Anyone have an old dog die while on the road?

[Spleenstomper]

I have an old dog-- 14 year old hound. He's trucking along but is old; sounds like he may have CHF though he has no diagnosis yet.

We're planning to go to Colorado next summer and meet my sister there, and we plan to bring the two dogs.

I once had a dog die while I was in Hawaii, she was boarding at the vet's office.

So anyway I was wondering what happens if you have a dog die while you are across the country? Drop him off at vet for cremation and have then ship you remains?

Just curious, of course I hope it never happens but dogs can't live forever.

Thanks.

[Iluvrvcamping]

We just experienced this last April while on a trip into Florida. Our Gizmo was 16, he'd been camping with us since a pup. He loved going. We are full timers now and we knew Gizmo was getting up there in age, his hearing was going and he had started to have trouble getting into bed and the rig. While at Homestead Fl we started to notice his back legs shaking while standing and we could tell he was in pain. We didn't want him to suffer, so we made the very difficult decision to put him down. We looked on yelp for references on the vets in the area and I also spoke to a groomer at Petsmart about where a good vet was in the area. We didn't need any health records when we put him down. But we do always travel with them for all our animals. We choose to pick his ashes up. We just didn't feel comfortable having them mailed. The cremation fees are based on the weight of your pet. Gizmo was almost 25 pounds and I believe it cost us about $250 for everything ( putting him down, cremation and container). Gizmo's box is on our shelf and will go with us wherever we go. We miss him dearly but know he is in a better place.

[sue_t]

Our 18 month old dog died with Cryptococcal disease while on a trip in 2010.

The symptoms developed while we were in Alaska. First thought of the vet in Fairbanks was Lyme disease. She became worse on our way into Yukon. Had another vet visit and blood tests done in Yukon after I asked about Cryptococcal disease, which wasn't uncommon in our area of Vancouver Island. The blood sample was shipped to Vancouver, confirmation came three days later, while we were driving to Vancouver to see a specialist. Despite getting her to the specialist in Vancouver BC, and treatment for three days, she died. The veterinary hospital was kind enough to arrange her cremation overnight so we could leave the city the next day. The crematorium provided her ashes in a nice urn and with pawprint cast in clay. We still have her ashes and pawprint with us.

[pulsar]

We lost a 14-year golden retriever, while traveling in New Hampshire. She had never been sick a day in her life. But, when she would only eat because we wanted her to, and then throw it back up, we rushed her to an emergency clinic. Alas, she had a rapidly developing pancreatic tumor and we had to let her go. We had her cremated and came back a couple of weeks later to get her ashes. Katie-Dit-It

We are traveling this summer with a 12-year old border collie that was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor involving a lung and her heart. Fire prognosis, when we left home, in July, was 1 to 3 months. She's still doing well, has competed in two agility trials and will be entered in a third next weekend. Trusted friends watch her when she runs to give in case we are too blind to see she is struggling.

The point is, we live our lives with our dogs. If the time comes we'll make the decision. Definitely, we will have any dog we loose, while on the road, cremated, and have its ashes returned home.

Tom

[Spleenstomper]

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the replies.

[raindove]

We were traveling with a 16+ yr old, at one time. At that point, every day is a gift and I like to be prepared. I contacted people I knew in the areas we were traveling to, and got vet's names and numbers. I carried his vet records with us. I was also concerned - he was so thin towards the end but ate voraciously. I was worried about someone seeing him, and thinking we were starving him - which is part of the reason I carried a copy of his current vet records to show that he was being properly taken care of. He made it home and passed 2 months later, but he had a blast on that trip. No way I could have gone and left him at home. As someone else said, I would have never forgiven myself if something happened and I wasn't with him. Besides that he had so many meds and was on a special diet -- no one I know would have wanted to take on that responsibility/chore and I certainly wouldn't trust a kennel to jump through all the hoops to take care of him the way he was cared for at home.

[CA_POPPY]

I've seen some members post that they used their GPS to locate the closest vet, either for an emergency euth and/or cremation. We're lucky to have that option these days. I don't know how any of us survived without cell phones and GPS.

Isn't it interesting how norms in pet care have changed over the years? Not that long ago, people just left the deceased dog or cat at the vet's office for animal control to pick up, no charge. I hear that is not an option these days. You either take him home to bury or pay for cremation. I like this way better, but it must be too expensive for many pet owners.

[toedtoes]

Definitely bring your vet records with you. If the vet gives you a thumb drive, etc. with them, get a set printed out.

For me, the bigger issue would be if the pet was experiencing a painful and lengthy death. Many vets won't euthanize an animal if the animal hasn't been seen by them before (emergency vets will, but on a week day, you won't necessarily be able to find one). Having the paper records could speed up a human euthanasia if needed.

I do hope this conversation is simply a "best to be prepared" discussion and does not need to be acted on.

[colliehauler]

Farmerjon wrote:
We would do the cremation.
The dogs love to travel with us. To leave them somewhere and have them die with out us being with them would be very hard to accept, the guilt trip would be heavy.

X 2 Plus I would not enjoy the trip, I would worry the whole time about the dog.

[Farmerjon]

We would do the cremation.
The dogs love to travel with us. To leave them somewhere and have them die with out us being with them would be very hard to accept, the guilt trip would be heavy.

[dturm]

Spleenstomper wrote:
Good point about the altitude. I'm worried about that for myself.... The old dog... Could be a problem. We are I think 100 ft above sea level. The dogs go to New Orleans with us all the time, which we all know is below sea level.

I've had a few heart patients that decompensate when getting to altitude. A minor change in medication was all that was necessary to bring the issues under control.

I'd urge you to get the heart/lung diagnosed before your trip, discuss the trip with your vet and get suggestion on medication.

We've had many people have a pet die while on the road or visiting our area. Cremation and either people were around long enough to wait for cremains to be returned or they were shipped to an alternative address.

Doug, DVM

[colliehauler]

When Strider had cancer I knew it would be the last trip. He loved the very short walks and being with me 24 hours a day. He got very sick on the trip but recovered. Two weeks after the trip he passed. If he passed on the trip I would cremate.

[Spleenstomper]

Good point about the altitude. I'm worried about that for myself.... The old dog... Could be a problem. We are I think 100 ft above sea level. The dogs go to New Orleans with us all the time, which we all know is below sea level.

[BB_TX]

Have not, yet. But cremation is in order when/if we do.

[Altern]

Another point, AL is sea level or mostly so.
CO depending where - could be very difficult for your hound's lungs to handle the altitude.
Something to think about.