[UnderDog]

It is with great pain that I have to announce the death of duke, an 11 year old Northern Inuit. My beautiful baby boy died 3 days ago. We had taken onto our land and put him out into the enclosed pen, unbeknown to us the pen was also occupying a nest of rats. duke being his typical self went over to investigate and managed to catch, kill and eat half of the mothering rat before we realised what was happening (me and the OH had taken up 12 dogs, so we were undoing collars/harnesses to allow them a good run around), I rushed over and managed to push Khan away and clip his leash back on, and we then got the rest of the dogs and headed back to the house, it was only about 12 minutes walk back to the house and a 5 minute dash to the vets but by the time we got there it was more then obvious he had something going wrong. The vet gave him sub-q fluids, charcoal solution and some painkillers, 10 minutes later at home he came walking into the lounge shaking and whining in pain, back to the vets, vet told it he would give a heavier solution and hope for the best, 1 hour later the effects were slowing but still not gone and it was slowly getting worse, duke couldn't sit, stand, lay down, eat or drink without being uncomfortable so we made the decision to put him to sleep. We carried him off to the vets where he sat on our laps in the waiting room, duke licked the tears from our faces (the OH doesn't cry, he just doesn't, but even his eyes were pouring tears) and we got called in, the vet was in tears herself as she had grown to know and love duke like he was her own. We said our last goodbyes and come back home to a house full of very stressed, confused and sad dogs.


RIP, baby boy.

[Lara's mom]

I'm so very sorry to hear of the loss of Duke. You must both be grieving terribly. Please know that my thoughts are with you during this sad time.

[cherylmartin]

I am so sorry for your tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you today and everyday. He knew you loved him.

[CorkyMax]

So sad to hear and so sorry for your loss. I hope I'm not being insensitive by asking (or stupid) what caused the death--Why would this happen from eating a rat? Some kind of disease--how could it work that fast? I would like to know because one of my dogs has gotten a hold of rabbits (another rodent) before and I am wondering if I should be alarmed by this. Thank you for your reply. That dog really loved you and it about makes me cry to think of him licking away the tears.

[UnderDog]

Thank you everybody.

Corky/Max - We bought the land not so long ago and we were made aware that illegal rat baits and poison was set down, this particular rat poison was formulated and concentrated to cause the rats to internally bleed (eventually leading to death), if the rat was diseased I have no doubt there wouldn't have been issues, but as he ate from the feet up until the front legs obviously this means liver, kidneys and stomach was eaten. I wouldn't worry too much about rabbits as there is little diseases they can carry, they are in fact a Lagamorph, not a rodent, and thus can't get the same kinds of diseases most rats and mice pick up. It is unfortunate that rats can also become immune to these kinds of poisons and so there is no tell-tale signs that there is person set down in said places. But I wouldn't be alarmed by rabbits, ours eat wild rabbit all the time and providing either the rabbit is gutted or the dogs are wormed, you shouldn't have issues. Hope this helps.

[CorkyMax]

Thank you for easing my mind. Hope things are going to go better for you soon. Sorry, I just don't know what else to say, but I'm sure Duke will be looking down and keeping an eye out for you. Dogs are more atuned to this kind of thing than we are. Take care.

[mrandrei]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's really sad to bid goodbye to someone you love.

[Lara's mom]

Does this poison lose its potency in time? I know it would be impossible to scour every inch of your land looking for where that idiot set out the poison but, I'm concerned about your other dogs. I keep wondering what I'd do in your position. The only thing I can think of is to muzzle the other dogs when they're out roaming around so there is no possibility of any of the others eating the poison or any animals who have ingested the poison. My heart just breaks for you.