“My dog died suddenly after vomiting” this is heartbreaking news. The unexpected loss of your beloved canine is a very painful situation. Most canine parents do not imagine their canine dying suddenly. However, understanding how it happened is an important part of closure to their heartbreak.
According to Purdue University, in the last 5 years, there are around 10% of cases of sudden and unexpected canine deaths. Not a single canine had an ongoing disease.
Many canine owners jump to a single conclusion that their dog succumbed because someone poisoned him. However, it is a very uncommon thing to happen. Here’s the list of the most common causes of unexpected deaths.
Sudden Death in Dogs Causes
| Metabolic issues | 1% |
| Pancreatitis | 1% |
| Misc infection | 2% |
| Toxicosis | 5% |
| Undetermined caused | 5% |
| Misc Inflammation | 7% |
| Gastrointestinal | 7% |
| Trauma | 9% |
| Respiratory issues | 11% |
| Cardiac issues | 24% |
| Neoplasia | 28% |
My dog died suddenly after vomiting: Possible causes
The most common causes for a dog to die suddenly after vomiting include-
- Cardiac disease
- Internal bleeding
- Unobserved trauma
- Poisoning
- GDV
Cardiac disease
Cardiovascular diseases like heart muscle degeneration, fibrosis, heart tumours, necrosis, and cardiomyopathies can lead to sudden death after vomiting. Cardiac tumours include hemangiosarcomas. However, other cancers are less likely and can be a cause as well.
Symptoms other than vomiting for the cardiac disease include-
- Fever
- Head tilt
- Seizure
- Immobility
- Rigidity
- Lethargy
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Panting
Internal bleeding
Internal bleeding is one reason for a dog to die suddenly after vomiting. This internal bleeding can be triggered by any trauma like a dog hit by a hard object. Hemangiosarcoma is an internal tumour that triggers bleeding. This can cause sudden death without letting you know anything is wrong.
Symptoms of internal injuries other than vomiting include-
- Black diarrhoea
- Depression
- Glazed eyes
- Weakness
- Inability to focus
- Whimpering
- Rapid heartbeat
- Change in gum colour
- Heart attack
- Lethargy
Unobserved trauma
An open wound is easier to deal with. This is because of its visibility and it makes it easy for you to find the solution for it. The best solution is to take your canine to the vet. However, unobserved trauma is difficult to deal with. In some cases, it can lead to sudden death
Poisoning
Eating toxic things is a potential cause of sudden death after vomiting in dogs. Toxic items can be anything from chemicals, and medicine, to human food products. ASPCA has made a list of the top 10 toxins that they find on the basis of the calls they get.
As a pet parent, it is important for you to be aware of such poisonous materials and keep your pooch away from them. This can include grapes, chocolate, certain human food, alcohol, etc.
Moreover, some human foods also contain substances like xylitol that are extremely dangerous for the canines.
Mostly, there are 5 types of poisoning associated with dogs:
- Medication poisoning
- Food poisoning
- Plant poisoning
- Household product poisoning
- Alcohol poisoning
Gastric dilatation and volvulus
Also known as GDV, this is a condition in which the gases are trapped inside the stomach due to twists. It expands the stomach which results in irreversible damage, internal bleeding, shock, stomach rupture, and sudden death.
Sadly, this happens all of a sudden and can be fatal even if the correct treatment is going on. The most common symptoms other than vomiting include:
- Panting
- Restlessness
- Inability to settle
- Discomfort
- Stomachache
To treat GDV, the vet has to perform surgery. It corrects the stomach’s position and removes the damaged tissues.
Necropsies to Determine Cause of Death
If your dog has died suddenly after vomiting and you don’t know what has happened then you can go for Necropsy. Basically, this is an autopsy for dogs. It costs $150-$200 in the US.
If your canine has heat issues, a visual examination will be enough. If not, more lab tests will be involved to clarify a few things.
What are some of the common causes of vomiting?
Vomiting can be caused due to intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, and intestinal upset. Eating foul-tasting things like insects, garbage, and spoiled food can result in vomiting.
However, it can also be a sign of some serious issues like viral infection, allergies, bacterial infections, intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, cancer, liver failure, kidney failure, etc.
Even if the cause of vomiting is minor, it can end up becoming very serious. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on your canine every time. If not, you may end up losing your fur ball.
Do You Need to Go to the Vet if Your Dog Is Vomiting?
If your canine is vomiting continuously then he might get dehydrated. This will result in breaking down important body functions.
It is time to go to the vet if you find these things –
- Vomiting blood
- Is a puppy
- Refuses to eat
- Is geriatric
- Vomits foreign objects
- Urinating less
- Lethargic
- Has diarrhoea
- Has enlarged abdomen
- Already having medical issues
- Frequently vomiting
- Losing weight
- Muscle mass deterioration
Final words
In conclusion, I would say that if a dog dies suddenly after vomiting, it means that there was something really serious. As I have mentioned a few reasons above, there are plenty of other reasons as well. However, these are the most common ones.
One thing that you can do is to keep an eye on what your canine does or eat. I know it is not possible to watch your pooch 24/7. Still, you can make sure that the surrounding is safe for your canine. Make sure there are no toxic things lying on the ground. Also, you can do regular checkups to keep track of your canine’s health.
I hope you enjoyed the article. I will be back soon with more interesting and informative pieces of writing. Till then, stay connected. Thank you.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my dog vomit and collapse?
There are many reasons for this. It includes reactions to some insects or illnesses like heart disease, respiratory disease, poisoning, blood disease, drug overdose, etc. You have to understand the cause and provide proper treatment.
How do I know if my dog was poisoned?
These are the symptoms that you will see if your dog is poisoned:
- Tremors
- Agitation
- Kidney failure
- Seizures
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heart issue
- Convulsions
Do dogs know when they are dying?
Some canines know when they are dying. In this situation, they will try to approach the people that they love and provide comfort. Seeing your dog crossing the rainbow bridge is very difficult. However, you must say the final goodbye with grace and a lot of love.
How can you tell if a dog is in shock?
Symptoms of shock include:
- Thirst
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Rapid breathing
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Grey-blue skin colour
What food is poisonous to dogs?
Foods that are toxic for canines include:
- Chocolate
- Cooked bones
- Avocado
- Xylitol
- Onions
- Chives
- Garlic
- Macadamia nuts
- Alcohol
- Corn
Are dogs scared when they are dying?
Some canines know that they are dying. Therefore, they are not scared about it. Naturally, they accept the situation and try to communicate with their humans. Canines just want their people around them during the last few moments.
How do you know if a dog has internal bleeding?
Some of the most common symptoms of internal bleeding in dogs include-
- Pale gums
- Weakness
- Distended abdomen
- Sudden collapse
- Trouble in breathing
- Vomiting
- General malaise
- Gave up eating