How Does a Dog Act When It Is Dying

When a pet's illness has reached a crisis point, many owners wonder "How does a dog act when it is dying?" Knowing the answer to this question can be crucial to making your pet's last moments as peaceful as possible.

Sometimes death comes quickly without much warning, but in other cases it's possible to recognize that a dog is going to pass away. There are certain behaviors that, when occurring together, can signal a dog's system is preparing to shut down.

A normally family-oriented dog will sometimes seek to be alone when he feels very ill and may even attempt to hide himself away. In many cases, he will look for a quiet out-of-the-way spot where he can den up in peace. Owners usually first discover that their dog appears to be missing, and he doesn't respond to their calls when they search for him. The dog may be resting behind furniture, on the floor of a closet, under a stair case or an outside deck. He may also den in his crate if it's a place where he has always felt comfortable in the past.

In addition to withdrawing, the dog may also seem rather detached. He may not seem to recognize his owner and mainly just wants to be left alone.

Many dogs that are seriously ill and approaching death will begin sleeping more than usual, often spending nearly the entire day drifting in and out of consciousness. Rousing a dog in this condition is fairly difficult and not advisable since moving will use precious energy and could hasten death.

When a dog refuses to take food or water, this is a very serious sign that his condition is failing. When the dog's internal organs begin to slow their functions in prelude to shutting down, the hunger impulse disappears completely. Any food in his system will simply begin to ferment without active digestion, so trying to force feed is of no help. Likewise, forcing the dog to drink water, unless he is willing to take it on his own, won't improve the situation. Once the dog refuses to drink, the process of dehydration begins.

As death approaches, a dog may begin to experience intermittent spasmodic movements. This is caused by misfiring neurons in the brain sending random signals to the muscles. These movements can appear as repetitive jerking motions, or it may simply look like the dog is struggling to change position without much success.

Once irregular breathing sets in, the end is not far off. A lack of hydration causes mucus formation in the lungs. Liquid pools because the heart can no longer pump efficiently. The dog may struggle for breath and even begin to cough. The length between breaths begins to lengthen, with the pauses growing longer and longer.

When the final moments arrive, the dog's breathing will be very shallow and spaced far apart. The body may also become rather stiff, although this is not the same as the rigor mortis that will follow several hours after death. The dog may also feel cooler to the touch as the heart rate dwindles down. He will show almost no movement at all, and his eyes will have a dazed look as brain function winds to a close. The dog's behavior at this point is extremely detached and unresponsive. Once breathing stops, the body may give a few agonal breaths even after the dog passes away. These stop, and the body is finally at rest.

This outline provides a general synopsis that answers the question of "How does a dog act when it is dying?" However, every death is unique, and some dogs may not follow this pattern exactly. Some may even seek to be near their special person before they begin to slip away. Still, this guideline can be useful in helping you determine whether your pet is truly close to passing away, and understanding his outward behavior in relationship to what's happening inside of him may help bring easier acceptance of the situation.

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