• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DogAppy Logo

DogAppy

  • DogAppy
  • About
  • Contact
  • Join Us
  • Articles

Dog Behavior Before Death: Recognizing Your Pet’s Last Moments

Passing away of a pet can be really painful, although pet owners know they will have to face such a situation at some or the other point of time. Here are a few signs to help you recognize that your canine friend is close to death.

Home / Dog Behavior / Dog Behavior Before Death: Recognizing Your Pet’s Last Moments

Passing away of a pet can be truly painful, although pet owners know they will have to face that situation at some point of time. Here are a few signs to help you recognize that your canine friend is close to going.

Hungry Dog
Fearful Dog Crouches On A Step
Girl And Dog Cuddling At Home
Dog
Happy Dog

The aging of a dog is surprisingly similar to humans. As your dog’s age advances, it slows down, starts having gray hair and joint problems. Along with this, there is a significant change in a dog’s behavior and activity levels. It is difficult to tell whether these behavioral changes are simply due to old age or a sign of impending death. While each dog acts differently before death, there are some unmistakable symptoms that can warn you about your dog’s approaching death.

Common Behavioral Symptoms

Decrease in Movement

While slowing down of activities in dogs is associated with aging, it is more pronounced in their final days. An old dog may not show any enthusiasm to go for long walks, jump around, and play. But a dog that is nearing its end, may lie at the same spot for hours together. Alternately, it may sleep for most of the day or night. Even if it attempts to stand, the limbs may fail under the body’s weight due to lack of energy.

What to Do: Allot a cool, quiet place for him to be comfortable.  Try to ensure that he doesn’t have to go up and down steps. Some people even sleep on the sofa or blow up bed to be next to them in their last days. This will be very comforting.

Loss of Bladder and Bowel Control

Another thing that may happen is that your pup might lose bladder and bowel control. This is not a regression of potty training, but a function of what is happening in his body and lack of control.  It is also common for dogs to have diarrhea towards the end of their lives. Such conditions most often lead to dehydration in your pet.

What to Do: Encourage your dog to have as much water as possible and get a prescription from your vet for an anti-diarrheal medication. Try to keep him as clean and comfortable as you can.

Change in Appetite

Change in Appetite

This is one of  the most common behaviors in dogs that are close to their death. In the final stages of your pet’s life, he may start losing his appetite as a direct effect of reduced movement and lack of exercise. When offered dog food, it may just lick whatever is held out to satisfy the owner. Try to give him anything that he will eat. Mix it up if you have to. Maybe cook him some chicken or ground beef. With the lack of appetite, his weight  might drastically go down.

Loss of Muscle Control

While shakiness is a common aspect of dog behavior in old age, a dog who is dying may experience severe muscle twitching or mild convulsions. It may even lose its control on the tongue, which leads to heavy drooling.

What to Do: This is a normal occurrence. There is no particular thing you can do to help with this problem. Try to comfort him as best as you can.

Labored Breathing

Towards the end, many dogs find it difficult to breathe. They may also experience difficulty in swallowing their saliva.

What to Do: There is nothing much that can be done about the breathing problem. Again, make sure he is comfortable.

Comforting Your Dog

Once you start seeing these signs that your dog may be going, try to make him as comfortable as possible in his last days. It may sometimes be difficult to deal with symptoms like vomiting or loss of bladder control, But stay patient and loving, giving him the best last days that you can.

What to Do: Stay with him as much as you can. Stay home from work if necessary. Try to keep doing as many of the same activities as he is up to. If he is still willing to go on walk, continue, making sure you don’t go too far. See if the vet can give you anything to make sure he isn’t in pain.

For most animal lovers, losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. This can leave you grief-stricken and depressed. Talk to other pet owners if it makes you feel better. They will understand. Make sure you give yourself time to grieve.

Brown Labrador Puppy Lying On Sofa
Vip Servicing Of Spoilt Child Of Fortune
Man With His Dog

Like it? Share it!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Next Post »

Category iconDog Behavior

Get Updates Right to Your Inbox

Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox.
Blog Updates

Further Insights

Happy woman holding dog
Preparing for Female Dog Behavior Change After Spaying
December 30, 2020
Happy dog with tongue sticking out
Preparing For & Understanding Male Dog in Heat Behavior
December 12, 2020
There are many changes in female dog behavior after spaying.
Understanding Female Dog Behavior After Spaying
November 6, 2020

Primary Sidebar

Search

Categories

  • Dog Behavior
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Food & Diet
  • Dog Gear
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Names
  • Dog Sports & Exercise
  • Dog Supplies
  • Dog Toys
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Treats
  • Puppies
  • Senior Dogs

Latest Posts

Puppy and young child

How to Properly Introduce Puppies and Babies

So you've had a baby. Amazing! And you've got a puppy. Cute! But wait - did you get both … [Read More...] about How to Properly Introduce Puppies and Babies

woman holding a treat for a dog

Where to Find the Best Dog Training Houston

If you're from Houston and you don't have time to train your new puppy on your own, fear … [Read More...] about Where to Find the Best Dog Training Houston

dog running in field

Why Should I Avoid Getting Dogs From Puppy Mills?

If you're thinking about getting a new dog, you've probably heard at least once or twice … [Read More...] about Why Should I Avoid Getting Dogs From Puppy Mills?

dog wearing nurse hat

How to Manage & Prevent Puppy Impetigo

Puppy impetigo, also known as puppy pyoderma, is a form of skin infection. Pyoderma is … [Read More...] about How to Manage & Prevent Puppy Impetigo

Exploring the website?

Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there!

Footer

DogAppy Logo
DogAppy is a site dedicated to strengthening the bond between humans and dogs through positive training education and tutorials, articles, social media, and more. We feature both useful tips and fun things to do with your dog so you both can be healthy, happy, and furry (well...your buddy, at least).
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS

Copyright © DogAppy & Buzzle.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.