Signs a dog is dying of old age: what to look for

The most common signs that an old dog is dying are a lasting loss of appetite, sleeping almost all the time, pulling away from the family, trouble standing or walking, loss of bladder and bowel control, changed breathing, and pale gums with cool legs and ears. Most dying dogs show several of these together, and the signs get steadily worse over days or weeks.

No single sign is proof. Every one of them can also come from an illness that can be treated, so the first step is always a vet visit.

What are the signs of a dog dying of old age?

Old age is not a disease in itself. Old dogs die because something fails: the kidneys, the heart, the liver, the brain, or a cancer that has spread. Whatever the cause, the body tends to wind down in a similar way. These are the changes owners most often notice in the last weeks.

• Appetite. Eating less, then turning down even favorite foods and treats. Drinking usually drops off after that.
• Weight and muscle. The spine, hips and top of the head become bony as muscle wastes away.
• Sleep and energy. Sleeping most of the day and night, slow to wake, no interest in walks, toys or visitors.
• Withdrawal. Some dogs take themselves off to a quiet corner or another room. Others do the opposite and will not leave your side.
• Mobility. Struggling to get up, wobbling, back legs giving way, and eventually being unable to stand without help.
• Incontinence. Leaking urine or passing stool where they lie, often without seeming to notice.
• Breathing. Faster, shallower or more effortful breathing while resting, or panting with no obvious reason.
• Temperature. Ears, legs and paws that feel cool to the touch, shivering, or seeking out warm spots.
• Gum color. Healthy gums are moist and salmon pink. Pale, white, gray or bluish gums can point to poor circulation, blood loss or low oxygen.

Is your dog dying, or ill with something treatable?

This is the question that matters most. Many dogs who look as if they are dying have a problem a vet can treat or manage, sometimes with months or years of good life to follow. A change that appears suddenly is more likely to be an illness than old age, which tends to creep.

Vestibular disease is the classic example. An old dog suddenly cannot stand, the eyes flick from side to side, and the family assumes a stroke or the end. Many of these dogs improve a great deal over the following days and weeks. Our guide to vestibular disease in senior dogs explains what it looks like, and why an old dog stops eating covers the many causes of a lost appetite.

An exam, with blood and urine tests if your vet advises them, will usually show whether there is something to treat. Ask directly: is this treatable, and if it is not, how long does my dog have and how comfortable will that time be? If the answer is that nothing more can be done, you will at least be deciding with facts.

What the last days and hours can look like

In the final few days most dogs stop eating completely and then stop drinking. They can no longer stand, they sleep nearly all the time, and they may not respond to their name. Control of the bladder and bowels goes.

In the final hours, breathing changes the most. It can become shallow and irregular with long pauses between breaths, or labored and open-mouthed. The legs and ears cool and the gums turn pale or gray. Some dogs slip into unconsciousness. Others become restless, cry out, twitch or have a seizure.

Around the moment of death there may be a few deep, gasping breaths and some muscle twitching. These are reflexes of the body and do not mean the dog is aware or in pain. The bladder and bowels usually empty, and the eyes tend to stay open. If your dog has already died, see what to do when your pet dies at home.

How to keep a dying dog comfortable

Ask your vet about palliative or hospice care. That means treating pain, nausea and anxiety for comfort once the underlying illness can no longer be fixed. At home, the basics are:

• Pain relief from your vet. Never give human painkillers. Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and aspirin can seriously harm or kill a dog and must not be given unless your vet has specifically told you to.
• A soft, thick bed in a quiet, warm spot where they can still see and hear the family.
• Turning. A dog who cannot move needs gentle repositioning through the day to prevent pressure sores. Ask your vet to show you how.
• Clean, dry skin. Put absorbent pads under them and wash and dry the skin after accidents, because urine burns skin quickly.
• Food and water on offer, never forced. Small amounts of their usual food or a favorite treat, warmed slightly, are worth trying. Check with your vet before offering anything new. Forcing food or water into the mouth risks choking.
• Warmth. A light blanket helps. Avoid heat pads for a dog who cannot move away from them.
• Company. Keep the house calm and stay close. Most dogs settle better with their people nearby.

Should you let your dog die naturally at home?

Many owners hope their dog will pass quietly in their sleep. It does happen, but it is not the usual way. A natural death often takes many hours or several days, and it can involve struggling for breath, pain, nausea, panic and seizures. At home, in the middle of the night, there is very little you can do to relieve any of that.

Euthanasia exists to spare a dog that final stretch. It is carried out only by a veterinarian, who normally gives a sedative first so the dog is asleep before the final injection. Many areas have vets who will do this in your home. Never attempt to end a dog's life yourself. What happens during pet euthanasia walks through the appointment, and how much it costs to put a dog down covers typical fees.

If a natural death at home matters to you, plan it with your vet. You need a pain plan, an agreed point at which you will ask for help, and the number of a clinic that is open after hours.

Not sure whether it is time yet? Score your dog on a quality-of-life scale for senior dogs and read when to say goodbye. Then take both to your vet. The decision is yours and theirs together.

When it is an emergency

Call your vet or an emergency clinic now if your dog has any of these, even if you believe they are dying. A vet can relieve suffering quickly, and some of these have causes that can be treated.

• Struggling to breathe, or gums that are blue, gray or white
• Collapse, or suddenly being unable to stand
• A seizure that lasts more than a few minutes, or more than one seizure in a day
• A swollen, tight belly, especially with retching that brings nothing up
• Crying, trembling or panting in pain that does not ease
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, or blood in either
• Straining to urinate with little or nothing coming out

After your dog has gone

Grief for a dog is real grief, and it often starts before the death, during the weeks of watching. When you are ready, coping with the loss of a pet has practical help for the first days and after.

This article is general educational information and is not veterinary advice. The signs described here can point to the end of life, but they are also signs of illnesses that can be treated, and only an examination can tell them apart. Decisions about your dog's care, comfort and the timing of euthanasia should be made with your veterinarian. Never give a dog human medicines unless your vet has directed it.