Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 9/3/2008

Question
hello,
yesterday morning when i got up my usially very playfull and full of life 10 month old chiauahua was very sick. he was lithargic, dazed, wasnt walkiing right and had diareah everywhere. i took him to the vet who told me he was dehydrated and anemic somehow so they gave him a iv and went to take some blood for tests but i was told to come back in today because they couldnt get the blood and to get him more fluids. the vet said that his heart and everything sounded ok b ut he acted poisioned. i know he couldnt of gotten anything poisionus. he was fine up until we went to bed the night before, i take him outside and didnt see him eat anything from the grass and theres no poisions in our house for him to get, he passed away late last night. 24 hours before hand he was lively and fine. i dont understand what could kill a young pup so fast and if i should be concerned for my other 2 chis. i do live by a crick and i asked my vet that if when he was outback with the kids is it possible he could of ate some rat droppings or something would that make a dog very sick so fast? i am just looking for some insight, i dont want the others to get as sick if theres something i can do. thanks

Answer
Tiffany -

Unfortunately, there is no way for me to tell what may have caused your dog to pass away. If your puppy was one that liked to chew on things he shouldn't (and most puppies are), then there is a chance that he could have ingested something that he should not have.  Certain plants can be toxic to the younger animals as well as the licking and smelling of certain types of frogs and toads.  

Supervise your pets when they are outside to ensure that they do not eat something that they should not eat.


Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM