Dr. Dodds on My Dog's Death

Becky · 03-30-2008, 07:54 AM

After reviewing my information, Dr. Dodds told me that it was the aspirin that I was giving my dog that killed her. I do not blame the vet because I should have known better. The first we gave her three weeks before--I barely gave her a fourth of what he recommended. This time I gava it 2X a day one half of 325 mg. Not only that I thought it was every 8 not 12 hours She said the reason it was not DIC as he had put on autopsy was because platelets went to almost 0-they were 9. In DIC they are in the thousands. I talked to him yesterday about the aspirin--he said her body was ravaged and he didn't believe there was a doubt that it was some kind of immune disease. Even before Dr. Dodds wrote back I knew. I had been onthe computer nonstop for days--and then It just all came together. I even told them on Sat. I thought she bleeding from aspirin. I am numb--I killed my dog. YOu have all been so nice on here. I appreciate everything you wrote me.

borzoimom · 03-30-2008, 08:47 AM

That is interesting she would say that. I was wondering the same thing as with anemia, and asprin thins the blood even more. However I was not sure enough to mention it as a possibility. Self medicating can make a underlying problem worse. Anytime I give one of my dogs some medication they have not had before, I check with the vet first. Dr.Dodds is an amazing person. I am glad you contacted her.

Becky · 03-30-2008, 08:59 AM

Borziomom
I was fully to blame but I did go to my vet. The first time she was not abale to get up I called him and he prescribed the aspirin. I used myb etter judgment and only gave half as much. Then a week later she got down and I called him at night. He prescribed bufferin at those doses. Where I went horribly wrong was that I didn't do as I did the first time and give only half of what he prescribed. Thank you for all you have done.

borzoimom · 03-30-2008, 09:05 AM

I understand Becky what you are saying- but in defense of your vet ( and you) neither of you knew the condition was present. Its a hard disease to diagnose until its horribly obvious and too late. While you have your answer- it still goes back to the original statement- there is no one to blame here as the disease takes off like a rocket. "Blame" here doesn't fit. While I realize " blame" is a human emotion, its not "blame"- its a " situational occurance".

I recommended Dr.Dodds because I have met no one else that knows more about this condition than she does.

Becky · 03-30-2008, 09:15 AM

Borziomom
Thank you so much for talking to me--but I think you have misunderstood. Dr. Dodds doesn't believe it has anything to do with the immune diseases--nothing at all. My vet said the first time when I was hesitant to use the aspirin that it was well-tolerated by dogs. Dr. Dodds said the opposite. I think I might have gotten by with it had I waited the full 12 hours. He said twice a day and I was so stupid I thught every 8 hours. Oh, God, it just gets worse and worse. I knew this on Sat. when I went in--I told them her stools were black but they thought it might have been change in diet. By the time I noticed pale gums it was too late. In otherwards, it was nothing but aspirin overdose. My dog wasn't acting sick simply because of arthritis. She got worse and worse and I gave her the aspirin. She wasn't havaing trouble getting up from the arthritis--it was the aspirin. Again thank you for listening.

borzoimom · 03-30-2008, 09:21 AM

My point is- its easy in hind-sight mode to see what caused something. But would not have been as obvious before hand. Like a car crash of being hit by someone that runs a red light. Before hand how would you know that car would run the red light- where as "hind-sight" would say if you had not been in the intersection at the time. Same thing here.
I know how you feel. I am feeling the same a little with the situation I have with Galina. While the emotion is there, I am not falling " prey" to its action. When Galina missed the first time there was too much evidence it was the procedure done at the time. There was no evidence that Galina has a problem. Now we are dealing with the after math. Seeing things in hind sight does help at all. The situation is just that- the situation. And decissions were made off of the "evidence" at the time. .. See???

Becky · 03-30-2008, 09:21 AM

Then the tech at the vet's tells me later that she never uses aspirin because of this very thing and she almost told me to get my dog in here fast when I told them about the stools. But of course she didn't. I want to make it very clear tht I do not blame the vet or anyone there whatsoever. Libbie and I could have made it with the arthritis. In fact, I was going to call the chiropractor about acupuncture for her. Too bad I didn't do that . I only wish there were something or someone to blame--but there isn't. You know, I can't believe this is happening to me again. Two years ago my horse had eye cancer. By the time I caught it it was too late to have it operated on. She had lost an eye in an injury so I assumed it was proud flesh. I got her back to looking really good and thought we could fight the cancer with food and nutrition. I foundered her and watcher her be euthanized. I don't know what it is about me, but I will tell you this--I am not very smart. I don't mean that to get sympathy--it is just a fact. My brother says I push things to the edge--I always want everything right--it didn't matter that her arthritis was bad--I had been carrying her in and out for three months anyway. I would have done anything--it didn't matter. Why oh why.

Orange County Ca · 03-30-2008, 05:32 PM

Have you considered that you may have helped your dog a long lingering death? S/he may have preferred your option having been given a choice.

One of my fears as I approach that day myself is that a well meaning family member won't let me go when I need to.

Stop beating yourself up over this. You did what you could do and no one expects you or the vets to be perfect.