRY NOT TO FEEL BAD ABOUT THE WHAT IFS .YOU COULD WHAT IF YOURSELF  FOREVER AND NEVER KNOW WHAT OR WHY.JUST KNOW HE AND YOU WERE LUCKY TO HAVE EACH OTHER FOR SO LONG . AGAIN I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS .