My Dog is Dying of Old Age: A Guide to Navigating the Final Stages
Is your beloved pet getting close to their end of life?
As your dog ages, you will face lots of challenges from caring about them during their senior years up until the end of their life. But no matter what, caring for a senior dog at the end can be tough.
This guide will help you recognize the signs of dying and how to comfort and support both your canine companion, other pets at home, and yourself during this time.
Whether you’re looking at a natural death or remedial care, you need to learn how to balance your dog’s quality of life and say goodbye with kindness.
It’s never easy but you’re not alone.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of any health concerns regarding your pet.
Table of Contents |
Introduction
Losing a pet is one of the toughest things a pet owner will face be it because of old age or due to them being sick.
When you find yourself thinking “My dog is dying of old age” it can be overwhelming and sad. Dogs age much faster than humans so the signs of old age and illness can sometimes appear seemingly out of nowhere.
As dog parents, knowing how to care for your dog in these final stages will help you give them the love and support they need and make any transition you face easier on you and your family.
Whether you’re seeing extreme weight loss, abnormal breathing, abnormal bowel control, or less interest in activities, the key is to stay calm and kind.
This article will walk you through the emotional and physical aspects of end-of-life care for your dog so you can give them comfort and dignity, and be there as their pet parents until the very end.
Signs of Dying
As your dog’s life comes to an end there are several signs their body is shutting down.
Labored Breathing and Core Temperature Fluctuations
You may see labored breathing or unusual breathing patterns. Their body temperature may be hard to regulate which means their organs are shutting down.
Loss of Appetite and Final Hours
When a dog loses interest in food or water and can no longer regulate body temperature, this is usually a tell tale sign that they are nearing their end. In these final hours you should be with them to give them comfort and love.
Five Ways to Ease the Heartache of a Dying Dog
If you are living with a senior dog there is a good chance you may one day soon look at your best life companion and think to yourself:
“Wow, my dog is dying.”
Indeed, it is a sobering and heartbreaking reality.
A dog’s life seems to pass by so quickly in comparison to human life expectancy. One day they are young and full of puppy energy and the next they are sauntering delicately from one spot to the next. As pet owners, we should see this as an opportunity to grow, accept, and most of all, be there for our dogs when they need us most during their senior years.
Living with a senior dog who has developed health problems can be very challenging. For starters, dogs don’t speak English, or any human language for that matter. Sometimes, even experts like myself have a really hard time figuring out exactly what a dog is trying to convey to us.
Are they in pain and if so what exactly is bothering them? Do they want to sleep more in lieu of their daily walks and is that okay? Are they not eating as much because of a serious underlying problem or rather, like human senior citizens, are they simply becoming finicky and peculiar in their old age? There are so many things one has to consider when a dog’s window on life is slowly starting to close.
In order to help dog lovers face this challenging time in a dog’s life, here is a list of five things one may do in order to make the heartache of a dying dog less painful and perhaps a bit easier to navigate.
- Trust Your Veterinarian: Hopefully, at this stage of your dog’s life, you have found a Veterinarian who has been able to help you with your pup's medical needs. Your dog’s doctor should be empathetic, calm, and loving. They should also be a straight shooter who is not going to drag you along simply to make money. A senior dog with health problems leaves many people vulnerable and in some cases, desperate. Keep in mind that our responsibility is in giving our dogs the best quality of life possible; not just in keeping them alive for the sake of living. Your doctor should be willing and able to give you advice on what measures should or should not be taken in order to provide your dog comfort, peace, and freedom from pain, even if that means making the very difficult decision of medical euthanasia. Our dogs are part of a community at large and it is okay to rely on the professionals in your dog’s life to help you through end-of-life care and decisions.
- Talk to Your Dog (More Than Ever): For certain, you already speak to your dog daily. If you don’t, you should start! I don’t think I have met a dog lover on the planet who doesn’t spend their days carrying on in conversation with their four-legged companion. While dogs don’t necessarily know what we are saying, they do pick up on our tones and inflection, but above all else, talking to our dogs bridges a gap for us, the humans, and makes us feel more connected and in tune with our pup. When dealing with a senior dog, what matters most is what you are actually saying to your dog, as the words you share are going to help you heal and let go, when the time comes to do so. When my senior dog Tipsy was in her last months of life, often I would tell her just how grateful I was that she came along. I would tell her that without her I never would have made it and I made sure to tell her that I knew we would always be together. Many times this is going to bring you to tears and your dog may look at you like you’re a crazy person, but that’s alright. In the long run, it is going to help you prepare for the inevitable and also find gratitude even through the pain of saying goodbye to your best friend.
