I lost my baby

I lost my precious dog Mia on 10/5. She was only 7 years old. She was healthy until we switched her flea protection to Advantix. A week later we noticed she was having seizures. We washed her off and it still didn't stop. After 1 month of vet care and tests we put her down. We had just gotten her cat scan done that day and were starting her on new meds for possible meningiits.. But that night she had seizures for an hour and a half. We took her to the hospital and had her put down. I regret my decision in the worst way. I loved her more then anyone could possibly understand. I was so strict about hercare for a whole month on , slept by her every night, tracked ever med,seizure, wobble and food morsel. But then when it really mattered my head was not on straight and I agreed to put her down. I lost my best friend that night.My heart is so broken. I cannot help but think the Advantix caused all this. Has anyone heard of a simililar situation ?

Re: I lost my baby

I do not know anything about advantix but I want to send you lots of hugs for the loss of your baby

Did you ever get the results of the catscan? While you are hurting now because you miss her, it sounds to me like she was suffering with all the seizures. I think you were a good mama and did what you felt was best for her.

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge...

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

THEN YOU CROSS RAINBOW BRIDGE TOGETHER...

Message edited 10/20/2012 8:17:31 PM.

Re: I lost my baby

Im so sorry

Re: I lost my baby

Thank you. I got the results twelve hours before we put her
her down. They felt strongly it was meningitis gave me some aggresive meds and referred me to a neurogist. We didnt even give it time for the new meds to kick in. Nobody told us to put her down ,my husband just felt she was geting worse and we should. I am feeling such regret and guilt. I loved my dog like a child. She was spoiled rotten and deserved it. She was amazing. So sweet and snuggly. We included her in everything we possibly could so now whenever we do something her absence is so strong. I miss her terribly.

Re: I lost my baby

That night after she cam home from her cat scan she had horrible seizures. We brought her to the Er. They told us not to put her down to wait until our dr comes in the next morning so we can talk about. I dont know what happened that i agreed. We spent a month with the wrong vet. He was not giving her enough anti seizure meds or anything else for that matter. Finally got an answer from the new one and i lost me focus.

Re: I lost my baby

im so sorry for your loss. i know how you feel.
we loss our beloved dog 4 months ago. I used frontline on her and a few days later she became paralysed and crashed..we had to put her to sleep. she wasnt even 5
i cry every day for her. I really am so sorry.

Re: I lost my baby

I am so sorry for your loss as well. I cry every day too. Does it ever get easier ?

Re: I lost my baby

I am so so so sorry for your loss. I always recall your profile pic, so I know "you" and your love for your dog.

I have to be honest with you and have heard many "bad" things about Advantix. In fact, my vet, whom I trust greatly, has always told me that Advantix does NOT have the same safety profile that Frontline has. There are many more reactions to Advantix than Frontline according to him, which is why even though I am in a tick and flea area, I have not tried Advantix and remain on Frontline. I don't want to make you feel bad but since you are asking I am telling you what I have been told.

I have to say that I think you made the decision you made b/c you were seeing your dog in such distress and pain. And none of us want our pets to suffer like that. I can only imagine the pain and sadness you feel and my heart hurts for you. I am so so sorry your baby is gone.

Message edited 10/20/2012 9:47:18 PM.

I lost my baby

Please forgive yourself. Any animal having seizures for an hour was suffering tremendously. I hope with time you begin to heal.

Re: I lost my baby

It's ok I already know in my heart is was the advantix. I didn't want to use it but my husband insisted ot was better then frontline. I said any chemical that kills cats can't be good. I will not blame him, i am sure he is doing enough of that himself. . I put so much love and research into raising her and keeping her healthy over the years and he didnt listen when i said don't use it. I am so angry that these companies make products that are harmful to your pets and then to boot the drs say they safe.
Mia was so much more then a dog to me, she was my best friend,, entertainer, shoulder to cry on. She was a poster dog. Perfect in every way. Write list of what you want in the perfect dog and that was her. Her loss is .more painful then anything i have felt before. Thanks for listening everyone.

Message edited 10/21/2012 8:52:53 AM.

Re: I lost my baby

Message edited 10/21/2012 8:48:16 AM.

Re: I lost my baby

Re: I lost my baby

Re: I lost my baby

I am so, so sorry.

Re: I lost my baby

I'm SO sorry for you loss, you sound devastated.

I don't know of any conclusive evidence about Advantix but I'm going to search for the EPA's article for "spot-on" treatments like it, see if I can post it for you. It was years ago, and I don't believe they mentioned seizures, but there were complaints about skin blistering and sores.

Do you have other pets? You can look into "Bug Off Garlic" as an alternative to Advantix, Frontline, etc. for the future.

As far as timing, one of our dogs started having a lot of problems about 2 weeks after receiving 2 immunizations and I was convinced that's what it was. It turned out that it was unfortunate timing, and it was possibly related to an ear infection (we haven't narrowed down the exact cause but the disease he has is not related to immunizations, that we know).

Since you did all the tests, that would help to prove or disprove the exposure to Advantix being the issue. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss. Seven years is way too soon but I'm willing to bet you gave her a wonderful life in the time you had her. I hope that your grief lessens and your happy memories replace it.

Re: I lost my baby

Here's what I found, there's a link towards the bottom to a PDF with more information on the report: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/petproductseval.html

Re: I lost my baby

I am so sorry for your loss

Re: I lost my baby

i am so sorry for your loss

Re: I lost my baby

It does get easier, just time. I think so many of us on this board have gone through it, we know what it feels like to lose a furbaby. You did everything possible, you didn't want suffering.

It will hurt for quite some time before the good memories are the ones you think of first.

Prayers and hugs

Re: I lost my baby

I am so sorry! I lost my baby, Rocky (a boston terrier) to GME (Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis). It is an AWFUL disease that has no known origin. Some say it's caused by vaccines, some say from over inbreeding, but NO ONE knows for sure. Please don't blame yourself.

Rocky's symptoms started with a seizure on Nov. 30. Took him to the a vet, who performed blood tests and all came back normal. However, within a few days he started leaning to one side, head tilt and was overall confused and skittish. The vet then sent me to a neuro, who performed a spinal tap and MRI. He stayed at the neuro's office that night and they began steriods and seizure meds that night. He had no more seizures and did improve but within 4 mos he got so bad. The last week of his life, he could not get up at all. I would have to hand feed him and give him water and pick him up and hold him while he went potty. It was awful. As much as it killed me, I knew it was his time to go. He was suffering. So in early April we made the decision to put him down. We did everything we could. We also spent time with a neuro who in the end I believe was only out for $$. So we got 2nd, third, fourth opionions. But the prognosis was the same and I was told repeatedly--, there is NO cure for this disease. Remission is possible in some cases, but not all. Even then, the chance of relapses is high. Although the decision was painful, you did what was right for HER. DON'T FORGET THAT!

Feel free to FM me if you want to talk.

ETA: It's been a year and a half since we lost Rocky and it does get easier. i was a complete mess when we lost him but each day it got a little easier. I still miss him, but I now am able to remember the good times we had vs. the awful times we had dealing with GME.

Message edited 10/22/2012 10:11:37 AM.

Re: I lost my baby

Thank you so much for telling me your story about Rocky. My god that must have been such a long painful ecxperience. We never got down to the cause of the meningits but we believe it was auto immune triggered by the advantix.
The seizures were horrible and the l day aftermath was notgood either. But for some reason when we brought her to the dr.s and even that night she always looked ok. The worse part of this whole story little girl did not go peacefully. I always heard they drift off. Well mia was scared to death. Like she knew. She peed all over me. That has never happened and when they adminstered the drug she was gasping cause she had been panting so hard. It was not a beautiful end to the most beautiful soul
I would never want my little girl to suffer, so your storyr gave me a little comfort. Everyone is telling me to get a new puppy. I feel like i am betraying Mia. I also feel that i will wish the new one was mia.. all i really want is my old one back.

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I lost my baby

i am so sorry!!!

Re: I lost my baby

Sometimes people just say things when they don't know what to say. When they feel like they need to supply you with some kind of solution when there really is none. That's what I try to remember when people say things that might feel insensitive, like that you should replace your little girl.

I think you are right in that you should wait. Only you can decide.

Re: I lost my baby

OMG I am soo sorry to hear that you went through this. I would call the company and demand an answer. I'm not one for suing, but maybe for the purpose of making sure this doesn't happen to any other other dog.