This article includes the real story of losing a bright and happy Saint Bernard puppy, who was diagnosed with HGE, and the early warning signs every pet owner should know. 

The Day Our Sweet Little Ball of Fur Came Home

We got our Saint Bernard for around £2200, and not a single penny felt like a lot when we first got Jack. Waddling through our front door, with his fluffy paws that seemed almost too big for his body, we instantly fell in love with him. He almost seemed like a stuffed toy, the kind of dog strangers stop to wave and pet on the street. 

We made sure to get him every vaccination, every preventive injection and every check-up handled with care and caution. We wanted everything to go just right; after all, he was a wish come true for us! A crucial part of our family we had been waiting for.

The Day When Something Felt Wrong

Jack grew up eating and playing just like any other dog would. Then one day, out of nowhere, he simply stopped eating and was not even interested in having his favourite treats. He even stopped drinking water. We told ourselves that it was probably nothing and that puppies go off their food sometimes, don't they? Or maybe he is feeling a bit unwell today. Nothing much to worry about.

A day passed. Then another. And he still wouldn't touch his bowl. We tried the usual home remedies, the sort of thing your nan tells you to do, hoping he'd perk up on his own the way he always had before.  

He did not.x
 
Then came the vomit: bright red, foul-smelling and unmistakably wrong. Not long after, the diarrhoea started too, stools covered with blood and carrying a smell that told us, somewhere deep down, that this wasn't something that would just pass, and we immediately needed to take him to the vet. We were confused, scared, and still holding on to hope that it would turn a corner.

Two Weeks at the Vet

We immediately took Jack to the vet, hoping to find a cause for all of the symptoms he was showing, but what followed were two weeks of complete dread. Those were the longest two weeks of our lives. After the diagnosis, the veterinarian diagnosed Jack with HGE and told us to get him admitted as soon as possible to get the treatment going. They had to shave off all his beautiful fur because of the IV strips. Three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening — he was hooked up to a glucose drip. He lay there with a muzzle on, so still, on that cold steel table.

We sat with him whenever they'd let us. The IV line taped to his leg, his head barely lifting to acknowledge us. We never left his side longer than we had to.

The vets did everything they possibly could. Two weeks of hoping, watching, waiting for a sign that he was turning the corner. And then came the day the vet sat us down and gently told us there was nothing more they could do; our hearts sank to our stomachs.

The Morning  

We went in the next morning to check on him as usual, half expecting to see his tail give that tired little thump against the table. This time, there was nothing. He'd already gone in the night. Quietly. Without us there, without a chance to say goodbye.

If there's one thing I know now, it's that I waited too long. And I will carry that with me for the rest of my life.

So What Exactly Is HGE Actually?

Since losing Jack, I've learned more about HGE than I ever wanted to know. It stands for Haemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, and it's every bit as frightening as it sounds. It causes sudden, severe bloody vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs, and it can kill a dog within 24 to 48 hours if it isn't treated in time.

That bright red colour and foul smell of the vomit and blood in the diarrhoea are the warning signs most owners miss or explain away, the way I did. And with HGE, time isn't just important. It's everything. Every single hour matters. Large breeds like Saint Bernards can go downhill devastatingly fast, faster than you'd think possible for a dog that size.
I've since found a guide I wish I'd had at the time, and if you ever see these signs in your dog, please read this immediately: how to treat HGE in dogs at home.

Signs You Must Never Ignore

• Sudden refusal to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
• Bright red or bloody vomit
• Bloody diarrhoea with an unusually strong smell
• Extreme lethargy — dog won't lift its head
• Rapid deterioration despite home treatment

In Memory of Jack

I can't get those two weeks back, and I can't get Jack back either. But if telling his story means even one dog owner gets to the vet 24 hours earlier than I did, then it mattered. It all mattered.

Jack was with us for only a short while, but he deserved every one of those days. This one's for him.