How do old dogs die

As dogs near death, it is common for their breathing patterns to change or for them to have a difficult time breathing. This change may take place just hours or days prior to death and is a sign that the dog's body is beginning to slowly shut down. Here's what you'll observe:. Gum color is a good indication of overall health or illness in dogs. Beeki, CC0. Looking at the dog's gums is an optimum reference when it comes to determining a dog's health status.

In a healthy dog, you want to see nice bubblegum-pink gums. These pink gums are proof of oxygen-rich blood circulating throughout the dog's body. The gums are also typically moist. If the blood vessels aren't vascularized and oxygenated well, changes in color may be observed:. There is not much that can be done to reverse the gum-color changes caused by reduced circulation.

If your dog is anemic due to a bleeding cancer, you can ask your vet about an emergency transfusion, but in many cases, this may only provide transient relief. Yunnan Baiyao emergency pills the red pills found in the middle of the packet can sometimes help for acute hemorrhage due to hemangiosarcoma, but won't work for major, massive bleedings.

Consult with a vet. He or she may suggest a PCV a hematocrit level to assess the situation. For critical cases, humane euthanasia may be elected. For the dry mouth and dry gums, you can help keep the lips and gums moist with lukewarm water by using a cotton swab if the dog appears to appreciate this.

As things progress and death inevitably approaches, the body cools down because of reduced circulation. Owners often notice cold paws and cooler breath. This is normal considering that the body temperature lowers and blood pressure drops before death. Keep a very light blanket on your dog for comfort, but make sure it's a very light one as a regular blanket may feel very heavy on a dying dog. When an animal hospice patient is in the last hours of life, recognition and alleviation of pain are top priorities for the pet owner and the healthcare team.

Pain should be addressed as soon as it is suspected, when physiologic or behavioral signs are noted. Contrary to a common fear, there is no evidence to suggest that pain suddenly intensifies during active dying. Once a dog has passed away, there are a few last changes that will occur.

It is good to be aware of these changes beforehand so that you can prepare accordingly. After a dog displays some or several of the signs described above, death takes place. Sometimes muscle twitching may be observed immediately after death. These twitches can be disconcerting to the unprepared dog owners, but they are rather normal.

These twitches tend to occur because even after death energy remains in the muscles of the body. It's important to clarify that these are reflexes and that, they are therefore not being controlled by the brain. Breathing, sighing, or gasping may be noticed too; but in this case, it's not to get oxygen as it happens during life.

Rather, it's a reflex of the nerves. These bodily reactions are part of the natural event of dying and should not be interpreted as suffering. This can be surprising with a dog who hasn't eaten much previously. The truth is that whether a dog eats or not, the body still produces waste which will need to be eliminated. Keeping towels under the dog may absorb messes.

Death is the collapse of the dog's cardiovascular system, which translates into the failure of oxygen delivery to the tissues, cells, and vital organs of the body. The ultimate proof of death in dogs is the lack of a heartbeat.

If you are caring for a sick dog and providing hospice care, you can find it helpful getting acquainted with your dog's normal heartbeat. A stethoscope can turn handy here.

Practice with it to hear the heart just behind the elbow. With practice, then you will know when it stops beating. When a dog is euthanized, the vet will be the one to listen to ensure death has occurred. Absence of a heartbeat for a period of more than 5 minutes proves that death has occurred. Another sign of death is a lack of respiratory movement of the chest, as with death, the breathing stops. On top of this, when you touch the cornea of the eye, you will notice a lack of blink reflex, which can occur as early as a minute after death.

Conscious dogs will blink when the eyeball is touched. It is normal for most dogs to die with their eyes open. After a few minutes, it is also normal for the cornea to assume a glassy appearance. As seen, death generally unfolds following several milestones, but not all dogs will stop at each milestone.

Some dogs may skip some or go through them very quickly, while others may take months to reach the end of their journey. It's important, therefore, to recognize that none, some, or all of the changes described above may be observed. Death is an individual process. You may therefore stumble on some dogs who remain active, eating, and up on their feet up to their final day, while others may be sluggish and sleep for hours on end in their final weeks. There are no rules set in stone.

Some dog owners report a surge of energy a few days prior to a dog's death. The dog suddenly walks or eats and appears to have more energy. As pleasant as this is, it's often short-lived and not a sign of getting better, rather, it's often a sign of nearing death—the signs of dying return and are often more pronounced.

Many studies reveal that animals experience grief when another animal family member passes. Patrick Hendry. In an ideal situation, your veterinarian will be with you at the time of your dog's passing.

Many veterinary clinics will collect your beloved pet's body and offer cremation services and burial services for the deceased. Mobile veterinarians, regular cremation services, and animal control can also be of help. If these services are unavailable to you, here are some tips on what to do:. A study published in the journal Animals observed dogs and cats who had recently lost an animal family member.

It was revealed that many of the animals in the study continuously went to check on their companion's favorite places in the home. Other trending behaviors included increased clinginess in both cats and dogs, increased napping in dogs, increased vocalizations in cats, and reduced appetite in both dogs and cats. The stages of grief are nonlinear, but understanding that one may experience each and every emotion helps to aid in the healing process.

Here are the five stages of grief. Anticipatory grief is common when dealing with terminal illness. Eric Ward. Death is usually confirmed by using a stethoscope and listening for lack of a heartbeat, but what is death? It's the end of the journey.

Death in dogs may occur naturally or through the injection of euthanasia solution by a vet. Most dogs are euthanized by a vet, but more and more owners are now electing hospice care for their dogs with the assistance of a vet. Hospice care doesn't mean that euthanasia is never considered. On the contrary—it is considered as a last option should the dog be in unmanageable pain.

It's important that dog owners remain in constant contact with their vets during this time and that they keep injectable pain relievers on hand should the dog no longer be capable of taking pills by mouth.

Work with a vet that specializes in hospice care to make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible throughout the process. Death is quite a journey. It is part of life, and sadly it's something that all of us dog owners will eventually have to face at one time or another. As the saying goes, though, "forewarned is forearmed".

Being acquainted with the dying process in dogs offers an important advantage. Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Answer: It is not unusual for a dying dog to vomit. The white liquid may be mucus which is is often produced in the GI tract when it is irritated. In dogs dying from heart problems like heartworm disease coughing up and vomiting foam is not unusual. Dogs dying from bloat may retch and vomit only small amounts of foam. If there is no more swallowing, saliva may pool and cause drooling or there may be nausea if the dog is off food.

All in all though, vomiting a white liquid is not specific enough to indicate one disease or disorder, and it may be seen in a dying dog but also in a non-dying dog. Answer: If you are planning to do cremation, several of the companies will come to your home to pick up the body.

Costs may obviously vary from one place and another. I will give you a rough estimate based on what I paid for when my dog passed away. The cremation costs vary based on a pet's weight, so this is based on a large dog. Communal cremation should be considerably lower. I am so sorry you are going through this, but careful planning seems to make it all a bit less stressful. Question: Is my female dog's black diarrhea and gas a sign that it is dying?

Answer: Black diarrhea and gas can be signs of several medical conditions and, are therefore, not necessarily a sign of a dog dying. However, black diarrhea can be potentially serious, and left untreated, can be life threatening. Black diarrhea can be indicative of bleeding in the upper digestive tract.

When blood is digested, it turns dark giving stools a dark color. This is medically known as melena. Melena can be a sign of a bleeding stomach ulcer, which can be seen in dogs given aspirin, steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it can be seen in dogs who ingested rat poison or who have serious blood clotting disorders or bleeding cancers. If you are seeing black diarrhea, please see your vet at your earliest convenience.

Chances are, this can be managed if caught early enough. Question: How do I know if my dog is dying of old age? Answer: The symptoms you are listing are very concerning. White gums can be indicative of anemia which can be seen in dogs with several conditions such as bleeding cancers a common one is hemangiosarcoma , blood clotting disorders, heavy parasite loads, and ingestion of rat poison, just to name a few. White gums are caused by the dog not having enough red blood cells circulating in the blood.

Dogs with white gums can be in shock from this and become weak and lose appetite. If your dog has white gums and is not eating or drinking, please see your vet at your earliest convenience.

Caught early, sometimes shock can be reversed by stabilizing the dog and supportive care e. Question: If your dog guards his food, and guards it for 2 days, and has very severe diarrhea, is it dying? Answer: Very severe diarrhea, of course, is concerning and should be checked out by a vet. From personal experience, I can say that my dog, when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, guarded her food from my other dog when she was still interested in it. Then, as her appetite diminished and became weaker, she mellowed down a bit in this aspect but I still used caution in preventing any possible resource guarding.

Since the foods are laying around, and your dog has no interest in consuming readily, he may use his growl to inform other dogs or people that although he isn't eating it, he still wants to retain ownership of it. This mindset may especially occur when dogs are in pain or weaker and they feel more vulnerable since they may not walk around as they used to, so they use "their words" more since they can't just pick up the food and walk away.

Question: From the list of 12 signs that a dog may be dying, my doh only has one of them which is she can no longer jump up into bed. I have to lift her back end, but she's still eating and drinking. Any idea what could be going on? Answer: This can simply be a back problem or a hip problem or some other orthopedic issue, commonly seen in dogs who are aging.

Have your dog see the vet. Your vet can prescribe pain relievers that can help her mobility. It's very good that she is eating and drinking. Hi Garykass, this is ultimately a personal decision. Only you know your dog best and can tell how her quality of life is. Our girl died naturally at home, but she had pain meds, was followed closely by a vet, and we were stocked with ample of supplements to make her comfortable in case of nausea,diarrhea, vomiting, pain, anemia etc.

She also still showed signs of enjoying being pet and given attention, although she stopped eating the night prior and needed support to walk. We have a toy poodle that is almost 19 that is completely incontinent and her real legs are very weak additionally she has lost her hearing and most of her eyesight and recently started urinating in bed and on herself pretty regularly she is also very disconnected from us but does eat and drink regularly.

Hi Jason, so sorry you are going through this difficult time. These things seem to always happen over weekends and holidays. If you are worried she might be suffering, you can see if you can have a mobile vet come to your home. Lap of Love is a company that can provide end of life care and has vets scattered across several States, not sure if they are in your area and if they work on weekends, but worthy of seeing.

You can try calling the closest veterinary emergency center and see if there are any other options. Does your dog want attention? Our girl in her last days wanted to be talked to and caressed. Make sure she is not trying to communicate some need such as needing to be turned or wanting a sip of water or attention.

My dog drank a little sip the last moments. I hope she gets to pass peacefully. Breathing changes sound like she's nearing death as it happens with humans. Nathan, so sorry for your loss. I lost two dogs, one slowly to cancer over the course of 3 months, watching her deteriorate gradually, and one rather quickly in one day to some type of heart issue.

He had nausea in the afternoon and then got better and then later in the evening just collapsed. Both deaths were painful. Sudden loss seems to leave you in shock, with little opportunity to process. It sounds like your dog though passed in his sleep which at least didn't cause him to suffer. Again, so sorry. Our Dog has cushions disease. When we came home she could no longer move her back part without help.

She has now stopped eating,drinking and going to bathroom for almost 3 days. She has been struggling to breath and has laid in one spot the last 2 days. I'm not sure how long it takes but hate to see her suffer our Vet will not be open till Monday!

My dogs death was a 1 day process, August 28th my dog was happy, excited, and full of life And a big snuggle bug. The next day the 29th he started throwing up yellow bile and not as excited he would'nt even look at you, he would drink water but throw it up he would'nt eat. The next day when I woke I tried to wake him up but he was gone. Firstly, I am very sorry about your loss. I have gone through losing two dogs in these past two years and they both died at home naturally.

In my first case, my dog had a severe case of histiocytic sarcoma which involved her spleen and later spread to her lungs. We diagnosed this with an ultrasound and CT scan.

Like in your case, her red blood cells and platelets kept plummeting. The oncologist gave us 1 month, but she made it to three. She got progressively weaker we had to help her get up and walk , lost appetite, and on her last day, she had labored breathing and was weak, although she still wanted attention and petting. She also started drooling a lot to the point of wetting her paws. I wasn't with her in her last moments, but my hubby told me that she looked around as if seeing imaginary things and then gasped for air several times in row.

Fast forward one year and my male had some sort of cancer going on too. He too had low red blood cells. I didn't put him through the CT scan but only the ultrasound as I didn't want to put him under anesthesia and put him through the stress of a long drive 3 hours away and back.

The ultrasound found a mass on the liver, but we didn't know what type of cancer it was as it wasn't aspirated. In any case, we put him on steroids as we did with my other dog as he was starting to lose appetite and these helped increase it although temporary. On his last day he was mobile but got weaker and started drooling.

He acted as if he was dying. He then though got better and even ate with appetite after my hubby gave him a red Yunnan Baiyou emergency pill. He then asked to go outside, tried to chase a rabbit, and once back, he just collapsed. As my hubby was carrying him in his arms to place him on the couch, his neck was limp and started the gasping just like my other dog but only times.

I researched this gasping in depth and asked a vet about it and was told that it's a reflex and can happen in humans as well. I don't think your dog was suffering just as my dog weren't. It's upsetting to witness, but once we understand the dynamics it feels a little better. Try to think of all the good memories rather than the last moments.

Sending you my deepest condolences. Adrienne, thank you so much for this article and for responding to people's questions. Our Angel died in my arms 6 days ago and I can't stop replaying her final moments. She was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma over a year ago and given months to live and had been anemic for over two months since we had a big scare with a bad UTI-- after spending the night with the vet on fluids and a week of IV antibiotics, she recovered, but her blood tests continued to show anemia and high platelet count until she died 2 months later.

She had also developed bacterial corneal ulcers in both her eyes. We are posted abroad and vet care isn't fantastic, and our vet wasn't able to figure out what was wrong with her. Although I think even in the US it would have been hard based on my extensive Googling, ha.

I think it may have been related to the fibrosarcoma or maybe IMHA. She continued to drink, but was barely eating for about 5 days, and our vet kept saying it was okay for us to wait. Her tongue got very pale and she slept most of the time, but she still woke up and was aware, looked at us, told us when she had to pee, etc.

She barked at me to take her out to pee, and when I took her outside, she suddenly started acting as if she was choking, stretching her neck to get air, for about 30 seconds, then she convulsed once or twice, went limp and started drooling uncontrollably.

After that she took a few breaths over a couple minutes and passed. It was incredibly awful to watch, although I'm glad I was able to hold her while she went. I can't stop thinking about how horrible it was, and how confused and afraid she must have been. I keep thinking we should have taken her to vet to get IV fluids, even if he said to wait, how we shouldn't have listened to him, and she could have lived longer. For months her test results had shown anemia and high platelets, but we didn't know what to do beyond trying to get her to eat and drink, and continuing her pain and heart medications she also had a heart murmur and hypertension to make sure she wasn't in pain.

Up until those last few days when the anemia was really getting her down, her quality of life was good. I don't believe she ever felt any pain aside from those final moments when she was struggling to breathe. I'm not sure what I'm hoping for in posting this. I guess I'd like to know if you think she suffered or if there was more we could have done. Thank you for all that you do. Hi Kalli, I suggest having your family give your vet a call as there can be conditions where dogs can be helped. Inform the vet staff about the symptoms you are seeing.

So sorry your dog is not feeling well. I am only 10 and my dog has been different and my family this she is dieing so can you help me plez. Hi Nicole, so sorry for your loss. Short of having a necropsy done, it is difficult knowing what may have happened exactly. It is certainly odd that blood work and urine samples can back totally normal and then this. Loss of appetite is surely something that is suggestive of something not being right.

It could have been related to her GI upset or maybe not, perhaps there was more going that happened fast or wasn't detected with more in depth tests. Once again, so sorry this has happened. Hi, My corgi who was almost 13 died suddenly last week. She had an ultrasound done in June and all they found was a mass in her liver. But the vet wasn't too concerned and said it was most likely benign and due to old age. A few weeks after the ultrasound she had a severe GI upset and was treated for it at the emergency hospital.

Then about 2 weeks after that she was hospitalized because she had pneumonia. Blood work and Urinalysis came back normal for her and two days before she died the vet rechecked her and said she sounded ok.

She had chronic kidney disease but it was being managed with medication and it was stable. She was acting normally, playing with toys, cuddling, drinking, etc. The only thing different was she wasn't eating as much and very picky, but she had been like that since her GI upset and the day before she died she had very runny diarrhea which I was going to address the next morning but she had already passed away. Do you think her decreased appetite was an early indication that she was dying?

Wouldn't her blood work show that something was wrong? Hi Cacey, your dog is showing several signs of the dying process, but dying is an individual process and there are no rules set in stone. Has your dog seen the vet recently? Was your dog diagnosed with a terminal disease? It's important to work along with a trusted vet if you are planning to provide hospice care at home to ensure your dog is comfortable.

So sorry you are going through this. Hugs at this difficult time. I think his gums are white. He also peed him self twice and does not eat or drink.

Is he dying?? Your article was very helpful to me as I spent the last days and hours comforting my senior mini-dachshund while he died at home on Saturday July 4, He was 15 years, 9 months, and 5 days old when he passed.

Because of your article, I was able to notice each of the end-stage processes that you described and to prepare for the next one. Rather than being surprised and anxious, it was comforting to be able to recognize natural parts of the living and dying cycle. The only thing I wasn't quite prepared for was at the very end his neck arched not violently, but very pronounced before it went limp in my arms. They will be able to give you any specific instructions for your visit and tell you what you need to bring with you.

If you choose to have your pet cremated, your veterinarian can take care of this process for you. All veterinarian clinics have pet crematoriums that they work with directly. If you prefer, however, you can arrange for this process yourself and accompany your dog to the crematorium personally. When choosing cremation, you will have the opportunity to have a communal cremation where your pet will be cremated with other pets, or you can choose an individual cremation.

An individual cremation is a more costly process, however, it is an individual process. It is up to you to choose what is best for you at this time. If cremation is not an option that feels right for you, but you are not permitted to bury your pet on your property due to local laws, you may find that a pet cemetery is a better choice for you.

There are pet cemeteries in every state and each cemetery has their own process for pet burials. Here at Leesville Animal Hospital, however, we always prompt our family members to consider their own grief. We believe that our pets are important members of our family, though, and their loss is felt as any loss should be.

Be kind to yourself and know that you provided your pet with a lifetime of love. While your vet can offer advice, the decision to put the dog to sleep is still up to you in the end. Research the medical conditions that warrant euthanasia. In general, any condition that causes pain and suffering that cannot be easily cured or managed, be it acute or chronic, is a humane reason to put the dog to sleep.

Here are some examples: Severe trauma from vehicular accidents. Serious diseases that are difficult to treat, such as severe liver disease or uncontrolled diabetes. End stage kidney failure, liver failure, and invasive or malignant tumors. Contagious diseases that are incurable and pose a threat to the life of other animals and humans an example would be Rabies. Severe behavioral problems, such as extreme aggression that cannot be corrected with behavioral therapy, that can pose a risk to other animals, people, and the environment.

Look for the signs that your dog is ready for euthanasia. If you observe these signs in your dog, call your vet immediately and bring your dog in for an exam. Euthanasia may be called for if: [2] X Research source The dog cannot eat, drink, stand or walk anymore, and has completely lost interest in these activities.

The dog is urinating or defecating uncontrollably. Your dog's breathing is labored, and the pup is unresponsive to emergency procedures and drugs. There are signs of pain, such as crying or whining continually, due to a terminal illness or injury. Your dog's skin temperature is very low, indicating that the organs are already beginning to shut down. The dog has large tumors that are inoperable and causing pain and immobilization.

The mucous membranes, like the gums, are gray and dehydrated. Your dog has a very weak and slow pulse. Dogs exhibit signs like panting, shaking, whining, limping, lethargy, not eating, and being slow to get up, walk or go up stairs when they are in pain. Not Helpful 17 Helpful Not necessarily. It depends on the amount of chocolate, the type of chocolate and the weight of the dog. Small amounts of milk chocolate for a large dog may just give it diarrhea.

Dark chocolate that has more chocolate in it is more dangerous. Contact your veterinarian if your dog eats chocolate. Not Helpful 16 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Though the decision to have our dog euthanized is very painful, it's a responsibility you have to face. In the end, what matters most is that you gave your dog the best possible life and a painless and comfortable departure. Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest things you can do. Just remember that you are ending your dog's pain and suffering. When it is time to say goodbye, just be with them until the last moment. Tell you love them, and say your final goodbye. Just remember that if you hold your dog close to your heart, you will never be alone. Helpful 8 Not Helpful 2.

Related wikiHows How to. How to. Merck and Co. Whitehouse Station, N. Medicom Pacific Inc. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: March 23, Article Summary X If you feel that your dog may be dying, watch for signs of respiratory problems, such as labored breathing, shallow breathing, or low heart rate.

Deutsch: Einen sterbenden Hund erkennen. Nederlands: Een stervende hond herkennen. Saying goodbye to your dog here in these last long hours is a very personal private thing. Each person does it in their own way. We were as ready as we could be when the vet arrived. Now the long hours of suffering and decline changed. Everything happens so fast at the end. This is the part of the process when saying goodbye to your dog means summoning a great feeling of remembrance and goodwill, and best wishes for the journey to come.

The vet injected Rex with a sedative tranquilizer, which helped him relax. He was not in any pain. Then, when we were ready, the vet injected Rex with an overdose of barbiturate, which stops the heart and breathing muscles.

Because Rex had not been drinking water and had diarrhea, he was too dehydrated to produce a viable vein, so the vet had to inject the drug into his stomach. This is not the most efficient delivery, and Rex was a big dog, so unfortunately, the first dose of barbiturate did not produce death and a second dose was needed a few minutes later. Rex was sedated and not suffering, but this was quite upsetting to us, as you can imagine.

I only mention this because nothing ever works perfectly, even when you need it to the most, but it can still be okay.

Rex was with us and not in pain, so it was okay. He passed on very shortly after the second dose. You should know that during the moment of, and even after death, a dog can vocalize, twitch and possibly eliminate. This is all perfectly natural as the muscles and organs of the body release for the last time. Rex jerked a few times and then let out a big breath, and then his body lost all tension and he was free.

This is the part of saying goodbye to your dog when you are truly alone, truly separated from him for the first time. Some people are numb in this moment. Others let their tears flow. There is no wrong response now.