My dog (as most of you know from my previous question of how do you know when to put your dog to sleep?)is a 16 year old Bichon. She stopped using her doggie door a few months ago and stopped going down the deck stairs months before that. Well, I found her outside, about 500 feet from my house, in the woods. She had to have been out for a few hours. In the snow at 12 degree weather.

I put her by the stove with a good rubbing. She didn't want any part of it (doesn't like to be pet any longer) Gave her warm food and fresh water. And put two sweaters on her. She stopped shivering and is resting comfortably. Is there anything else I can do?

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 22, 2000

Answers

Dee, I sent Julie an email to check this thread, since she is the "dog expert" in the family (I do the cats). I would guess that you just need to keep an eye on her and make sure she is behaving normally for her current state. I would think it possible that she could go into shock, but hopefully not.

Now, do you think she got out through the doggie door? If she hasn't been using it and hasn't been doing steps, you must have been solving the need to "go out" somehow. So if you think she got out the pet door, maybe you should block it up. Sounds like she couldn't figure out how to get back to the house. Julie's dog is 16 also, and is getting togged up in two coats when she goes outside. Don't know if that works for your situation or not, since you apparently didn't PUT her outside.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 22, 2000.

Feel the insides of her ears and gums and mouth. It shouldn't be cold. Use a hair dryer to warm her up real good if you think she needs more. Oatmeal is good. And hot cornbread. I know you must be quite upset, but thank goodness you found her and she seems to be allright.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 22, 2000.

Hi Dee. Sorry to hear about what you're going through with your dog. I don't have any advice to offer, but I know how it feels as I'm going through it with a horse. He's only 9 years old, but harness racing was hard on him and he has a hock accumulating calcium. Not even high-tech ultrasound treatment will take it away so we're keeping him on herbal supplements with natural painkillers and stuff to keep the joint as flexable as possible. He's getting grumpy being idle(he's turned out with the rest and will even jog around with them, but he has an obvious limp). The day will come when that hock will freeze right up on him and we'll have no choice but to put him down and I dread that day, he's been a real sweetheart with the kids. You have my sympathies.

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), December 22, 2000.

Cindy, I did use the dryer on her legs, forgot to mention. Her ears and mouth are nice and toasty. Good idea, thanks.

Joy, Julie said she was going away. I'm not sure when so I didn't ask her for advice. Crystal has trouble walking now too. A couple of times I had to pick her up as she was wetting because she fell into it. I have newspaper down for her and she is comfined. She would sometimes stick her nose out the doggie door, just to smell but stopped going out. You can believe I'll keep the door closed from now on.

She looks like she's doing fine. I gave her some vitamin paste also. You know, they say a dog will wander off when they are ready to die. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Thanks for the help.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 22, 2000.

Dee:

You are likely correct in that she intentionally went out into the woods to die. It is true dogs will do this, as if they want to spare their masters grief. I suspect you have only delayed the inevitable.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 23, 2000.

Sorry Ken but I have to disagree. In 16 years of Veterinary practice I know of very few instances where dogs went out to die on their own. Most of the time they do it in their familiar surroundings. More than likely the dog is somewhat senile (decreased cognitive function as the jargon calls it) My old poodle did a couple of walk abouts and got lost in the woods before we got smart enough to bell her and watch her like a hawk. She lived another 2 years after that. They lose a lot of their senses at that age (sight, hearing, sense of smell etc) and simply get disoriented. Anyway, sounds like the threat of hpyothermia is over. Best treatment is to warm them up and give them karo syrup for a sugar boost. dogs are hardier that you think!!

-- teresa (teresam@ascent.net), December 23, 2000.

Teresa:

I have to defer to your knowledge of the field. My experience is limited to neighbors who relate case-after-case of a dog going off by itself at the end. Whether disorientation, etc. I still think they knew the end was at hand and decided on their own to have life end.

I give you the case of my grandmother on mom's side. She lived by herself until into her mid-80s. A neighbor checked on her every other day. One morning she found grandmother in bed. She was wearing the dress she had said she wanted to be buried in. The covers were neatly under her armpits. In her hands was a rosary. One might make the case she slept like that every night, but I doubt it.

I think both people and animals can tell when their natural death is at hand and respond to it. Some call it 'winding down.' I say, so be it.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 23, 2000.

If you suspect frostbite, you should never rub the skin. Ice crystals can develop under the skin and rubbing it could cause severe tissue trauma. Aside from that, as a pet guardian who has been through multiple deaths recently, I share your pain and sense of panic when they go out and don't come back in. I'm glad it worked out well for you and I hope it continues to do so.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), December 23, 2000.

UPDATE: She is fine today. Acting like nothing ever happened. Thanks again. (teresa, I gave her Nuta-Cal, thanks)

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 23, 2000.

Hey thanks for the update I was hoping everything was ok- I think I have to say that if we want our old dogs to stay around we have to take extra care. Maybe it is a natural instinct to go off and die, but if we're lucky enough to have someone watching out for us the inevitable can be postponed. Best of Luck and give your pup a big hug! Joy

-- Joy (JNews1223@hotmail.com), December 29, 2000.

What a wonderful thread to read, not only because of the advice given, but because of the kindness and empathy expressed in an effort to help!

-- Joanne Schaefer (JoOhio1@aol.com), January 03, 2001.