This is a very sad story...
I had my friend come and knock on my door on Wednesday night crying and very upset, she asked me to go to her house as her Rottie Zena was acting strange shaking, flinching, and panting uncontrollably. She didn't want to call the vet out unecessarily (was about 10:30pm) But on seeing her I said we should take her straight away. They also have another dog a little yorkie called Blade. He was fine, they had been in the garden together for about 45 mns (nothing unusual) I called the vets to get them to meet us there and rushed zena the rottie over as fast as possible. When we got there the vet was just assessing her for temp etc and asking lot's of q's. In the mean time my mobile rang and it was my friends husband saying that the little yorkie was fitting and doing the same things as zena had been and what could he do as he couldn't come to the vets as the children were all there. The vet then realised that this was a case of poisoning so advised to make the dog sick using soda crystals or soda bicarb. Zena was having the same treatment. They also gave her an injection etc to make her calm down and to help her sleep as she wasn't too bad by now (hopefully caught what ever it was in time before it got right into her system)  Rushed home with zena and my friend, her husband hadn't managed to make the yorkie sick but with some help of an extra pair of hands managed to make the little guy sick.  He still seemed bad so he was rushed off too the vets also and had drugs to help him sleep etc. (unfortunately my friend didn't have any money so the vets were limiting treatment without some sort of monetry payment) bill being of about £200 by now they couldn't hospitalise him. So he was brought back home and was still no better by the morning. once the drugs had worn off the fitting started to come back etc so they had to have him put to sleep. They are all devastated about this and it goes to show how easy it is for something like this to happen. We think it is possibly from rat poison (but we don't know for sure ) They have fields behind them so don't know if the neighbours have laid it or maybe the local farmer but either way it is a tragic accident. Zena has recovered nicely and is back to herself, although missing her little playmate. R.I.P little Blade  Take care at the bridge, you left at such a young age (18 months)

So please all be aware of stuff like rat poison and slugg pellets etc as I wouldn't want to wish this on anyone......

Oh poor little guy - sleep well Blade - so young to be going to the bridge.

that's so sad, run free at the bridge Blade xx

Tragic - your friend must be inconsolable :(   I'm so glad that Zena was seen in good time but poor little Blade :(

Unfortunately some people do put out things to deter or poison other things that are poisonous to our dogs and something like this is a stark reminder to us all to be so much more vigilant.

Anti-freeze is exceptionally dangerous to our pets and very sweet tasting (apparently) which means they are likely to lick it - I never let mine near roadsides, gutters, etc because I'm terrified someone will have discarded or spilt some and of course there will be no shortage of it being used at this time of year :(

Run free little guy. Teri x

That is awful, what a tragic story. :(

Such a sad story, awful!

Ohh I'm so sorry for your friends and you of course. I have 2 wee Yorkies myself and they are just sooo precious I can't imagine anything like that happening to them...it would tear us apart. You're right to spread caution about all these things lying around or used by people without thinking. I am so very sorry...I don't really know what to say...excpet run free Blade...it makes me cry which is why I don't read these things normally...it was the 'just a little Yorkie' title that drew me in! Please pass on my condolences! All the best, Dawn

cannot believe the vet was only interested in the money! outrageous! i hope they report him. surely money could be sorted later.

Hi Emz77,

It certainly is a sad story and how devastating for your neighbour. :-( and the poor dogs.

I'm sure that the vet did do everything that was needed unfortunatley with poisons it is hard to treat not knowing what the poison is, making the dogs sick and the injection is the best course of action and then it is a case of waiting to see. The Yorkie being smaller would have been affected much worse with his little body. :-(

Going on from sara1bee's post I am sure that if the vet could have offered any other treatment he would have, money can be paid off in instalments if your neighbour did not have insurance, a vet would not put a life before money I am sure it would be against their moral ethics. With poisons you just have to hope that you can get it out of the system, hospitalization probably would not have helped some vets may have done it, (it is extra money as you say) but I doubt there was any other treatment to be given apart from being watchful and having your fingers crossed that the poison was vomitted up. When the vet assessed that the poison was only destroying the little ones body and continuing suffering then it was best to put the poor little one to sleep.

I would make sure that the poor little dogs story is highlighted in the neighbourhood to make everyone is fully aware of what has happened and hopefully the people responsible will not do it again, how can people be so silly and reckless.

It is an upsetting post, but you have highlighted the signs of possible poisonings for others to act on quickly. With poisons every minute counts.