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'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' family struggles: Dad hospitalized, dog dead

It's a tough time for the family from TLC's hit series, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." Over the past few days, they've weathered a mysterious health emergency and the loss of a beloved pet. The woes started last Friday evening, when dad Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson collapsed and was taken to the hospital. According to posts on the official Honey Boo Boo Facebook fan page, which is run by "Mama" June Sh
Mike \"Sugar Bear\" Thompson
Mike \"Sugar Bear\" Thompson from \"Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.\"Today

It's a tough time for the family from TLC's hit series, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." Over the past few days, they've weathered a mysterious health emergency and the loss of a beloved pet.

The woes started last Friday evening, when dad Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson collapsed and was taken to the hospital. According to posts on the official Honey Boo Boo Facebook fan page, which is run by "Mama" June Shannon and a family friend, Sugar Bear underwent "a lot of tests on his brain" and the family feared it could be "very serious." Recent posts on both their Facebook and Twitter accounts added the hashtag "#prayforsugarbear."

But in the midst of the crisis, things got even worse for the reality TV stars from McIntyre, Ga.

While Thompson remained at the hospital, they discovered that the family dog, a Chihuahua named China they'd rescued six years earlier, had been "hit and left to die."

"(She was) still spasming as they found her," one Facebook post explained. "We think it may have been done intentionally cause of where she was found."

Some1+2day+hit&+killed+our+dog+China&+left+her+to+die+#sadday+#ripchina+#willbtrulymissed+twitter.com/alanahoneyboob…

—+Alana+Honey+Boo+Boo+(@alanahoneyboob1)+May+28,+2013+

As for Thompson, the latest updates indicate there's been no change in his condition. The cause of his collapse is still a mystery.

The incident is just the latest in a long list of medical emergencies for the family patriarch in recent months. Last September, he was hospitalized due to a foot infection following a "mud-boggin'" accident. Then, in December, an ambulance was called after he fell ill during a toy drive. And just three months ago, he was hospitalized again after a bout of pancreatitis.

TODAY.com reached out to TLC about the family's troubles. The network had no comment.

"Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" returns with new episodes starting July 17.