Hi everyone, I’ve had the devastating news that my French Bulldog, who was only 3 years old, died of cardiac arrest early this afternoon. I'm absolutely heartbroken as I loved her with all my heart, but the circumstances have left me with so many questions and I’d like to know what you all think.
My girl had a bit of a heart condition; she’d actually collapsed once before after running around too much in the sun. She wasn't the kind of dog you could take out for long, especially during a heatwave. A week ago, I went on holiday somewhere warm and left her with two people. I made it very clear to them that she was quite delicate and not to leave her in the sun for too long... This afternoon, they called me and well, you know the rest...
However, the circumstances seem a bit strange to me. Apparently, they’d only taken her out for a few minutes (maybe 5 or 10) and that’s when the cardiac arrest happened? It seems odd because she wasn't exactly made of glass (she was only 3, after all). Her first collapse happened after she’d been active for about half an hour; I used to take her out regularly for 15 minutes or more and never had a problem, other than her getting a bit out of breath. What do you think? Do you reckon it was down to negligence or just awful luck? (Though it seems like too much of a coincidence). Is it also possible that my being away stressed her out?
Either way, I’m just so sad. She was such a sweetheart, a real bundle of love. This feeling that I didn't get enough time with her and that she didn't get to live her life to the full is weighing on me heavily, and I don't think it's going to get any easier soon.
Thanks for reading.
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
I know exactly how you feel, I’ve just lost my Newton, also a French Bulldog, only a week ago under similar circumstances. He was only three and a half and such a bundle of energy! I went away for a three-day weekend and my mum was popping in every day to take him out and feed him. The day I got back, I found him dead in my flat – it was the worst day of my life. I don’t know what happened; people suggested choking, a heart attack, poisoning... but no vet could tell me for sure what went wrong. He seemed fine. I’ll never have an answer, I’ll never know if he suffered, and the guilt of knowing it happened while I wasn’t there, that I wasn’t there for him and he died all alone, just breaks my heart. I even found myself feeling angry at my mum... all the "what ifs". Unfortunately, as cute as these dogs are, they have very fragile health; my Newton had recently started suffering from stones. I did everything I was supposed to do and I still lost him anyway. It’s so brutal and shocking to lose a pet that way while you're away, but it was his time; he lived life to the full, always playing like mad with his toys, he never knew when to stop. He loved swimming and just being a normal dog, even though he wasn't really; I should have probably restrained him more or held him back, but I never wanted to restrict him. I just couldn't do it, even though I should have known better given how delicate this breed is. My only consolation is that he really lived life to the absolute fullest. My only advice is to be so careful when you take on this type of dog; even though you can’t help but love them, they are so fragile that you have to be incredibly careful. Sending you so much strength, I truly share your pain.
Unfortunately, I’m not a vet, or even a dog owner myself, but I’d really advise you not to let this painful loss consume you... We often see people on the forum who fall into a depression and stop leaving the house after their dog passes away... Just think, your dog loved you so much that they would be heartbroken to know their owner wasn't happy anymore... I’m not saying you should just forget them, but you do need to keep going, as that’s what your dog would have wanted... I’m not sure if this helps at all...
Hi there,
I’m so sorry to hear about your dog – as Docline mentioned, they’ve become such a fragile breed because they’re so over-bred these days, and heart problems are very common. I have a friend with a Frenchie; he’s her first and he’ll definitely be her last. He’s had breathing and heart issues, kidney problems that mean he needs prescription vet dry food, and skin conditions as well.
On top of your sadness, please don’t beat yourself up; it almost certainly would have happened even if she’d been with you. You mentioned these ‘people’, but you didn't leave your dog with total strangers; you trusted them when you went away. Perhaps – and I really mean perhaps – they didn’t quite realise just how incredibly fragile your dog was, but you can’t really hold that against them – only an owner truly knows their own dog inside out.
I’m so sorry. Everyone here understands your pain and how heartbroken you must be. Your dog was a breed known for being quite fragile, and I honestly believe it would have happened just the same regardless, sadly. It’s just awful having that sense of doubt weighing on you on top of all the grief.
Good evening,
I’m no expert when it comes to heart issues in dogs, but what you’re saying does sound a bit strange... it might be worth having a chat with your vet to try and make sense of it all. I think it might help you feel a bit better and ease the pain a little.
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss... I know how hard it is and how it just tears you apart. Your girl was so young; she was taken far too soon. You never feel like you’ve had enough time together. But seeing how much you care and how much you’re hurting, I’m sure she knew how lucky she was to have you.
Sadly, there’s no miracle cure for a loss like this, other than time.
I truly hope with all my heart that you find the comfort you need to pull through... Don’t let yourself get bogged down in regrets; it wasn't your fault. No matter what we do, we can't change the course of fate, even when life takes away those who mean the most to us.
Don’t shut yourself away—talk to those around you and share your favourite memories; they are absolutely priceless.
Sending you all my support,
Sarah.
