Friends dog sudden death. Info please.

[martybabe]

My mates dog was taken ill last night, it was found fitting in the middle of the night and rushed to the emergency Vets. Sadly it could not be saved.

This dog was about 2 years old and it was the biggest healthiest bounciest pain in the arse dog I've ever known.

Whilst I assume there will be an autopsy, initial opinion would suggest poisoning and the vet enquired where the dog was usually exercised and that brings me to my question.

This poor pooch is only ever walked in the park where I regularly exercise my old staffy. I've read a little about pest control in NZ, 1080? is it. Is it likely to be found in a public semi rural park. Is there anything else NZ florawise that could kill a big healthy dog in such a dramatic fashion?

I guess this is a bit knee jerky, the fact is the daft dog could have found itself a nice big slab of dark chocolate for all I know but I do keep coming across danger of death poison / hazardous area signs all over the place.

Shed some light on it for a NZ noob will ya guys. Cheers.

[Hitcher]

1080 can kill dogs, but its applicators are scrupulous in its application. Generally where it has killed dogs in suburban areas it is because mischievous persons with malice aforethought have deliberately placed baits where they can be consumed by dogs.

An autopsy will only reveal whether poison contributed to the dog's untimely death. I suspect that it is unlikely whether the Police will investigate further.

[Scouse]

Possibly the dog ate poisonous mushrooms or toadstools I see a lot of these around while I walk my Scotty. I make sure we take a wide berth around these.

[Badjelly]

This poor pooch is only ever walked in the park where I regularly exercise my old staffy. I've read a little about pest control in NZ, 1080? is it. Is it likely to be found in a public semi rural park. Is there anything else NZ florawise that could kill a big healthy dog in such a dramatic fashion?

I don't know whether you're likely to come across 1080 in that setting. Round here they use something called brodifacoum. Either way, there should be signs. The regional council should know and (paranoia aside) should be willing to tell you whether bait's been laid.

There certainly are poisonous plants. Tutu is the one that springs to mind. Sheep and cows have been killed by it, and bees make poisonous honey out of it. I don't know if a dog is likely to eat the leaves (our dogs seem to be willing to eat anything) but even brushing against the leaves can be harmful, though probably not fatal.

But as Hitcher says, everything dies, and sometimes animals & people die suddenly for no obvious reason.

[martybabe]

Generally where it has killed dogs in suburban areas it is because mischievous persons with malice aforethought have deliberately placed baits where they can be consumed by dogs.

I hadn't actually thought of that, as I said, it was a bit of a pain in the arse dog and I believe it had some 'persistent barking' complaints against it but irritating as that can be, I'd like to think poisoning someone's family pet would be a step too far for most reasonable folk.

Anyroad up, I shall postulate no more,time may reveal the cause or maybe not. Thank you all for your input.

RIP Sam, the dog that totally submerged his head to drink, a nutter but a shame all the same.

[CookMySock]

RIP Sam, the dog that totally submerged his head to drink, a nutter but a shame all the same.

Nutter pets are way cool. We have a cat that falls off chairs with a hell of a crash, and all sorts of crazy stunts.

Steve

[SDU]

There could be numerous things from ingesting poison direct or poisoned carcase, mycotoxins, brain tumour, clot ......only a vet can help with that & even then it is hard sometimes hard for them to tell.

Semi rural park means there could have been cynide & 1080 bait stations about, check with your local council on where & when there have been pest control in the area. Here in Chch most off Bays have just been baited including built up areas such as Governers bay & Diamond harbour- thankfully the council has prewarned vet clinics & hopefully the residents. Gives me the shits they still use 1080 wipes out the birdlife too!

This time off the year there is fallen berries fruit etc dropping on the ground which can be toxic due to the mycotoxins that are produced. so watch out for mouldy food too!
Toxic Algae is in some off our waterways especially where hot too.
I'm not a vet & suggest you talk to your vet, ring the clinic they may have heard off something in the area & can give you correct information on what to be aware off.

Hard time for your friend to come to grips with.

[FzerozeroT]

I would guess at natural causes first, unless it was cyanide (in which case the pup would be lying next to the poison) it would have been visibly ill before carking it, we had a 1 year old pup pass away earlier this year, we know she had a hole in the heart but didn't expect her to go so soon, if you suspect foul play a blood test for poisons might be worth the effort, then you could have a look for troponin T at the same time.

[FzerozeroT]

BTW, any tests will be rediculously dear, one of ours was $200 for a blood workup last time

edit, actually it's the one in my avatar - bloody expensive bastard

[cowpoos]

Besides what everyone else said...it could of had an allergic reaction to dam near anything...mould on bread gives my staffie an allergic reaction.
and yes tings like that can kill...and cause fits,etc...

[McDuck]

Antys dalmatian died like that after taking about a third of a chocolate cake.... check that..

[alanzs]

Our cat of 11 years died last month, after being sick for less than 24 hours. He was fine in the morning and when I returned home he looked horrible and was moaning. Long story short, he had cancer and was dead within a day. I had thought it was poison, but I was wrong. The vet said he could have had the cancer for a while and not shown any symptoms. Great sadness enveloped our lives after losing our friend....

[ynot slow]

Even a pissed off neighbour(not you)chucking a meat chunk laced with roundup or similar.

[hayd3n]

animals also get epilepsy and it can be fatal

[Dave Lobster]

Antys dalmatian died like that after taking about a third of a chocolate cake.... check that..

That's fucking unlucky. This fellow (in pic) ate a tin of Quality Street. Half with wrappers, half he opened. He survived.. with a runny arse for a few days.