There are probably so many things it could have been. I wonder about a miriad of things that could have caused this. I even wonder about poisonous frogs. I wonder if there are any in Belize and if he may have eaten one or played with one and gotten it in his mouth for a bit. I don't know, but over the next week there may be some people come on here that may have some good ideas or have seen similar situations. I understand why you want to know.

About the only thing was when he was throwing up after day one I would have taken him to the vet - only because they are so small. I would be concerned with dehydration after one day of vomiting. But that said, I am so very sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling.

Hi Jacksmom,

He only threw up late at night Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, that is not unusual for a dog, if he was still sick the next day I was definitely going to take him in. It was a total of 26 hours... most of that was at night. God this hurts. Hindsight is 20/20. I wish with my whole heart I had taken him in. The vet said he would not have thought anything of a dog throwing up for a day, and would have examined him and sent him home, told us to watch him, be sure he stayed hydrated and bring him back if he did not get better... but we never got that chance.

Ok here it is...

I have to know if I did something. I have another Yorkie and I NEVER want this to happen to one of my dogs or your dogs... so as painful as this is going to be I have to ask.

I found out, from research, that raisins are toxic for dogs. Tiki had 4 raisins in his throw up. Now lets get down to some details:
- Tiki is 7 lbs.
- Tiki is average weight, not over weight or underweight. Healthy.
- He had 4 raisins. However, the raisins here are very large, like 2 or 3 times larger than regular raisins.
- Some dogs get Kidney Failure and die from eating raisins...

Questions:
1. Does anyone know what the symptoms are with Kidney Failure?
2. What stages would he go through from the first symptoms until he died?
3. What would the time frame be? Is it possible for him to die from Kidney Failure within 26 hours?
4. Would he have been in pain if he had Kidney Failure? He never showed any signs of being in pain, even at the very end...

I need a break, any input is greatly appreciated...

I had one of mine pass due to kidney failure. This was after 7 months of supportive care. I will tell you that she did display most of these symptoms at the end.

Do you know if he found the raisins and ate them?

If you didn't know raisins are toxic are to dog's, how can you blame yourself?

Again I am so sorry for your loss.

Hi YorkieUSA,

Tiki many years ago, when we lived in a different area of Belize mouth one of those frogs. He almost died, but our love, attention and quick action saved him. I had the opportunity do do everything in my power to help him make it through the night after she gave him that shot. For that night, he was fevered, blind, disoriented and could hardly walk. I stayed up with him all night, doing everything in my power to help him. He was strong willed and he made it.

It took months for him to get back to normal, but we did it together and were closer for it.

This time I don't think it was that. He had no frothing at the mouth, he was not super hot to the touch, he was not showing the same symptoms at all...

Thank you for your ideas, please keep them coming...

Hugs...

TXVicky,

Thank you for your reply. I gave him the raisins. I did not know until I researched after the fact.

How can I blame myself? Well 'blame' is a bit harsher than I feel... I don't really blame myself. But I should have known. Do you know what I mean? I should have researched this continually to find out what human foods were toxic to dogs... I was his Mom, his life was in my hands, I took that very seriously...

I don't blame myself, but I do feel that if he died from the raisins, I let him and myself down...

So you mentioned your dog was being treated for a period of time and had similar symptoms near the end.

Tiki was not diagnosed with any kind of Kidney problems. Could he have had them and I not know? How did you know your dog had a problem in the first place?

Tiki ate and drank well every day. He peed several times a day. He tried to pee for our entire long walks each day, but the second half of the walks were more for show I think :) He never seemed to have any problems.

The only reason I am thinking he might have had Kidney Failure is because that is how some dogs die after eating raisins.

1. So I am wondering can Kidney Failure be there without me knowing?
2. Can a dog that seems perfectly fine one day, die of Kidney Failure within 26 hours?

Those are the questions I need answered.

Thanks so much for your time.

Big hugs, and sorry about you dog, I know how painful that must have been...

snopes.com: Raisins and Grapes Harmful to Dogs

You might want to read this.

Thank you YorkieUSA,

I found that and had read it yesterday...

This is why I need to know more specifically the following things, there are some discrepancies:

He had so few (not a handful or serving)... his tummy was not in pain (I pressed all over his tummy several times throughout the day)... he died so fast in 26 hours, (not several days or weeks)...

