Does anyone know the reason a Dachshund would suddenly die?

**Jasonkhowell** · 07-15-2006

Basically, about 2 hours ago, I found one of two of our Dachshunds dead in the back yard when I put them out for awhile. No indication of a bullet wound (Hey, this IS Tennessee) or another dog attack, but she was acting a little strange a few weeks prior and a little before.

She was abandon by her former owner about 6 months ago with the other Dachshund, and became a bit fat when she came to us. Then, she started to throw up quite a bit a few weeks ago, but stopped after awhile and resumed eating and drinking, and I dismissed it as a one time thing. Then, she wouldn't drink water when I put her in the back (Which she always does the first thing she went out), so it may have been a stomach or kidney thing, or she may have been feeling bad.

She wasn't that old, either. Vet said she was in good shape and was around 2-4 when we first brought her in, so she wasn't very old. Only thing I can think of is either her getting fat (Which is a bit bad for Dachshunds) caused her to have a heart attack/internal organ problems, or she may have had something when she first came, or developed something. Since I cannot afford to do a Autopsy via the vet (Around $500), all I can do for her now is bury her in a nice spot. Anyone have any idea what may have happened?

**Tachikoma** · 07-15-2006

If she was overweight diabetes could be a possibility, did you feed her chocolate? dogs have problems metabolising chocolate, and in large enough quantities can be fatal. I would imagine diabetes and chocolate could be a bad combo. Not that I am trying to make you think it was your fault mind!

**karsten** · 07-15-2006

mmmh i guess that animals too can get cancers...

sorry for you dog, by the way it's awful to lose company...

my 18 years old cat died last year and sometimes i still miss him...

**Taucias** · 07-15-2006

Did it go out often? It may have eaten something that lodged in the stomach or intestines (hence the vomiting) which later became infected. Was it passing waste normally? Since it wasn't drinking properly, it would appear to be related to digestion and it could well be a tumour or an abscess. Did you feed it anything that could have contained small bones? If it was mistreated in the past it could have suffered from a whole number of illnesses and if it was overweight it could have suffered a heart attack. To be honest, it could be anything, and I would say an autopsy on a pet is a waste of money generally, unless you are worried that it could happen to the other dog as a result of its environment.

If you are feeding it standard dog food, it has access to fresh water and you're giving it enough exercise then I would say put it down to a fact of life and don't feel responsible for it. Sorry for the loss.

**Jasonkhowell** · 07-15-2006

If she was overweight diabetes could be a possibility, did you feed her chocolate? dogs have problems metabolising chocolate, and in large enough quantities can be fatal. I would imagine diabetes and chocolate could be a bad combo. Not that I am trying to make you think it was your fault mind!

Only time was a long time ago, and it was a extremely small amount (Less then a chocolate chip's worth).

Originally Posted by Taucias

Did it go out often? It may have eaten something that lodged in the stomach or intestines (hence the vomiting) which later became infected. Was it passing waste normally? Since it wasn't drinking properly, it would appear to be related to digestion and it could well be a tumour or an abscess. Did you feed it anything that could have contained small bones? If it was mistreated in the past it could have suffered from a whole number of illnesses and if it was overweight it could have suffered a heart attack. To be honest, it could be anything, and I would say an autopsy on a pet is a waste of money generally, unless you are worried that it could happen to the other dog as a result of its environment.

If you are feeding it standard dog food, it has access to fresh water and you're giving it enough exercise then I would say put it down to a fact of life and don't feel responsible for it. Sorry for the loss.

In terms of going out, yes, there is a possibility of that happening. Yes, she was passing waste normally. No, never fed it anything that could of killed it, or had small bones. I do think a heart attack was the most possible answer.