Old age can affect the way your dog moves and acts, but there are also signs you can look for to tell whether your pet is suffering or not. Many of these symptoms are normal, such as getting slower and weaker. Some symptoms may be due to health problems not related to aging. If your dog’s health starts to go downhill in any way, it’s important to get them seen by a vet.
Your pet stops interacting with family and friends
Your pet becomes incontinent
Your pet has been diagnosed with a serious illness or has had a serious accident
Senior pets require frequent veterinary checkups as they age. If your dog is currently healthy, twice-a-year visits are recommended once he reaches the age of 8, but if he has an existing health problem this may need to be increased to every 6 months.
When a senior pet starts to develop health problems, the best thing you can do is consult with your veterinarian early on so that those problems can be addressed and treated before they become life-threatening.
Monitoring your senior pet’s behavior is a great way to catch any abnormalities before they become dangerous. Changes in your pet’s behavior can indicate an underlying health problem and should never be ignored.
My dog is dying should I put him down?
Euthanizing a dog is not a decision that’s made lightly. But when a dog is suffering from an illness or injury that can’t be treated, or if a dog is so old that his quality of life has diminished too much, putting him down might be the kindest option.
Dogs don’t react to death the same way humans do. They don’t fear death and won’t know what is happening until the very end when they are under full anesthesia and their heart stops.
It’s important to remember that while you might be suffering, your dog is not. And once it’s done, your pet will no longer be in pain.
It’s very hard to admit when it’s time to let your dog go, but as they age, they will eventually become unable to move, or eat, or may even suffer from dementia. If your pet is in pain and suffering, then it might be time to consider letting them go.
Some dogs have multiple health problems that are treated one by one until there are none left. Others have a single issue that becomes too much for them or their owners to bear.
If you think the time has come, speak with your vet about the possibility of having your dog put down. They may recommend palliative care instead, which involves medication that can make the dying process easier for both you and your pet.
What is considered old age for a dog?
This depends on the breed and size of the dog. Small dogs tend to live longer than large dogs (with a few exceptions). Some giant breeds only live until they are 7 years old. Larger dogs are often considered seniors from around 8 years old, whilst smaller dogs are considered seniors around 10 years old. Toy breeds can live as long as 15 years!
How quickly a dog enters old age also depends on general health, lifestyle, and diet. Dogs that have been well cared for with good food and regular exercise will usually reach seniority in better shape than those that have lived an unbalanced lifestyle.
As dogs age, you may notice cognitive issues and changes in behavior. Senior pets may forget commands that they had once mastered or get lost in familiar places. Increased thirst and urination can indicate kidney problems, while increased hunger can be a sign of diabetes or hyperthyroidism.
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms or simply doesn’t seem as lively anymore, consider taking them to the vet for a checkup.
Do dogs know they are dying?
Some dogs will know when they are dying and may display specific behaviors. The most noticeable of these is a change in behavior.
When a dog is dying, he may begin to withdraw from people and things, according to the Humane Society. He may try to hide in quiet places and have no interest in food or water. As its organs begin to shut down, a dying dog will experience difficulty breathing and may also experience weakness, lethargy, or loss of bladder control.
At what age do dogs start slowing down?
Generally, dogs start slowing down from the age of 7. However, some breeds will show signs of slowing down at an earlier age. It’s also important to note that there are many factors that affect how fast or slow a dog slows down.
By age 7, most dogs begin to show signs of aging and slowing down including a loss of hearing, slower reaction times, and changes in sleeping habits. Other common signs include:
Slowed response to commands
Increased sleeping
Loss of hearing and vision
Difficulty getting up after lying down
Less interest in play or exercise
There are many health issues that can affect senior dogs, including:
Arthritis
Diabetes
Cancer
Obesity
Heart disease
Kidney disease
The best way to keep your dog healthy and active is to make sure you feed them the best food possible. I recommend the raw food diet for dogs. This type of diet has been shown to reduce inflammation in dogs with arthritis and help them live longer healthier lives.
Conclusion of signs your dog is dying
A dog is considered a senior at about seven years of age, although large breed dogs may be considered geriatric as early as six. The life expectancy for small breed dogs is generally longer than that of large breed dogs.
Dogs are truly man’s best friend, so it can be heartbreaking to watch them age, slow down and eventually die. It’s important to know when your elderly dog has reached the end of his life, so you can make the decision to help him pass on peacefully and without pain.
The first sign that your dog is dying is when they stop eating or drinking. Their body will no longer process food or water. Your dog may even attempt to eat but cannot swallow. If they do manage to get food down, they will most likely vomit it back up.
The second sign that a dog is dying is when they have trouble getting up and walking around. They will have extreme difficulty standing, especially if they have arthritis which dogs often develop as they age.
If your dog does make it outside, you may notice that he or she loses bladder control or defecates on themselves. Diarrhea may also occur at this time.
You may find that your dog will start to sleep more than usual. This can sometimes lead people into thinking that the dog is depressed and not eating because of sadness or stress over something else happening in their life, but this symptom really just means that the end is near for your beloved pet!
While it is difficult to say goodbye, as dog lovers we owe it to our pets to provide them the highest quality of life while they’re still here. We don’t want them to suffer unnecessarily, so making sure they are comfortable and happy during their final days should be our top priority.
Hannah Elizabeth is an English animal behavior author, having written for several online publications. With a degree in Animal Behaviour and over a decade of practical animal husbandry experience, Hannah's articles cover everything from pet care to wildlife conservation. When she isn't creating content for blog posts, Hannah enjoys long walks with her Rottweiler cross Senna, reading fantasy novels and breeding aquarium shrimp.