What do you think? Can a dog die of Kidney failure in so short a time? Let's say that the 4 large raisins was enough for him to go into Kidney Failure, could he die that fast, without pain, and still urinating for most of the day?

I want to know... I need to know... even though it won't change anything... my heart wants to know...

Thank you so much and hugs to you my dear...

I am so sorry you lost your baby. You didn't know about the raisins. We used to give our Llasa Apso grapes and she loved them. We didn't know better either. We were just lucky that she never had a bad reaction to them. Hugs to you...

Hi DoodleBug,

Thank you for your reply. So you think it was the raisins, from everything you have read here? :(

I don't have any answers for you but just wanted to offer my support and tell you how sorry I am for your loss <hugs>

I don't know but I guess it could be. The first thing I thought when I read your post was that maybe Tiki got into some food that was too rich or toxic or something. I am only making that guess because of it being around the holidays sometimes there is rich food around and he possibly got into something. Please don't think that I am blaming you for giving him raisins. You will only know for sure if you have a vet check like the others have said.

Another link:

Grape/Raisin Toxicity in Dogs and Cats

Another link:

Grape and Raisin Toxicosis - Page 1

The last link:

Grape Toxicity in Dogs | Are Raisins and Grapes Poisonous to Dogs?

im sad
 

im so sorry for what happen...... it must be so painful, ur yorkie died on ur hand...

i just lost my yorkie 2 months ago, but he was just missing.. i cant imagine knowing that my yorkie died....

i was going crazy yelling his name on the road like loosing my own child... veer painful...

I'm so sorry for your loss. Not eating is a serious sign for dogs. It's not easy to tell if a dog is in pain. While you can push on a human stomach and get an indication, dogs are genetically programed to hide pain as best as they can and their only symptom of pain will be loss of appetite, so this should always be taking seriously. Another sign of distress is vomiting, this can be an indication of a bowel obstruction especially if there hasn’t been a bowl movement within the 12 hours, and this indicates a trip to the vet immediately because death can rapidly follow. Being 11, it’s hard to say, if it was the result of normal old age, heart disease and things like that, or if he had a bowel obstruction, or an acute attack of pancreatitis. Just as a small baby needs to been seen by the doctor at the first sign of distress, so does a small dog, and sometimes a trip to the ER can make a difference between life and death. Please don’t take this post as in any way criticizing you, you did the best you could, I’m no vet, I’m only guessing at some of the possible problems, and hindsight is much easier. I read the ER forum here, and I’m amazed at how many dogs are saved because someone was able to get their dog to an ER vet. My heart goes out to you, and you can’t blame yourself, you can only learn from this and help educate others. Your experience might help someone else realize that these small dogs can go downhill fast, and when it comes to medical treatment, time is of the essence.

What were these grapes called? You said they were large grapes and not the usual kind we buy.

Thank You Nancy,

I wish with my whole heart that I had read this post from you 'before' this happened to Tiki. I should have known better... If I knew what you just told me, I would have gone to the Vet many times over the years and definitely at first signs in this case ...

Living here in Belize, on a small island, is also very problematic. I won't get into it, but we have a humane society, but no 'full time vet'. We have a retired voluntary vet here, and my husband spoke to him and said he would not have been alarmed at all with Tiki being sick for one day. He would have sent us home with him. He also said that because he went so fast he probably could not have done anything for him anyway...

Now I know otherwise. I need to know these things. I can't go through this again. Sadi, my female is only 3.5 lbs, she is even more delicate than Tiki at 7 lbs... I need to protect her and now I know a bit more about how to do that. But even with all the research I have done about dogs and Yorkies specifically, over the last 12 years or so, how to raise them, train them, feed them, etc. I did not realize just how fragile they could be and that they could go so fast.

I am terrified for my sweet Sadi, and will be an even more protective parent now... I have no children, I feel like I lost my little boy... it is so painful.

I know you are not saying anything to hurt me or judge me. I know you are trying to help me and others, and I appreciate that.

So, I get now what I should have done, and what I will do differently if ever in this horrible position again.

However, I would still like your opinion, do you know or think it was the raisins and Kidney Failure? I will re-read your post and see again what all you thought it could be...

Thank you so much for your time, big hugs...

