One of the things that dogs do when they are about to die is that, over time, in the case of elderly dogs, they decrease their level of physical activity and, sometimes, they may even stop wanting to go out as often. often as before. However, if until now your dog has wanted to go for a walk and is starting to reject this routine , you should begin to suspect that something is going on.

Of course, just because your dog does not want to go for a walk does not mean that he is close to death, it could be a psychological pregnancy or a pathology that causes him to feel weak and not want to go for a walk.

Sick animals or those that are close to death carry out abnormal behaviors that can help us identify a bad condition. We may begin to observe behavioral problems related to their mood, such as fears, aggressive behaviors or abnormal movements. Another symptom that a dog is going to die in these cases is that we observe incontinence, vomiting, diarrhea or other disorders.

Among the different signs that a dog will die we find an alteration in vital signs. Dehydration, excessive panting, or an abnormal temperature can tell us that something is wrong.

We explain what the vital signs of a healthy dog are.:

• Body temperature : between 38 ºC and 39 ºC.
• Respiratory rate in dogs : between 10 and 30 breaths per minute (RPM).
• Heart rate in dogs : between 90 and 140 beats per minute in small dogs, between 70 and 110 beats per minute in medium dogs and 60 to 90 beats per minute in large dogs. Values that refer to the constants of a dog at rest.
• Capillary refill time : Capillary refill time can be identified by lightly pressing the dog’s mucous membranes . It should be analyzed how long it takes for them to recover their normal color. Generally, pressure is applied to the mucous membranes of the mouth (gums) and the time should be less than two seconds.

In any case, an alteration in the dog’s vital signs indicates that you should immediately go to the veterinarian .

Appetite is an unequivocal sign that a dog is healthy, therefore, if our best friend begins to reject his feed and even his favorite portions of wet food, we should be suspicious . It may also happen that he stops drinking water and we have to force him to hydrate .

As a consequence of the lack of water and food intake, we will begin to observe that the dog vomits bile and that its organs begin to fail, causing pain , rejection towards us and discomfort in the dog.

If you see your dog lethargic in a corner of the house and also showing all the symptoms we mentioned above, perhaps your dog is close to death . This is a very delicate moment, therefore, we advise you to offer him a comfortable place to rest, a pleasant atmosphere and pay close attention to him at all times. It is important that he feels accompanied.

Keep reading to find out the other symptoms that a dog is dying so you can have more information on the subject.

Especially in elderly dogs, incontinence is another of the most common symptoms that a dog is going to die , although it can also be due to other causes or factors that are motivating it. Due to the passage of time, the muscles that surround the urinary system weaken and, with it, so does the control of the nervous system. In this way, it is difficult for the dog to have total control of its body, which manifests itself in incontinence or urination problems.

We give you more details about Urinary Incontinence in dogs: causes and treatment , below.

Are there more things a dog does before dying? As we have mentioned before, one of the things that dogs do when they are going to die is not eat the entire portion they should. At this point, we may also find that the dog cannot digest the food properly , so he ends up vomiting. In turn, vomiting will end up leading the dog to a state of dehydration that can put its life at risk, and will also weaken it greatly.

It should be noted that how to know if my dog is going to die from vomiting is a somewhat risky conclusion, since vomiting in dogs can be motivated by different causes. In this case, we must be aware of whether the vomiting we see is constant and frequent after finishing eating, since this would be due to the fact that the amount of food in the stomach cannot be maintained .

Another symptom of an old dog before dying or, simply of a dog that is likely to die, is an atypical breathing level. That is why veterinarians always emphasize the importance of being attentive to any anomaly in the behavior of our furry little one.

How to know if my dog is going to die may be evident if we see that he is coughing and breathing abnormally. It is probably due to a homeostatic imbalance in his body , which can translate into flooding of the lung alveoli due to the liquid that is produced. .

Just as at the beginning of this article about the symptoms of a dog that is about to die we mentioned the change in behavior with aggression or apathy, another of the things that dogs do when they are about to die is show dependent behavior towards their guardians.

That is to say, the behavior of dogs before dying is modified in an intense way in which we can perceive how our dog constantly needs us to caress it or be attentive to it.

It is not a strange behavior, but rather it makes perfect sense since, throughout his life, you have been the one who has guided him and you are also the person he trusts the most. In fact, studies are still being carried out to affirm that what dogs think before dying is related to the image and conception of their guardian.

What else can we keep in mind to help us know when a dog is going to die? One aspect we can pay attention to is the color of the gums. If we see that our dog has gray or white gums , this may be a symptom of an underlying disease that can lead to death.

This lack of pigmentation is due to a lack of blood in the organs and can be caused by different causes, including: anemia, low blood pressure and internal bleeding, for example.

Due to an increase in abnormal electrical activity in our dog’s brain, seizures can occur. This is one of the things a dog does before dying unconsciously and involuntarily, since he is not in control of his body. These seizures can be caused by poisoning, brain tumors, or even drug use. If you find yourself in this situation, go to the vet urgently so that he can help you.

Although humans have not yet discovered whether dogs know that they are going to die, we are aware of the situation that is being generated. If you suspect that your dog is dying and also shows all or any of the signs that we have mentioned throughout the article, do not hesitate and quickly contact your trusted veterinarian . Although these symptoms may indicate that the dog is close to death, they are also symptoms of different pathologies and diseases, so only the veterinarian will be able to determine what it is.

In addition, the specialist will help you make the best decision. You must remember that in some cases, such as when the animal is in a lot of pain, euthanasia should be considered , with the sole purpose of relieving the pain.

If you consider that this is not an option in your case, it will also help you offer you the best care to end your life with dignity and with those you love most. You may need to help him feed, drink, and even urinate somewhere in the house.

The death of a dog is one of the saddest and most painful moments for any owner. You must decide what to do with the animal’s body.

If the dog has died at the veterinary office, the specialist will probably suggest cremating the dog’s body , either privately or along with other bodies of deceased dogs. If the dog has died at home, you can call your veterinarian to follow this same process, but you can also contact an animal funeral home , generally a cheaper option.

Later, do not forget that you must remove the dog from the animal registry of your country.

And then…

Is it possible to get over the death of a pet? It is a long process , which involves time, acceptance and a stage of mourning. Although many people may not understand it, the truth is that dogs and humans create a very strong bond , even stronger than what can be had with another human.

What we can recommend is that once you are ready to have an animal with you again, adopt a dog that really needs it. An animal abandoned from a shelter or pound or even from the street.

This article is merely informative, at tecnomd.com we do not have the authority to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if it has any type of condition or discomfort.