dog sudden death

Question
my brother had a 7yr old wiler mixed w pitbull and chow chow who passes away on sunday 9/14. she was fine the day before she was only getting injections for allergies every four days. all there was on the floor was a white foam from her trying to puke the autopsy showed that her stomach twisted and that she could not pass gas. please help my brother is devastated. thank you

Answer
Hi Dalila,

Thank you for writing to me. I apologize for the delay in responding.

There is nothing more devastating than the unexpected death of a puppy.  She developed a terrible condition called bloat, highly uncommon in young dogs.  I understand the shock and pain that your brother is experiencing. Only time will ease the pain but there are some things that he can do to help get through this.  On the internet there are sites where he can share his grief with others, post a memorial for his puppy, etc.  He can build a little monument to his dog, make a donation to a worthy animal cause in her name, keep a grief diary, write a farewell letter to his dog, etc.  

What your brother needs is closure.  The mourning period is different for each person but the steps I have mentioned can help with closure.

A ceremony with close family and friends is very important, whether it be at the grave sight or a memorial ceremony with flowers and parting words.

My heart goes out to him and to the puppy.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis