Many possibilities behind death of old beloved dog
Our 15-year-old Welsh terrier recently died at home after a long, healthy life. He had been declining over several months. Despite always being a feisty dog, over the last few months he started drinking a lot of water and acting more confused.
I did not take him in for an evaluation since I suspected that there wouldn’t be much that could be done given his age. Also, his teeth were in very bad shape and his breath was awful. In the last few days before he died, he had taken to falling down some, having trouble with stairs, pacing and panting a lot.
On his last day, he didn’t want to eat. I think he was signaling us that it was time to go. Given the things we noticed, what do you think could have been his cause of death? Could we have kept him any longer had we taken him in to be seen? We did not want to take any extraordinary measures to extend his life if it was his time. Thanks for understanding. Let me begin by saying I am sor- ry for your loss. There are so many things that might have led to your dog’s death. Fifteen years is a long life for any dog and, as you might expect, many different issues can afflict an older patient.
To start with, you write of an
increase in water intake and confusion. These signs could be related if he was in any degree of kidney failure or he could have had both a kidney issue and dementia, which is called cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Bad dental health can be tied in to many issues including generalized systemic infection and cardiac issues.
Your description of the rate. underlying several last and This few causes an increased anemia days might such suggests from suggest as respiratory internal one weakness an of bleeding, production, lack destruction of red blood of cell red blood cells or perhaps separately an infection and fever.
His lack of appetite might have been caused by all the other issues or something else. It sounds as if he was very ill and even taking him into a hospital might not have produced a more favorable outcome and longer life. My sense is it was likely his time and nature took its course.