The autopsy report on Sammy, our little diabetic dog who died suddenly less than two weeks ago, came back, and we finally may have an answer. The mystery surrounding his death was the sudden temperature spike — to 107 degrees — even as his insulin levels were normal.
The report showed no hidden tumors or other organ failures, although the autopsy (in animals, it’s actually called a necropsy) did show changes in certain organs consistent with diabetes. However, after reviewing the report, our internal medicine specialist in Helena, Dr. Britt Culver, concluded that the most likely scenario was a blood clot that lodged in the area of the brain that controls the body’s ability to thermo-regulate itself. With a blood clot cutting off that part of the brain — a type of stroke, as it were — Sammy’s internal thermostat shut down, causing the rapid and uncontrolled overheating.
Diabetes can increase the coagulation in blood, thus making diabetes patients more susceptible to these types of secondary events.
We at least feel better having some kind of explanation for Sammy’s baffling and tragic death.
This photo of Sammy and me was taken on July 15th, a week before he died. He was such a happy little character, even though he spent so much time in the hospital. You can see where his left arm was shaved for the IV tubes he often needed. The photographer was Jessica Parkes, who is a student at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula and came out for a class project. She shot a lot of wonderful photos that day and sent us a CD so we can use some in our next slide show on the Web site. We’re grateful to Jessica for letting us use her photos, and particularly grateful she got this memorable photo of Sammy.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
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