I would like to know why my Yorkie died suddenly...

[yorkieusa]

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.

[Jacksmom052709]

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.

[TikiDog]

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.

[TikiDog]

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...

[TxVicki]

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.

[TikiDog]

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...

[TikiDog]

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...

[yorkieusa]

snopes.com: Raisins and Grapes Harmful to Dogs

You might want to read this.

[TikiDog]

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...

[Doodlebug]

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...

[TikiDog]

Hi DoodleBug,

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

[AllDogBoots]

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>

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by TikiDog

Hi DoodleBug,

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

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.

[yorkieusa]

Another link:

Grape/Raisin Toxicity in Dogs and Cats

[yorkieusa]

Another link:

Grape and Raisin Toxicosis - Page 1