Boston Terrier sudden death

Question
Hello Charlotte,
My boyfriend's dog sadly died yesterday unexpectedly and we just want to know possibly why.  I noticed she had red eyes the previous day, she was constipated, and acting a little unusual but nothing so severe that we thought could be serious.  She did not eat her food that day and would not poop.  While sleeping later in the afternoon, she passed away.  She was an 8-yr old Boston Terrier and was perfectly healthy.  We had recently changed her dog food from a Pedigree brand to a Purina Beneful but that was a few weeks earlier at least so I don't know if that would have any affect.  There was no bleeding of any sort, no diarrhea, no severe pain, etc. like many dog diseases I've tried to lookup.  I thought perhaps maybe something with the liver, but keep in mind it was a very sudden death only about 2 days of any possible illness.  If you could help, that would be wonderful.  Thank you.  --Kelsey

Answer
Kelsey -

I am sorry to hear of the loss of your dog. It seems as though the death of your pup was not as sudden as you think it was; if she did not eat and would not use the bathroom then possibly something was bothering her and you did not know it.  There are many possibilities why she may have passed away, but without the benefit of a  post mortem exam and having no history on your dog's health, unfortunately, there is no way for me to determine why she died.


Your dog's medical history is  extremely important.  Did she have regular vet visits?  Was she on a heartworm preventative?  Talk it over with your veterinarian; he/she should be more familiar with your pet's medical history and would be more equipped to tell you the cause of your pup's passing away.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM