Warning Signs That a Dog Is About to Die

Knowing the warning signs that a dog is about to die can help you to take quick action to prevent a tragic event. If you catch the warning signs quickly enough, you may be able to get your dog to the vet and cure the fatal illness. If you already know that your dog's case is terminal, then knowing the warning signs will enable you to make your dog's last few days comfortable.

  1. Passivity

    • You may notice that your dog has lost his desire to play or that he has lost interest in his favorite toys and activities. When you try to give him attention, his eager tail wagging is replaced with a general lack of interest. As your dog approaches his final days, it is common for him to become lethargic and sleep excessively. These symptoms may also be accompanied by difficulty in movement or by limping, which is often a sign of joint pain. While you can't fill him with energy, you can comfort him through petting or allowing him to sleep on your lap so he feels close to you. Contact your veterinarian to see if there are any medications you can administer to your dog to ease his suffering if he is in pain.

    Incontinence

    • As your dog approaches death, he will lose his ability to control his bowel and urinary functions. Although he doesn't intend to, he may begin to have accidents inside, even if he is completely housetrained. Your dog may have more or fewer accidents than other dying dogs, and the frequency of the accidents may increase as his body gets weaker. These accidents are uncontrollable, so do not punish your dog. Show him that he has not done wrong by providing him with loving attention. Placing puppy pads around the house may help the problem, but he is still likely to have some accidents on your floor.

    Decreased Appetite

    • One important indication that a dog is about to die is a decrease or loss of appetite. This appetite loss may be attributed to lack of interest in food or water, or the dog could be having trouble swallowing. Loss of appetite can be a sign of many different health problems in dogs, so always take your dog to a veterinarian to have the problem checked. Although you can't make a dog eat if he is not hungry, you can try replacing his dry dog food with soft, wet dog food that is easier to eat.