I can't give you anything but my condolences on your very big loss.

 

Thank you

 

What a sweet face. That's a big loss. We all understand how that feels. Grieve and heal well.

 

Sigh, I am so sorry about your dog. My dog last week had almost the same thing: wouldn't eat, wouldn't get up, very week and lost weight dramatically. I got her in that day, and they did bloodwork, gave her fluids and an injection for nausea. Her red blood cells were good, here kidney function was bad, and her electrolytes all over the place. That was Wednesday, by Saturday, she was emaciated, 49 pounds, frail, weak, back to the vet to get urine, and more fluids. The vet that day thought maybe it was Addison's because her sodium was so low. She gave her a steroid shot. That turned her around. I took her monday to get tested for Addison's and she does not have it. I was thinking I might have to make that decision. My girl is seven. I understand how harrowing it is to be at this point, and I'm sorry. They used to give shepherds 10-12 years. Some are saying 8-10 now. I guess the thing to do is to reflect that he was happy and healthy until the very end, when he went down pretty fast. It is terribly sad, but he had a good life, and you did not let him suffer and was there for him in the end. When it is sudden like this it is hardest for the survivors.

 

This scares me. Our Neeka is just 7. But 8-10? Condolences to all who have lost a furbaby

 

Sending hugs your way. Sleep tight big man. 💕

 

Sorry for your loss.

It could have been hemangiosarcoma. This causes occult blood loss that can manifest in several different ways. The loss of blood count and quick demise fit. It is very common in GSD.
There is a cultural distrust of vaccines right now but millions of them are administered without issue every year.
Just words. Everything living has a time and our need to make it logical and understandable doesn't really change anything.

 

I’m so sorry. I lost an 8 year old suddenly just like that not long ago. It was hemangio. They are never with us long enough. I recovered by getting two new dogs, but not at the same time.

 

So sorry for your loss. The heartbreak is hard.

 

part of the grieving process is trying to figure out what happened. In the back of the mind we want to know what went wrong and go back in time and try someway to change the outcome. Of course that is impossible but we think it anyhow, especially when the loss is sudden. We lost our big-boy just before he turned eight. It seemed sudden until I started to think back about clues I over looked.

I had two dogs pass away shortly after getting their teeth cleaned. I know that the dental work didn't cause it but the coincidence is hard to shake. It could be the same with the vaccination .

 

I'm so sorry. Just a year ago we lost our 10.5 year old girl. She had seemed off, so the vet ran a complete panel on her. Everything came back fine, so we just assumed aging. She passed away 2 weeks later, it seemed like hemangio from her symptoms. Our only blessing was she wasn't in pain and passed away at home with me quietly and peacefully. It's so hard when we don't know for sure, and try to think what else we could have done. Your boy looked well loved and cared for. Peace be with you.

 

When we see our dogs every day we do not notice the changes in their appearance. I let my Jasper go last June. When I look at pictures of him in April, and then June of that year, there is big difference. But I did not see it. It was his behavior the last 2 weeks when I knew something was not right. I believe it was hemangio. He was 13 years and 4 months.

Corrected - Jasper was 13 years, not 10.

 

Sorry for your loss... It does sound like Hemangiosarcoma, which is very common in GSD's now. Hemangio is a very fast Cancer, and they go down hill quickly, due to the tumor rupturing and they bleed out internally. I lost one to it, several years ago. She had been fine, but I noticed her slowing down, which wasn't surprising at her age, but when she wouldn't get up and eat or drink, I knew something was wrong, and made the decision the next morning. It's never easy and they just are not here long enough.

 

I hope it helps to know that most of us know the loss of a well loved dog all too well. The only thing that has ever got me through is a good cry and finding a new pup to love on. I'm a mess without a dog in the house.

 

Thank you everyone for the kinds words and for sharing your experiences. German Shepherds truly are incredible creatures that become so deeply connected to us. We're missing ours immensely.

 

I am so very sorry. Hemangio took my beloved Eli at age 8

 

I am so sorry for your loss, I know the heartbreak of having a seemingly healthy dog one day and them being gone two weeks later! I hope you don’t focus too hard on the why, sometimes that’s a question that isn’t meant to have a clear cut answer. Someday you will think of him and a smile will come to your face remembering the good times.