One of the hardest moments we have to face dog lovers is when our dear furry friend leaves us forever. We never wanted that day to come, but unfortunately it is something that cannot be avoided. There are, in fact, various signs that tell us that a dog is going to die; especially if you are elderly or seriously ill.
If you suspect that a dog’s life may be coming to an end, it is important that you go to the vet so that a professional can give a specific diagnosis and indicate what exactly the state of the dog is and what options there are.
They can also offer you some advice on how to take care of it in this last stage, in case there is nothing else to do. Let’s see what are the main causes that indicate that a dog is going to die.
Index of contents
- 1 He doesn’t want to go for a walk
- 2 Does not eat or drink water
- 3 His behavior is not normal
- 4 The dog’s vital signs are altered
- 5 Try to run away or find a quiet place
- 6 What can I do if my dog is dying?
He doesn’t want to go for a walk
Decreasing the dog’s normal physical activity and being reluctant to maintain its routines can tell us that a dog is near death. This does not mean, far from it, that whenever a dog does not want to go out to play with us, it will die.
You should be aware that this change in behavior may also be a symptom of a non-terminal disease, which makes our furry boy feel weaker and unwilling to walk. Check if this signal is accompanied by others and take the dog to a professional’s office if he continues apathetic.
Does not eat or drink water
That a dog loses its appetite indicates that something is happening. If you reject feed or your favorite foods, you become suspicious, especially if you don’t drink water either. As a consequence, the dog may show signs of dehydration and vomit bile. If this situation is not remedied, its organs may start to fail and the dog will show signs of pain.
His behavior is not normal
When a dog is very sick or about to die, its behavior is not the same as always. It may show some behavior problems related to your mood, expressions of fear, increased aggressiveness or abnormal movements.
Further, These changes may be accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or urinary incontinence.. When this happens, it is clear that our friend needs urgent veterinary attention.
The dog’s vital signs are altered
Finally, we should also be concerned when a dog begins to pant heavily, show signs of severe dehydration, or have a fever. For you to have a reference, normal vital signs in a healthy dog would be:
- A body temperature of between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius.
- Between 90 and 140 beats per minute in small dogs at rest, 70 to 110 in medium dogs and 60 to 90 in large dogs.
- 10 to 30 breaths per minute.
Altered vital signs can also be due to a treatable crisis, so time in these cases is money. We must go as soon as possible with a specialist so that he can examine our dog. If together with all this you see that it remains dormant in a corner of the house without hardly moving, death could haunt very close.
Try to run away or find a quiet place
Many dogs, when they know that their time is near, move away from the pack to try to die alone. It is something instinctive that comes to the dog of its origins, the wolf.
It is also possible that even if you don’t try to run away, Find somewhere comfortable but somewhat secluded in the home, where you can take your last breaths. If this happens, do not scold him, just accompany him and spend with him his last moments, caressing him, and loving him.
What can I do if my dog is dying?
At times like these, the best thing to do is to immediately contact your trusted vet. He will be able to assess the situation, based on the dog’s symptoms and his medical history, and will advise you on what options there are.
If you already know there is no going back, surely you must make a complicated decision. Sometimes when the animal is in a lot of pain, the euthanasia It can be an option to value to avoid more suffering.
In the event that you decide to wait until the end, the fundamental thing will be give the dog all your love and make him feel well accompanied. It is a very delicate moment for the whole family, but you should feel comforted that you have done everything possible so that your furry friend is taken care of.
Another difficult moment is when you have to decide what to do with your body. Most of the time, incineration is chosen, although there are other alternatives. In any case, the veterinary clinic or a canine funeral will be able to inform you of all the steps to follow.
As with any loved one, the departure of our furry friend will leave us with a deep sense of loss. We will have to spend all the mourning until, little by little, we can accept his death and feel something better.