Family takes golden retriever out for a walk. They didn’t know it would be his last time. Now they’re issuing a PSA

Many pet owners go above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of their beloved furry animals.

But sometimes, even the maximum amount of effort isn't enough. One dog mom is going viral for sharing her account of every pet owner's worst nightmare.

‘Our families are heartbroken'

Chloe Julian (@chloedjulian) shared “the hardest video [she's] ever had to make.” In it, she told the story of why Bogey, her one-year-old golden retriever, passed away. She hoped the video, which has more than 1.1 million views, would “help bring awareness and save somebody's baby.”

“On Friday, May 1st, our sweet Bogey was with my fiancé's family and they took him on a nightly walk,” Julian said. “And during that walk, he ended up eating a mushroom and was brought back home. Didn't really show any signs immediately, and they put him to sleep.”

But the next morning, Bogey had vomited “everywhere.” The family took him to the emergency vet, who instructed them to attempt to locate the same kind of mushroom Bogey had eaten. That way, he could receive more tailored treatment. The family also “called poison control and the ASPCA to see what kind of mushrooms were in the LA Santa Clarita County area.”

“During his time at the emergency vet, they did give him an IV for nausea, liver protectant, and then also for hydration because he was dehydrated, and he could not eat, and it was hard for him to drink water,” Julian said. “We were told … that he had a 50% chance of making it.”

Making a decision

Armed with Bogey's favorite toy, a stuffed bear, Julian and her family spent all of Saturday with their dog. While he showed excitement at the sight of his owners, they “could tell he did not feel well at all.”

“He just was not himself,” Julian said. “He was drooling everywhere. You could tell he was still very nauseous. It was just so sad and heartbreaking to watch your baby literally die in front of your eyes.”

The next day, Julian was notified Bogey had apparently eaten a death cap, which is a kind of mushroom responsible for the majority of dog fatalities. Julian and her fiancé ordered “several tests” for Bogey, including blood work. But the medical team said he was “likely” to die, even with plasma transfusions. 

“And so we had to make the decision to send our sweet, sweet baby to doggy heaven,” Julian said. “That was the hardest decision ever … Please learn from our story. If you have a pet or you're watching somebody's pet and they eat something that they're not supposed to eat, especially any sort of wild mushroom, take them to the emergency vet immediately.”

@chloedjulian This is the hardest video I have ever had to make and I wasn't sure if I was going to post it but I want to bring awareness to what happened to our boy bogey. Please check where you live to see what kind of wild mushrooms grow as they all are dangerous but specific ones can cause what happened to bogey because of how poisonous they are. If you have a dog or watch a dog and they ever eat anything they aren't supposed to call an emergency vet immediately it could save their life. Thank you to listen to this story and for letting my share. We will miss bogey for the rest of our lives and I hope no other dog or pet parent ever has to go through this type of pain. #awareness #wildmushrooms #dogparent #storytime #petgrief ♬ original sound – Chloe Julian

What to do if a dog eats something it shouldn't

Viewers offered an outpouring of sympathy and condolences in Julian's comment section, with some of them sharing similar stories of mushroom-related dog deaths. Many commenters echoed Julian's warnings, offering advice.

“I am begging anyone reading this to NEVER allow your dog to eat ANYTHING you didn't personally feed them or a trusted person,” one commenter wrote. “Watch them carefully when they're on walks and sniffing around. I used to be a vet tech and the stories I can tell.”

“If your dog eats things off the ground please muzzle train them,” another advised. “To train them let them see it and any time they show interest give them a reward. Once they're comfortable with it hold a treat on it and gently place it over their nose. Pull it away before they step back. Slowly increase the time it's on them, rewarding for every success and ignoring for the failures. Also train leave it.”

Experts second this advice. PetMD states that “if left untreated, swallowed objects can be fatal in dogs.”

“Swallowed objects may cause choking, poisoning, or intestinal blockage,” PetMD's website reads. “Call your vet anytime you suspect ingestion. Do NOT induce vomiting unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to—some items cause more damage coming back up … Prevention includes safe chew toys, supervision, removing hazards, and using tools like crates and basket muzzles.”

Buzz News reached out to Julian via email.