Hi YorkieUSA,

It was raisins, not grapes. They were large and plump and brown. I eat them daily on my oats for breakfast, but don't normally give them to the dogs. I have given Tiki one or two on occasion... (Sadi is a picky eater and does not like them, thank god!!) but this time, I guess because of the holiday season I gave him a few extra. 4 in total...

I get a box of 25 lbs at a time. I put them in zip lock bags in the fridge. Tiki had no access to them on his own. I specifically gave him 4 over several minutes while I ate them as a snack...

Next time we get a box, which should be any day now, I will check what they are called, where they are grown and any other details I can find...

Thank you, I appreciate your time and questions and feedback...

Very sorry for your loss. I have no idea, but possibly pancreatitis or some other GI distress issue.

I meant raisins. I'll do some more research.

Ok good, thank you. I have done a ton of research myself and can't get any definitive answers to my specific questions:

1. Was the amount enough to cause this? I think one of the articles you founds says my answer to this may be, sadly, yes... man that hurts...

2. Could he have died of Kidney Failure within 26 hours of the first symptoms? This I feel I still don't know... I am still hoping the answer to this is 'no'... but I am prepared for it to be yes also... :(

Thanks again, you still have not said what you think... but I appreciate you are educating yourself along with me... hugs...

Thank you for taking my post in the way it was meant and not as a criticism. I've learned so much from Yorkietalk, and it's a valuable resource because Yorkies are indeed a little different than other breeds. Bigger dogs can just get over some things so much easier. That said, 11 is a respectable age for a dog to reach. Maybe you didn't do anything wrong, and that was just the time. Obviously, where you live it’s a much different situation and you just don’t have the choices we have. Regarding grapes, I have read that grapes can cause a problem, but from my understanding, it’s a much larger amount than four. Then again, you can’t be sure, but it’s possible that four could aggravate a condition that you didn’t know about. I try to think of Yorkies as fairly strong and healthy, but that they can go downhill fast. How's Sadie doing, were they close? Dogs will often grieve if one dies. I know this is such a painful thing, I didn't even want to get another pet for a long time after my last one died, I just didn't want to face the inevitable pain. Sending you prayers of strength.

Nancy, these were a large, plump brown raisin. That would make more than the regular small raisins. I'm trying to find something; not sure I will.

Thank you Nancy...

I can't afford to take anyone's comments personally. What I mean by that is that I have asked for honest, open, kind responses, and I need to trust that is what I will be given. I 'need' to know what people think. I don't want this to ever ever happen again.

I am sorry for the loss of your sweet pet, and although I am so happy we had almost 11 amazing years with Tiki, I thought he would live to at least 15 years or maybe I would get lucky and get 18 out of him...

I am sure Tiki is pissed off at me for this. He was such a spunky guy, he never would have chosen to die, when he still had so much love and fun left in him. He was extra-ordinary and loved me as much as I loved him.

He never ever would have blamed me for this. He would want me to continue on and be happy and remember the good times. But if he could talk he would be as pissed off at I am. I am sure we both feel cheated by this...

Sadi, my sweet Sadi. Sadi is gorgeous, tiny, shy, a Mama's girl, cuddly, needy, and not too bright. I don't think she fully understands what has happened. I love her to bits and I am sooooooo thankful I still have my sweet baby girl...

Just so you know, Tiki was brilliant, larger, confident, independent, loyal to a fault, did not like to cuddle, but would hug or kiss on request. He did not like to be held, he loved to PLAY!! and eat!! (he was not fat at all). But was my alarm clock for everything. Meals, snacks, going outside, getting up, going to bed, you name it. He kept all of us on a schedule.

He was VERY interactive, and he had a BIG presence in the room. He insisted on being noticed. He is greatly missed. Everything is so quiet and calm... and sad...

Thanks for listening... hugs

You wrote a beautiful eulogy to Tiki. I feel like I know him. I will hold a little of your pain for you.

Oh My Gosh!! What a beautiful thing to say Nancy. Thank you so much. The pain is more than I can bare, so you holding some of it is greatly appreciated. I trust it will get easier over time.

Thank you again you are very kind...

Cindy

What you wrote was full of the love you had for Tiki. I feel I almost knew him from what you have written. I wish we could lift some of the pain you are carrying. As I said before, you will find only wonderful support and understanding here. Most of us have been through losses of our beloved yorkies and understand the pain of that loss.