JULY 31st 2014.

Flash died today. Our companion for more than twelve and a half years, gone. Just a few hours earlier we had, as usual been to the beach just before dark, then home for dinner. When she began to act strangely, seeming distressed, unsettled and anxious, we had no idea what she was going through. When, after maybe an hour or more had passed, we realised we had a serious problem. She had become confused and disorientated, so we got her into the car and took her to the Vet. We had begun to suspect that she had a condition known as GDV or more commonly, Bloat. In most cases, the bloating is the most obvious outward symptom where the stomach swells and hardens, and in the absence of this sign, we had allowed too much time to pass. Flash underwent surgery to realign her stomach at around 1:00 am, and the vet called at 3:00 to tell us that she was resting and in recovery, the surgery having been successful. When the phone rang again at 9:00, we fully expected to be told that she was awake and that we should go and bring her home. Instead we were told that she had died without ever regaining consciousness.