Hi,

I am not really sure why I am posting this to be honest.  Maybe it's just good to talk to other dog lovers.  I have a 2 yr old GSD and on Sunday we decided to go on an 8 mile walk.  He is very fit and is walked and run every single day.  It was an organised walk so had around 20 people on it.  He was very very excited and pulled on his lead for around the first mile.  He started to tire and at the half way point, he drunk about 3 bowls of water.  He was then sick whilst still on the break.  We thought he had just drank too fast.  We started off again for the second half of the walk and he had diarreah (sp).  Again, not that bad and he seemed better for it. 

After a while, he began to slow down and eventually refused to walk.  Very quickly his condition deteriorated and he collapsed.  We carried him a mile and a half to the car which was no mean feat but adrenalin made us manage.  We called ahead to the vet and when we got there they had to fight to save his life.  We didn't realise things had gotten so bad.  His temperature was 107 degrees and he had gone into shock.  They stablised him by putting him on 2 drips and giving him glucose shots and thought we might be able to take him home later that night. 

However when they were taking an x-ray, the vet noticed purple spots developing all over him.  He had to be transferred to the Royal Vetinary Hospital and received 4 units of plasma by transfusion as it turned out he wasn't clotting his blood properly.  The vet was confused about what caused this as it seemed he had heat stroke but the scenario just wasn't typical to cause this in a fit, young healthy dog.  He has only just come out of intensive care today and we might get him home on Friday.

I am a total wreck and keep crying and feel so guilty I didn't spot that he was ill before the collapse.  I read on the internet that in very rare cases, a dog can work itself in a state of heat stroke by over excitement.  I am thinking this could be it but wil obviously talk in depth to the vet when we collect him.  People have said to me that maybe it is best it happened this way as if I had taken him home maybe he would have died in his sleep and I would have just thought he was resting after being sick.

On the plus side, the vets have commented that he is a very sweet dog and giving everyone lots of kisses! I miss him so so much and can't wait to get him home.

Thanks for reading, it feels better to get it all off my chest in a way.

What a horrible and scary experience for you. It sounds as if he is on the road to recovery now and I'm sure he will be glad to be home with you.

i feel for you and hope your dog gets better soon.
do you think this had something to do with the heat then
x

How awful.. Sending well wishes Lois

big hugs for you and your boy, what a scare you must have had! glad he seems to be mending

Awww  fingers crossed he makes a full recovery.

What a terrifying experience!
I've been through something similar, so I know what adrenaline can do for you.
Big hug to your boy, hope he's coming home soon.
Karen

Thanks for everyone's messages.  I was scared everyone would say I was stupid for not spotting it etc.  It wasn't actually hot on Sunday which is why the vets are confused about the heat stroke.  When we were carrying him it was even raining a bit.  I follow a lot of advice on here such as never walking dogs in the sun.  I just don't generally post very often because I am a chicken!!

They are going to test his clotting ability again tomorrow which will decide whether he is getting closer to coming home.  The constant knot in my stomach is unbearable.

sending you heaps of wishes for his quick recovery.

Thank you for posting , this time of year we can all be fooled into thinking its not too hot for a nice walk with our dogs even if it is raining and dull, it shows us to all be very aware of the fact of how dangerous it can be when a dog overheats , sometimes I feel so mean not taking my girls out or prevent them from running mad in the garden this time of year , one of my dogs suffers from 'exercise induced collapase syndrome'  during the summer months very scary to watch indeed it also is usually brought on when she is hot and excited.

I hope your boy is home very soon.

Roni

So sorry to hear about your boy and I hope he is back home with you very very soon.

That must have been a terrible experience for you.  Hope all goes well and sending best wishes.

What an awful experience.  You must have been so worried.  But don't beat yourself up about it.  You did the right thing as soon as it was obvious something more serious was wrong.

I hope your boy will be well soon -how scary. As he is a GSD, is it possible he has Haemophilia? Was his father tested for it?

I have good news; he is home.  A very sleepy puppy dog indeed - it seems as though he managed as much sleep as us since Sunday!  The vets and nurses were all amazing and they said that he had heat stroke which in very rare cases can be caused by over excitement.  His clotting ability is getting back to normal and all tests for any underlying illnesses came back negative.  MarianneB - test for haemophilia was negative and I don't know whether his father was tested for it.  The breeder never mentioned that this test had been done and I would never thought to have asked.  I will get in touch to find out.

I guess it is normal but I can't stop watching his breathing and worrying that something is wrong.  He is totally exhausted and didn't want to eat anything but funnily enough accepted a bit of cheese!  I needed to check whether he was just being fussy!

Thanks again for all the kind messages.  This is a great forum with a wealth of good advice and I will not be so shy to post in future xx

so pleased your boy is home and on the mend.
let him eat what he likes a bit of fussing will buck him up no end!

What a frightening thing to happen so glad it had a happy end.

So glad to hear he is back home!

So glad he is back home - I'm sure you will be watching him like a hawk for the next few days and that he will take full advantage of it :-D