Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-28-2003 08:41 AM         

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Over the holidays I went to visit my mother and stepfather. I took my two dogs with me (3 month old and 6 yr old St. Bernards). My stepfather has a dog, Beaufort, who usually is very hyper, etc. Well, he was sick when we got there and got even sicker and died Saturday morning. We don't know what was wrong with the dog so now I am worried that maybe my dogs might get whatever he had.
His symptoms were lethargy and not eating and he was breathing very, very heavy. He threw up once (something that looked like peaches). Anyways, it happened rather quick. He was great last week. My mother said that he started looking depressed around Monday but he wasn't really that sick. He got out of the yard Wednesday night. He likes to go eat peoples garbage. My mother thinks maybe he ate something bad or maybe he got bitten by something. He was vaccinated but he had never had any heartworm medications. I don't know if heartworms can kill that quick; also I was thinking maybe cancer, but again it was quick. He had minimal contact with my dogs. Thursday when we came they hung out together a bit and sniffed each other but then he started feeling really bad so we separated them. My dogs slept on his bed and drank out of his water bowl.
Both of my dogs are acting OK and are eating and such. I don't know what it could have been. I'm worried to death it may be something contagious. I don't know how dog diseases are spread. Well, if anyone has any idea about what it could have been or what I should do with my dogs, I would really appreciate it.

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Member

Posts: 156
From:
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-28-2003 09:49 AM         

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Could your parents dog have gotten into Anitfreeze? I know that does kill quickly if not treated. Sorry I cant be of more help but I remember seeing this not too long ago. Hope someone else has some better answers.

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Moderator

Posts: 536
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 12-28-2003 09:59 AM         

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So sorry to hear about your parents dog. Has he always been in good health? How old was he? You mention he was vaccinated - what was the date of his last vaccine?

Could he have gotten into antifreeze? The symptoms you describe - lethargy, throwing up, fast heart beat, labored breathing are symptoms of having ingested something poisonous. But really could be a number of things. There is also the chance it could have been torsion. I'd have your parents call their vet and describe their dog's symptoms and behavior.

If your two dogs are behaving as normal, then I probably wouldn't be overly worried (unless you suspect they may have eaten something they shouldn't have) but you might want to take them to the vet to be sure.

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Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-28-2003 10:56 AM         

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He has always been in good health and he was 9 yrs old at the time. He was vaccinated in September I believe. As far as antifreeze, there is none at my parent's house but the dog had got out a couple nights in a row and liked to go and eat garbage. He could have found some at a neighbor's house.
I don't think my dogs ate anything; I'm more worried about some disease. I thought about taking them to the vet but I don't know what I would say because it is all just so vague. I will probably call the vet tomorrow and see what their advice is.

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