| In our home, we don't talk about our pets dying; we | | | | bladder or stool inside the house when normally he is |
| use the phrase, "When the kids go off to college." | | | | housebroken and accustomed to going outside, this |
| Everyone wants their pet dogs to live as long as | | | | could be a sign that his bladder has weakened with |
| possible. The average life span of dogs is 12.8 years, | | | | age or that he's too tired to ask to be let out. Any |
| although that varies according to breed and size of | | | | time there is a change in their bathroom routine, it's a |
| dog. Certain breeds just tend to live longer than | | | | sign that something is not right. |
| others. In general, smaller dogs live longer than larger | | | | Isolation. Sometimes this is called "denning." When an |
| dogs because there is more stress on the bodies of | | | | animal starts to prefer hiding in the closet or under a |
| the larger dogs. | | | | bed rather than napping in the living room or in his |
| Pets are just like members of our families. | | | | pet bed, this is an indicator that something is wrong. |
| Sometimes we even like our dogs better than we | | | | There is a natural animal instinct to separate from |
| like our children! They are a comfort, a companion, | | | | other animals and humans when a dog doesn't feel |
| and a friend and make our lives so much more | | | | well or is dying. It's a take on that old expression |
| enjoyable than without them. If you're wondering | | | | about resting in peace because they know their days |
| how to tell if your best friend is getting close to that | | | | are numbered. |
| stage of life, here are some signs that your dog may | | | | Pain. If your dog appears to be limping, crying, or |
| not be feeling well or is getting close to going off to | | | | wincing, that is a sign that he may be in pain. If they |
| college. | | | | are in pain and there is no obvious injury or condition, |
| Decreased Mobility. One sign that your dog may be | | | | it could be a sign that your dog is not going to be |
| getting weaker is when he starts to struggle to get | | | | around much longer. |
| up from a lying position or no longer wants to jump | | | | You can't really use the "dog years are equal to 7 |
| and run like it used to. Obviously, some of this is just | | | | human years" equation for several reasons. One, the |
| a sign of natural aging, just like humans in their 60's | | | | first year or two years represent some 18-25 years, |
| don't skip rope and run as fast as they did when | | | | and the ratio varies with size and breed. Second, |
| they were 10, but you'll be able to tell if their mobility | | | | there is no research to support that dogs have an |
| becomes limited to the point of indicating | | | | equivalent ratio of years in terms of life expectancy |
| deteriorating health. | | | | as do their human counterparts. The oldest dog on |
| Loss of Appetite. Healthy dogs will typically eat as | | | | record is an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who |
| much food as you put out for them. So, when your | | | | died in 1939 at age 29. |
| dog starts to lose interest in his food, doesn't eat | | | | If you have children at home, be prepared to |
| everything in his bowl, or stops begging you for | | | | support them through the grief process that will |
| treats, this may be an indicator that something is | | | | occur as a result of losing their beloved pet. Preparing |
| wrong. | | | | them ahead of time, depending on the age of the |
| Incontinence. Dogs are humiliated when they use the | | | | children, might help them accept the harsh reality a |
| bathroom somewhere that they know is | | | | little better. |
| unacceptable. If your dog is suddenly losing his | | | | |