Dogs | Old Age, Hospice, and Euthanasia Decisions | Evidence chain

FAQ

At what age is a dog "old"?

The rule is body size, not age alone: giant and large breeds reach old age far earlier than small breeds. The AAHA 2019 guidelines set no fixed age and use a relative definition instead: senior is "the last 25% of estimated lifespan through end of life," projected from the estimated lifespan for the breed and body size. Once a dog is senior, checkups should become more frequent — most guidelines suggest every six months — with blood pressure and urine specific gravity added, plus routine pain and cognitive assessments.

My old dog has gotten lazy and inactive — is that normal aging?

Not necessarily; that is the most common misreading of pain in older dogs. Dogs do not cry out in pain — they go quiet. "He's old and doesn't like to move" may be arthritis, back pain, or dental pain; "grumpy lately," especially flinching or baring teeth when touched somewhere, usually means pain; "pacing at night" may be pain, cognitive dysfunction, hypertension, or hypoxia; "eating slowly" may be dental pain, an oral tumor, or nausea. Pain must be treated.

How do I judge my dog's quality of life, and when should I discuss euthanasia with the veterinarian?

Decide on the trend, not on the emotions of a single day. Score repeatedly with a structured scale and watch the trend; write down now the 5 things this dog loves most and reassess when it can no longer do 3 of them; add a good day/bad day diary, and when bad days start to outnumber good days and the trend cannot be reversed, it is time to discuss timing with the veterinarian. Uncontrollable pain, the distress of being unable to breathe, or persistent inability to eat or drink call for an immediate discussion.