I write this message with tears in my eyes and pain in my heart. My dog of 9 1/2 years passed away early yesterday morning. About 6 months ago he had a seizure which we could not determine a cause. We had done bloodwork and xrays with no avail. Over the past few months he has become more and more anxiety stricken. He even ate my house about 3 weeks ago. I noticed him inhaling his food on Sunday and I kept telling him to slow down. I have always held water from my dogs after eating for at least 30 minutes and tried to keep them calm for that time too. What happened is beyond me. He was acting like his regular hyped out self all night. We thought since a storm was coming in that he was just upset about that. The odd part is that the fire alarm which never goes off went off about 4 times that night. My husband checked the battery and entire house and found there was nothing wrong with either. Teddy kept wanting to go outside which is normal when he gets anxious. We went up to bed and kept hearing him cry and whine. My husband went to go check on him and he told me he thought there was something wrong with him. So I rushed down the stairs to check on him and I checked his whole body. When I got to his stomach his side felt distended. I immediately called my friend and then my mother. We all felt it was bloat. I called the emergency vet to let them know I was coming. Mind you it was now 11:45pm as I got the leash on Teddy he collapsed. We got him back to his feet and he walked down the front of the house slowly. We got him in the back of the van and I flew to the vet hospital. They had to get him a stretcher since I couldn't carry him in. When we went out to the car I could tell he was in bad shape. I helped put him on the stretcher and they took him in. They wouldn't let me in the back. I noticed they were all running around getting stuff for him. In a matter of 15 minutes they came back out and told me he was dead. Never did I think it would end this way. I know bloat is preventable but I can't help to think there was more underlying with him. They asked me if I wanted to do an autopsy and I said no since the vet also thought it was bloat. I got to say goodbye to his stiff lifeless body and it hurt so much. I spent the whole day yesterday looking for urns for him. They asked me that night if I wanted to have him in a group cremation or a individual one. I couldn't imagine him begin burned with other dogs and not getting him back. I wanted him back. We had to tell the kids yesterday and they are both very sad as are we. Cookie and Knuckles are doing ok so far but Knuckles layed with me all day.
I love you Teddy!!! We will miss you.