Sudden death of my senior dog / morphine

Mike64

27/03/2021, 06:26

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Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

My dog Dipsy, a 13-and-a-half-year-old Griffon/Fox Terrier cross, passed away yesterday less than an hour after being given a morphine-based injection.

She was elderly and being treated for hepatitis/blocked bile ducts as well as osteoarthritis... she had actually regained a bit of energy and had been eating well again for a few days... then she jumped off the sofa and landed badly. She was in immediate pain and couldn't put any weight on one of her back legs.

We took her to our vet surgery; she had a dislocated hip and would have needed major, expensive surgery to fix it.

The vet suggested admitting her while we decided whether to go ahead with the operation, which would have been the following Tuesday. Dipsy was old, not exactly in the best of health and not very active... so we were worried about how she'd recover after surgery. We decided to bring her home to discuss it as a family (whether to go through with the op or let her go).

Respecting our decision, the vet gave her a morphine injection for the pain.

When we got back home, Dipsou was panting in pain for a good fifteen minutes and then she relaxed—I assume the medication had kicked in. But then she died about ten minutes later.

I keep telling myself that her heart just gave out under the effect of the morphine... that it must have been very weak already and that she wouldn't have survived the surgery anyway. At least she passed away surrounded by her family, in her own home, rather than alone in a kennel... that brings me some comfort despite everything.

I'd really like to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading.

Translated from French

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Mike64

27/03/2021, 18:08

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* I meant her... or rather, life chose for us....

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Mike64

27/03/2021, 18:05

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Thank you so much to the three of you for your messages of support... fortunately my little rascal, who’s nearly 11 months old now, is helping me keep going and is filling a bit of the void left by our old girl.

@Kalou, we often bump into each other on the cat boards 😉 we often have the same ideas and values, and we’re on the same page here too. We’d already made our decision anyway—not because of the money, but because we really doubted she’d be able to cope with the rehab and walking again, given her age and general condition. I can see you were thinking the same as us. In the end, she—or rather, fate—made the choice for us.

Whether it was the morphine or an embolism... she passed away peacefully, lying on her bed and surrounded by the two of us.

For a little dog who came from a rescue, I think all in all she’s had a lovely life since she was 6 months old. She was saved from a rescue centre that, at the time, tended to put dogs down very quickly, so she’s had her fair share of walks, cuddles, and pals.

@Doudou... that’s just like you. I don’t always check the dog boards regularly, but you’re an amazing person. The mention of Cheyenne really touched me. It sounds a bit sentimental, perhaps, but when I realised she was going, I spoke to her and told her she could go, and that she was going to be reunited with Cheyenne...

She had 11 more months—it wasn’t always easy because of her arthritis—and she taught Roxy, our little Cavalier, so many things.

Thank you so much for mentioning them both; I’m going to miss my old girls so much.

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Doudou229

27/03/2021, 16:48

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Oh Monique, I’ve only just seen the news about Dipsy :-( my heart goes out to you both. It’s such a terrible ordeal to go through again with your poor little old girl... If there is a heaven, I hope she’s there with Cheyenne... Sending you both so much strength.

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Tania28

27/03/2021, 16:42

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Stay strong. It’s the void they leave, the routines you won't have anymore... there's just so much heartache.

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Mike64

27/03/2021, 15:11

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Thank you both so much for your help. I also think that, as hard as it was because it was so sudden, it meant we didn't have to make a very difficult decision.... Now we're just left with the loss and the void... but yes, thankfully there are plenty of wonderful memories. Have a good day

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Vénus17

27/03/2021, 11:23

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Sorry, I see the little girl's name is Dipsy, not Mike.

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Vénus17

27/03/2021, 11:19

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Hi Mike64, Letting a pet go after you’ve shared so much together is always heartbreaking. Try to remember all the good times and the happy life you had together. Mike passed away peacefully; the morphine ensured that the pain faded away in those final moments. You made the right decision, and Mike felt you there by his side right until the very end.

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Jazz17

27/03/2021, 09:22

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Hi @Mike64, First of all, my heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. I’m not a vet, but I truly believe your girl’s passing was as peaceful as it could have been under the circumstances. She passed away in the comfort of your own home, and you were right there by her side until the very end... Perhaps the morphine helped her to let go and ‘eased’ her way; I believe that’s often how it works in end-of-life care for people too, but it really was the best thing for her. She was thirteen and a half, and surgery would only have caused her more pain, with no guarantee that your little one would have recovered anyway. Wishing you and your family lots of strength.

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Mike64

27/03/2021, 09:16

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Actually, I found out a bit more after a call from my vet... his death was almost certainly due to one or more blood clots following his injury, which travelled to the heart or lungs... a pulmonary embolism, then.

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