Could it have been hypoglycemia that killed Millie?

[shell820810]

As you know, Millie died 6 days after her spay. She hadnt eaten in 7 days, and could hardly keep water down.

I said all along that I thought that she was too weak, because she hadden eaten in so long, but the vets said they had to concentrate on her keeping the water down without being sick.

Because she had two surgeries and anesthetics in 5 days, it was too risky to sedate her to put her on a drip.

I was giving her glucose & nutrical every hour, and she had picked up earlier that day she died.

Her symptoms seem common to hypoglycemia; she had a shaking head, her legs were very wobby when she walked, she was very weak and distant.

The vet was going to put her on the drip the next morning, but she died during the night.

They were still talking about it today - they cant understand it, there was no bleeding, no infections, no sign of any other internal problems from the surgery.

Do you think thats what it could of been, and is there anything I could of done differently? I was giving her glucose and nutrical every hour to get her strength up a bit for the drip.

Now I wonder if we should've just taken the chance with the drip.

She was one year old and 5lb, so not a normal hypoglycemia case.

I just cant get by this, and the what ifs and whys....

[TLC]

Ahh...I don't know, but I am so sorry for your loss...

Did she have any blood work done? I wonder if there was an underlying liver issue?

[amandawash]

I'm thinking it would have been more likey a liver problem. Poor Millie. I am so sorry for your loss.

[KJLive]

I don't know either. This is so sad. I just too had my Sophie spayed last month. The Vet offered all kinds of "pre testing" that were optional for the dog owner. I took advantage of all of them as I was so afraid..... One of them was a testing to see if she would have any problems with the isoflurane. Could precious Millie been allergic to the anesthesia?
My heart weeps for you....

[shell820810]

I'm not sure if she had bloodwork done. Its doesnt seem to be something that is mentioned over here that much. Not sure if thats because it is normally done or because it isnt.

[Ellie May]

If there was nothing anatomically wrong and the vet is certain that everything looked okay the second time they went in, yes, I would wonder about hypo also.

Did the vet tell you that he couldn't do an IV with her awake?

[manolos mom]

Im not sure. I think something went wrong during the surgery. So sad this happened to a health dog. My heart hurts for you....

[shell820810]

Originally Posted by amandawash

I'm thinking it would have been more likey a liver problem. Poor Millie. I am so sorry for your loss.

If it was a liver problem, would I have seen any symptoms before. Is it something that would've kicked in a some stage even if we hadnt got her spayed? Or is it something they could've treated.

I never got the option of any tests. Again, I dont know if it just that vet, or if the procedure is different in the UK, but the vets do have a really good reputation.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by shell820810

I'm not sure if she had bloodwork done. Its doesnt seem to be something that is mentioned over here that much. Not sure if thats because it is normally done or because it isnt.

Another concern would be that her liver was functioning properly.
A special blood test could tell you.
Maybe she just didn't process the anesthesia properly but weren't there complications?

[shell820810]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

If there was nothing anatomically wrong and the vet is certain that everything looked okay the second time they went in, yes, I would wonder about hypo also.

Did the vet tell you that he couldn't do an IV with her awake?

He said it could distress her too much if she wasnt sedated for it. He was really shocked to hear she died. He didnt think she was that bad, but she picked herself up when she went in there because I think she was on her defences. He didnt see how bad she was when she was at home, I tried explaining, but I suppose its hard to put it in context.

[shell820810]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Another concern would be that her liver was functioning properly.
A special blood test could tell you.
Maybe she just didn't process the anesthesia properly but weren't there complications?

Well she was fine the day she came home, you wouldnt have thought she had been in surgery at all, and then day by day she became more lethargic, and they had to resort to opening her up again to see if there was anything wrong internally.

They did find some adhesions, but the vet said all along that they didnt think they were bad enough to make her in the state she was in.

[mscat]

Not eating for a entire week is a long time for a little dog to go without food . That would concern me . I am very sorry for your loss of your precious Millie.

[shell820810]

Originally Posted by mscat

Not eating for a entire week is a long time for a little dog to go without food . That would concern me . I am very sorry for your loss of your precious Millie.

Yes I was concerned too. She had to be fasted from 12 noon day before spay. She ate a tiny bit the day she came home from the spay but then had diahorrea, and then couldnt even keep down water after that. She couldnt eat, and we had to syringe her with water to keep her hydrated. She didnt want it either. She was being sick all the time. She actually hadnt vomitted from 4pm the day she died, so it was starting to look hopeful for her.

[bchgirl]

Dogs can live for quite a while without food...however death by dehydration can happen quickly. When Reese was ill....he received sub q fluids...THREE times within 1 week...even with my attempts to keep him hydrated.

I'm very sorry for your loss. I understand blaming yourself for what you should've, could've, would've done...I've been there and it just wasn't meant to be.

[shell820810]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Dogs can live for quite a while without food...however death by dehydration can happen quickly. When Reese was ill....he received sub q fluids...THREE times within 1 week...even with my attempts to keep him hydrated.

I'm very sorry for your loss. I understand blaming yourself for what you should've, could've, would've done...I've been there and it just wasn't meant to be.

Thats why the vet wanted to concentrate on keeping her hydrated. And at no stage was she dehydrated, though it was because we had to be persistant and make her take the water even when she didnt want it. Hourly checks during the night.

I still think that she was just too weak to fight whatever was wrong with her.