Why do dogs face east when they die? A Step-by-Step Guide

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.

Facing east may be a way for them to re-orient themselves and find peace in their final moments. Whatever the reason, it is clear that facing east is an instinctive behavior for many dogs and provides us with a glimpse into their hidden world.

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.

Research has shown that animals are able to sense changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, and it is thought that they use this ability to orient themselves and navigate. When a dog is dying, their senses begin to shut down and they become disoriented.

Another is that they pick up on subtle cues from those around them, such as changes in tone of voice or body language. However, 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. We as humans often change our behavior around dying individuals, and it’s possible that our furry companions pick up on these cues and react accordingly.

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).

I Withdrawal from People and Other Pets

A dying dog has very little energy because her organs are shutting down.

She doesn’t have any sensation to eat or drink meaning he stays dehydrated and hungry the entire time.

As a result, she will be disinterested in any kind of activity including moving, cuddling, and playing.

To make things easier for her, she will simply withdraw from everything and everyone.

10 Critical Signs that Indicates Your Dog is Dying

Dogs use the Earth’s magnetic field when they’re relieving themselves. Not only that, but canines choose to do so in a north-south axis, a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology says.

The study suggests that dogs are sensitive to small variations in Earth’s magnetic field. After examining 70 dogs — made up of 37 breeds — over two years, 1,893 defecations and 5,582 urinations, researchers found that under “calm magnetic field conditions,” dogs preferred to “excrete with the body being aligned along the north-south axis,” avoiding east-west altogether. Dogs were observed in a free-roaming environment, meaning they were not leashed and not influenced by walls or roads that would influence linear movement.

Why do the dogs prefer the north-south axis and avoid east-west? That was unclear, according to the study:

The scientists write in the report that the findings open “new horizons” for further research in organisms’ use of magnetic fields for direction, as well as magnetic fields produced by living organisms.

Left: A new study says that dogs choose the direction they relieve themselves based on our planets magnetic field. Photo by Flickr user Junayed Sadat