i lost my best friend on the 17 july 2002[ murphy] giant schnauzer gentle as a lamb, but when the need came like a roaring lion, he was only 6 years old when he went to the big kennel in the sky, he woke me up about 1-30am when i let him out he was sick a numerous times,he seemed to settle down but he woke me up again and was sick again i phoned the vets and took him there, the vet stated murphy was very bad but he did not know what the matter with him was, he give him two jabs and put him on a drip, two hours later he was dead, a p/m was done the senior vet said it was bowel torsion that had killed murphy, he also said he had only came accross this twice in over 30years of practice, i asked if the duty vet who treated murphy should have spotted what was the matter with murphy, he said no vet would of spotted it either, i find this very had to belive can anybody help me,e mail- murphygrowl@aol.com

Terribly sorry to read this - we nearly lost our old Barti with a twisted gut some two years ago - luckily our vets were on the ball enough to spot it, and operated immediately. The hurt never really goes when you lose your friend, and in Murphy's case he was way too young.

So sad for you

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I would also have found it hard to believe that a vet would not have suspected bowel torsion. I know that vets need to rule out the more common illnesses first but, in cases like Murphy's, time is of the essence. Years ago my rough collie escaped misdiagnosis by a hair's breadth - the vet was about to give him an injection for excess stomach gas, but at the last minute he had second thoughts and did a more thorough examination. It turned out to be a large hernia which needed immediate surgery. Fortunately everything was OK but it was quite scary to think what could have happened if the tear had gone unnoticed.
I am so sorry you weren't as fortunate.
It is particularly devastating when you lose a dog very quickly and unexpectedly.
Time and good memories will help you cope.
Joyce

I am so sorry for your loss. My darling Weim went to doggy heaven on 14th July last year, he also had torsion. The regulars on this board will know all the details, so I won't go through it again for fear of boring everyone!

Just to say, we called our vet in the middle of the night, he heard the symptoms and said bring him in immediately. As we walked through the door he told us he suspected torsion and after examining him confirmed our worst fears. He was pts there and then. Four hours' discomfort for Zico, and he died aged 13 in his Daddy's arms. There are worse ways for a dog to die. But you are never ready to lose them and for you to lose Murphy so suddenly and at only 6, you must be heart-broken.

My vet discussed it with us afterwards, saying he has been in practice for 20 years and used to see 1 or 2 torsions a year but that now he is seeing 9 or 10. There doesn't seem to be a reason for this, although he suggested it might be dried food. With Kaiser we take all the recommended precautions, as you can imagine. Feeding at shoulder-height, no exercise immediately before or after a meal, stopping him drinking enormous amounts of water at one sitting, having water available 24/7.

I find it hard to believe that a vet wouldn't suspect torsion, but then that could be because it’s now permanently at the front of my mind. Good luck with your research, and good luck with the broken heart.

Linda & Kaiser
:)