13 Warning Signs Your Dog May Not Have Much Time Left
Dogs are our most loyal friends we will ever have. They give us their best years and stay loyal to us till the end.
But what if their end is near?
What if they’re trying to tell us through subtle signs that, “hooman, it was a hell of a ride, but now I have to go.”?
Recognizing these subtle signs is the key to getting prepared, giving them comfort, and making every moment count.
That’s why I wrote this article.
To tell you about the 13 warning signs your dog might be giving that suggest their time has come.
Image credit: Instagram@floyd_thepawsomerescue
1. Their diet starts decreasing
It’s actually pretty obvious and kind of similar to what happens in older humans as well.
They start eating less, their digestion weakens a lot, and you will see a lot of cases of diarrhea happening almost regularly.
Care Credit says, “dogs start losing interest in living and eating once they realise their time has come.”
Image credit: Instagram@hankthefoxdog
2. Extreme fatigue or lethargy
When they have stopped playing, stopped being their goofy, happy self and instead chose to be at one place, being sleepy or just resting all the time, that’s a very dangerous sign.
If they no longer even want to play their favorite games, their decline is happening very fast.
Image credit: Instagram@linathetherapydog
3. When they suffer significant weight loss
As mentioned a bit above as well, when their digestive system starts weakening, none of the food they eat will truly be absorbed by their body, leading to rapid weight loss as well.
Image credit: Instagram@adventures_with_mayhem
4. Loss in agility and mobility
Notice their speed and how fast they do things.
PetMd says, “difficulty getting up, climbing stairs, or even walking short distances could indicate severe pain, arthritis, or muscle loss.”
Image credit: Instagram@furbulous_four
5. Trying to hide from you and the world
Dogs are emotional creatures and they love you a lot.
So they don’t want you to suffer or be sad looking at them in their weakest state.
This leads to a lot of dogs showing withdrawal behaviors and hiding.
They will retreat to quiet places when they don’t feel well.
Image credit: Instagram@brook_heather
6. Losing interest in favorite activities
Maybe your dog likes to play go fetch?
Or they like playing with a certain toy or just taking long walks with you, their favorite hooman?
But out of nowhere, they have stopped doing such activities. This is a telltale sign of something dangerous happening in their life.
This is a sign of them conserving energy to prolong the inevitable for as long as they can.
Image credit: Instagram@sweetlifeofrudy
7. Having no control over their bowel
When their time comes, many dogs often have no control over their bowel movements.
They’ll go days without pooping, and sometimes when they poop, they’ll poop a lot.
An aging body may no longer be able to regulate these functions, which can be a strong indicator of decline.
Image credit: Instagram@baguettehound
8. Some dogs also suffer from confusion
This is kind of similar to what happens in dementia to us humans.
Dogs will start having confusion and won’t understand your commands well.
Often you’ll find them staring blank at walls, as if they’ve no idea what’s happening around them.
Image credit: Instagram@saint_winston
9. Having occasional seizures or tremors
This is a bit heartbreaking to witness, but dogs declining rapidly also suffer from seizures which lead to severe neurological or metabolic failure.
Image credit: Instagram@lucky_dog_ch
10. Breathing becomes difficult
Labored or irregular breathing patterns can indicate serious health decline.
PetMd adds, “Changes in breathing pattern like panting while sleeping, persistent coughing, or shallow breathing are some of the worst signs of a rapid decline.”
Image credit: Instagram@soniczombie
11. Vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration
All these are signs of food not being digested due to the organs getting weak.
This means potential organ failure or the digestive system not working properly.
Image credit: Instagram@dave.the.d0g
12. Feeling cold or hot inconsistently
If your dog shivers or feels colder—or hotter—than usual from one moment to the next, it’s a subtle sign that their body is losing control.
Image credit: Instagram@toffeethepooch
13. Dull, lifeless eyes
Dogs almost always have eyes full of life and happiness.
But what of those dogs who are at their end?
Their eyes appear to be sunken, glassy, or dull.
Final Thoughts
Knowing that your lovely dog’s days are coming to an end is not an easy thing.
But having this knowledge is power. It gives you the time to prepare yourself and your dog.
It also sets you up to have as many beautiful as you can create with them, because your time is very limited now
As Dr. Jane Sykes from UC Davis reminds us, few people regret making the decision when they did, but many regret waiting too long. That’s why noticing these warning signs early is so important—not to fill our hearts with fear, but to fill their last days with care, peace, and dignity.
If your dog is showing several of these signs, don’t panic. Calm yourself down and be grateful.
Be grateful that they came in your life and reach out to other people for advice and help.
Remember at the end, your dog doesn’t want perfection—they just want you.
So, just be there at their last moment. That’s all they want.
