How may hours was my dog dead before I found her?

Question

My dog died last weekend, she was 12 years old, no serious health conditions. I had gone to bed at appox. 1:30 am, she slept with me , she went to bed when I did. Sometimes during the night she would get under the bed. My husband got home from work at 6;30 am, he noticed she was not in bed, which was not unusual for her, he called her name, but she not come out from under the bed, again not unusual for her, he went on to bed and she would  usually get in the bed before he would fall asleep. I got up at 10;30 am, I didn't notice her in the bed, but was not concerned cause she would sometimes slept by his feet. I was still tired from work, so took a nap. My husband got up at 1;00pm., he noticed she was not in the bed or in the living room in her bed we kept for there as well. He then feared something was wrong, he looked under the bed and she  was  dead. She was already stiff.  I just can't help but wonder how long she had been gone before we found her. This was not unusual behavior for her. I miss her very much.

? · Accepted Answer

I am deeply sorry about your loss. I've been there. Rigor mortis (stfitness) usually. starts to set in after about 30 minutes to an hour following the death. To reach full rigor mortis the dog must have been dead for almost three hours. This I know from my own experience when my 10 y.o. shih-tzu passed away. Timing may vary if your dog was bigger in size.

It will take a while for you to get over this loss  but I hope you find peace. She lived a full, happy life and now she is in a better place where there's no more pain or suffering. Please keep that in mind. Your pup is now healthy, happy and free.

Best wishes.

Pom♥Mom Spay and Neuter · Answer

Doctor Grim - did you even read the post?

I'm so sorry for the loss of your dog.  It's never easy.

Rigor Mortis sets in about 3 to 4 hours after death and becomes maximum at 12 hours.

Jojo · Answer

What a lovely way for a dog to die. No pain or stress and in one of her favourite places.
I pray my old dog is so fortunate. 
I would not worry about how long she was there before she died. Just be happy she did not suffer at all.
I`m sorry for your loss, its always hard to get over a beloved dogs demise.

Anonymous · Answer

she was probably gone between 6:30am and 11am, rigor mortis usually takes between 4 - 10 hours to fully set in. I am sorry for your loss...

Doctor Grim · Answer

Take the temperature of her body now, then take the temperature of her body an hour from now, and use newton's law of cooling to determine the time at which her body was roughly 100 degrees fahrenheit.

TheRavenAZ · Answer

Don't haunt yourself thinking you could've done something.  She's gone.  Knowing even won't bring her back.  
  
Sorry for your loss.

Trending News

How may hours was my dog dead before I found her?

6 Answers