II Being clingier than usual
While many pups want to be alone when they are dying, others take the opposite direction.
They want to be so close to those they love – licking them, wanting to be cuddled and hugged, and following them around (if their bodies can handle it).
While there is not much scientific evidence to support the fact that dogs face east when they die, it does seem to be the case, at least anecdotally. There are several theories as to why this might be, but the most likely explanation is that animals simply respond to the way we treat them when they are sick or nearing the end of their lives. So while we may never know for sure whether dogs know when they’re going to die, it’s clear that they are sensitive creatures who are attuned to the people and animals around them.
Another theory suggests that animals orient themselves according to the Earth’s magnetic field, aligning themselves north-to-south in order to reduce pain in their final moments. However, there is no evidence to support either of these theories, and the true reason why animals might orient themselves in a particular way remains a mystery.
While there is no solid evidence that dogs (or any other animals) can predict their own death, there are a few intriguing theories. One possibility is that animals can sense changes in their bodies that we cannot detect.
However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, studies have shown that dogs are just as likely to face north, south, or west when they lie down. So, if not the sun, what could be causing this behavior?
Over the years, there have been numerous reports of dogs behaving strangely before earthquakes. In some cases, they have refused to go outside or have become agitated for no apparent reason. This has led many people to wonder if dogs can sense the earth’s magnetic field.
Can A Dog Sense It’s Going To Die?
With all the bizarre signs that dogs throw at their owners as they are about to die, it is natural to wonder if they can actually sense that they are about to go or not.
Based on the signs, many dog parents do believe that their pets can tell when time’s up.
While speaking to PetMD, Jennifer Coates, a veterinarian is convinced that dogs have some sort of comprehension about their own death.
She claims that in his years of doing house calls, she’s seen many instances of dying pets behaving as though they knew death was near.
An example is a dog that waited for its owner to fly home before breathing its last.
What was interesting is that the owner had experienced some travel delays but for some reason, the dog held on.
As soon as the person arrived home, his doggie cuddled with him, licked him a little then lost consciousness.
There are many such stories online.
But do these things reveal that dogs do sense they are dying?
It is hard to tell for sure.
Another school of thought claims that dogs can tell their bodies are taking a beating but they don’t know that they will pass away.
Their behavior is informed by how humans and other pets behave toward dying dogs.
Feelings of sympathy, crying, and lots of affection can pass the message that the dog is on its way out.
The bottom line is that it is difficult to know if a dog can sense death or not.
10 Critical Signs that Indicates Your Dog is Dying
Saying goodbye to your best friend is one of the hardest things pet owners have to do. It’s even harder when our four-legged friend tries to be alone. A human desire often is to be surrounded by loved ones at the end, but dogs will go away to hide. He might find a hidden spot under the porch or somewhere in the woods.
Knowing your dog is in pain and sick is upsetting and you want to be there for him through the end. If he hides and you can’t find him, you can’t comfort him or say goodbye. And if you do find him huddled under some steps, what do you do to make him comfortable? Seeing this behavior is very concerning as a pet owner and handling it safely is important.
Knowing a dog is hiding because he is close to death is devastating and no one wants to think about it. But dogs are animals of instinct and there are a couple of reasons why dogs try to hide when they die. The more common school of thought is that dogs are hiding instinctively to protect themselves, and the other theory is that dogs do not hide, rather they walk off somewhere and are too sick to return.
Even though dogs are domesticated, they have the natural instincts to survive in the wild. Dogs in the wild did what was necessary to protect themselves and throughout their lives they hunted, roamed, stayed in a pack, and defended themselves against predators. A dog whose body is failing him and who doesn’t have the ability to fight back, sometimes hides. His instinct is to isolate himself for protection.
Dogs listen to their bodies which is one reason he hides when he is dying. He knows he is weakened and unable to protect himself, which makes him incredibly vulnerable to predators. By hiding, he is doing the only thing he can to stay safe and protect himself. This instinct can override the years of love, safety, and warmth you’ve given your best friend. It’s difficult to accept that your dog hides when in pain when you will sit by his side, but it’s not you, it’s his instinct.
If you have an elder dog who has had declining health and has problems such as blindness, deafness, poor coordination, or neurological impairments like stroke, it’s possible your dog might wander off. If he’s easily fatigued in addition to those problems, it might be too hard for him to find his way home. He could have found a spot nearby to hide and protect himself as best he could. When your dog has these issues, he’s already vulnerable and on the street he’s vulnerable to traffic, predators, and weather extremes.
Relationships with animals are complicated and who can say exactly what a dog wants or doesn’t want at the end of their life? They don’t give advanced directives or have those necessary but scary conversations like you might with an aging family member. When someone goes into the hospital, their emergency contact gets a call. Your dog might just walk away to hide and there’s no phone call at all.
But you know your dog best. Only a dog can decide when or if he wants to hide before the end, but you can keep an eye out for some warning signs and possibly have the opportunity to provide some comfort.
Some signs a dog is nearing death include lack of coordination, extreme fatigue, no interest in their surroundings, loss of appetite, twitching muscles, or loss of bowel control. If your dog is a senior, stay alert to his health and behaviors. If you notice signs that your dog’s health is declining, call your vet. Your vet can talk to you about his health, if he’s suffering, and his professional opinion about how to handle the situation.
If your dog is blind, deaf, or suffered a neurological trauma like a stroke, talk to the vet about how to best keep your dog in a safe environment so he is less likely to wander off. Make sure you have a secure yard with a fence and you keep the door closed.
The thing to consider when you have a sick or old dog is his suffering. If he goes off to hide, it might take hours or even days for him to die. It might be natural and a defense mechanism, but there is great potential for suffering.
If you notice the signs that your dog is nearing the end, work with your vet. If you want to provide comfort and a safe, warm space for your dog, your vet can guide you how to do that. You know your dog best and like most pet owners, you want to give him everything you can to make him comfortable.
If your dog hides at the end of his life, it’s not because he didn’t love you or consider you his best friend. Even if you would have given him every comfort at the end, he was just following an instinct as a dog to hide for protection. He still loves you.