Signs of dying of old age in dog?

Answer 1

Same as in a human that dies of 'natural causes' in old age.

1. Slowing down. This actually begins after the peak of adulthood and is usually not an immanent sign.

2. Sleeping more - spending more and more of the day in a state of light sleep.

3. Not wanting to eat much, then not wanting to eat at all. (Taste and smell are the first senses to go, hearing is usually the last.)

4. Not wanting to drink after a while, either.

5. Staying in one spot drowsing, not active.

6. As death approaches, extremities get chilly.

7 Possible incontinence. May have restless spells, confusion, 'seeing things.'

8. Near the end, obvious changes in breathing with eventual cessation.

Life expentancies differ for dog breeds. For some of the larger breeds, 12 - 14 is doing great. The process of dying can take hours to days.

Always ask your vet about your pet's health and any changes you see.

Answer 2

Veterinary medicine doesn't have a good handle on whether or not dogs actually experience senility or if it is simply physical degradations such as hearing loss and Arthritis. However, some symptoms include not responding to learned commands, or responding inappropriately; disruptions in normal schedules such as eating or sleeping times; changes in personality such as sudden aggression or docility.

Answer 3

A graying muzzle, a slowed step, not eating all of its food, problems passing urine and feces.... If you have an elderly pet, my salute is to you. I cannot handle pets; I am too sad when they die. My mistake buying puppies; they are now almost 3 years old and I dread the day of their death. =[

Answer 4

It depends on the owner which cares for the dog. ive seen a old dog had hair loss and blindness bumping into walls. the owner however dragged the poor thing up n down the stairs. everyone gets old. but who will care for us at the bitter end. in a proper way hmmm.

Answer 5

The best thing to do is to take your dog in to be checked out by your Veterinarian immediately, do not let your dog suffer. The Vet is the only one that can actually tell you what is going on. It may be something that can be treated, if only for awhile, or not.

Answer 6

If it talks and says whats up vanilla face!

Answer 7

Older dogs can be lethargic; they don't want to play as much as they used to. They possibly sleep more and lose weight. An older dog will need better nutrition.