Do dogs ever die naturally? Find Out Here

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Advantages of Natural Death

  • The pet gets to die in a natural environment. Cats often hate to be taken out of their environment, so dying at the home may seem to be the best choice. Owners can create an area in familiar surroundings—a sanctuary—for the animal to be comfortable and in familiar surroundings. Some owners like to play music, or they may take their pets to a special area in the garden to say their goodbyes. The pet is spared from the stress of seeing the vet or going on a dreaded car ride.
  • The owner doesnt have to wonder if they made the wrong decision by putting them to sleep too early.

    • Do You Want to Be There When It Happens?

    Another question you may be asked is if you want to be present for the procedure. Again, this is a personal choice. Some owners cannot bear the thought while others may want to be there for the last moments. And last but not least, even though it sounds inappropriate, the staff may ask you if your pet has bitten or scratched anyone in the past days. Dont get offended by this question, as this is asked to abide by rabies law in many states.

    My Dog Is Dying – How Long Does It Take?

    Some sick dogs deteriorate quickly in a matter of hours while for others, the process of dying can take several days or even weeks. There is no specific time range in which a dog will naturally pass away.

    Other dogs may appear to be dying for days or weeks before it actually happens.

    How long it takes for your dog to die depends greatly on the reason. Dogs with tumors on their spleen may experience a very quick death as the tumor bursts and leads to a lot of internal bleeding.

    On the other hand, if your dog is suffering from a slow progressing illness, there won’t be a specific instance that causes their death, and it can be harder to predict the length of time.

    How to Know if Your Dog is Going to Die

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    Many dog owners will one day face the sad fact that their animal companions are ill and will die soon. A large number of them express the desire to have their dog quietly and mercifully die at home “in their sleep.” This conjures up peaceful notions for pet parents of a solemn and gentle passing.

    Before I go any further, let me introduce myself for those of you who don’t know me. I’m the Irreverent Veterinarian, and I give you my honest opinion on issues in the animal care world. Some might say that I’m honest to a fault. I speak my mind and I won’t sweet-talk you or sugarcoat the truth. I tell it like it is: to you, the drug companies, the pet product manufacturers, professional breeders, and pet owners. Some of what I say can be controversial, but that doesn’t stop me—it can be hard to hear the truth.