So my wife has a theory that makes sense to me.
The dog caught a rat, as they do.
The wife cleaned him up ai little and took him to the vet (it was reported that she took the dog to the vet).
She was told to keep him in the crate to let him rest after I Aussie he got some shots.
She died from the bacteria (or is it a virus)
Sadly, Gene Hackman was not “aware” and passed away because she didn’t give him his meds for a week.
Equally sadly the poor dog died of dehydration in the crate in while Hackman was still alive but not able to understand.
Whatever the series of events, it is just simply sad.