- Quality Over Quantity: As alluded to before, our responsibility is to give our dogs the best quality of life possible, and not necessarily to keep our dogs alive for as long as possible. I have seen countless humans subject themselves to months and sometimes even years of painstaking heartache, to keep their senior dog alive for just a few more months. The emotional toll this has on the people and above all else the dog involved is not something that should be discounted. Most of us take on a dog because it is something we truly believe in with all our hearts. We don’t necessarily stress about the money and time it takes to care for a dog; we simply do it because we are “dog people!” As our dogs age and start to deteriorate, both money and time start to become more impactful in our day to day lives. With this in mind, quality of life should not only be considered for the dog but also for the human(s) involved. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself if your dog wants to spend its final months or years being poked and prodded and subjected to endless medical treatments. Don’t feel shame or guilt for asking yourself how much you are capable of enduring as well. Moreover, don’t be afraid to ask your dog if that’s what they want. If we were to remove ourselves from the equation, our dogs would not take themselves to the doctor, and so it is important to try and figure out how much of our decision-making is “for them” or “for us.” Dogs come into our lives to bring us joy and relief from the everyday stress of life. It is important to remember this and not emotionally torture ourselves, or them, when quality of life is deteriorating.
- Eating, Walking, Bathroom: This is rather straightforward but does serve as a rudder for the boat when your dog’s health is on the decline. If your dog is still capable of eating, walking, and using the bathroom without it being too much of a burden, this is a good indicator that they are still hanging tough. For most dogs, eating food is at the very top of their priorities; it is essential to the very survival of any species. Along with that, being able to walk outside to use the bathroom should also serve as a grounding point for the humans involved when making their way through their senior years. Once a dog is physically incapable of doing one, two, or all of these things, perhaps it is time to start having deeper conversations with family and the animal experts in your life about the next steps as they pertain to your pup.
- There Will Be Another (If and When You Are Ready): No dog is replaceable. Each brings their unique spirit and personality to our lives and truly fills us with their magic. It is no wonder that those of us who choose to live our lives alongside dogs continue to do so, even after our best friend passes on. For some, it may be a quick turnaround, for others a few years, but either way, there is always another dog who needs a home and another home who needs a dog. It is okay to find solace in knowing that one day, when your wounds have healed and your heartache has lessened, there will be another wonderful canine waiting for you to take them on. It is okay to slowly say goodbye to your dying dog while also looking forward to meeting another. Be sure to keep this in mind amidst the emotional rollercoaster that comprises the life of living with a senior dog whose time to leave may soon be near.
There is no doubt about it that above all else, your senior dog, in all its wisdom, is teaching you that this very moment is all we have. There are no guarantees of a tomorrow and the past is only a memory.
Be as kind and caring to yourself as you are to your dog and remember that one day, in what will seem like the blink of an eye, they will be old and gray, soon to depart from this life; but they leave us with the greatest sense of love a human being can truly know. When it matters most our dying dogs show us that death is only a precursor to another chance at life; and for those of us who love dogs, it is the chance for a life with another four-legged companion whose love knows no bounds.
The Dying Process
As your dog gets closer to the end it’s important to understand the process and decide if you want to let them go naturally or consider remedial care as their dog owners.
Natural Death vs Medical Intervention
A natural death is letting them go at home but you need to monitor for any unnecessary suffering. If they are in extreme pain or labored breathing it may be time to talk to your vet about hospice care or euthanasia as a gift to spare them further discomfort.
How to Keep Your Dog Comfortable: End of Life Care
Keeping your dog comfortable in the last few days is crucial. A calm environment, managing pain, and emotional support can make all the difference.
Easy to Digest Protein and Water Access
To keep them energized offer easy to digest protein and keep water bowls nearby. Hydration can become an issue so consider a squirt bottle or oral syringe if your dog has trouble drinking.
Frequent Potty Breaks
Some dogs may still want to go outside even in the last few days. Offer frequent trips to the yard if possible but don’t force them if they’re too weak.
Conclusion
Caring for senior dogs in the last few days is one of the most difficult experiences a pet parent will face.
The physical signs of aging and death can be overwhelming but understanding these changes and knowing how to provide comfort can help you and your beloved pet get through this tough journey with kindness. From weight loss and loss of appetite to remedial care decisions, your role in the last days is to keep them as comfortable and pain free as possible.
Saying goodbye is never easy but your love and care in the last moments will help them go peacefully. Remember your bond with them will last forever and though the loss is hard the memories of your time together will live on.
FAQs
1. How do I know my dog is dying of old age?
Look for signs like weight loss, labored breathing, and no interest in food or activities.
2. How can I keep my dog comfortable in the last days?
Offer warmth with blankets, hydration, and easy-to-digest protein. Keep their environment calm and familiar.
3. Should I let them go naturally or euthanize them?
This depends on your dog’s condition. If they are in pain or discomfort talk to your vet about what to do.
4. What emotional support can I give my dog in the last days?
Talk to your dog even if they don’t understand your words. Your voice and presence can be comforting and reassuring.
5. How do I deal with losing my dog?
Grief is normal. Surround yourself with supportive people and when you’re ready consider getting another dog to help heal the loss.
