The saddest moment of the journey with your four-legged best friend will come at the end of his or her life. Today we will go over the 3 steps to take when your big dog passes away. Whether expected due to your dog’s number of years or unexpected, the death of your dog is a sad and stressful event. Being prepared and knowing exactly what to do can help ease some of the stress, if not your grief.
I want to preface today’s article with my most sincere condolences if you’ve landed here today because your dog has passed away. There aren’t words to alleviate your grief, only quiet understanding.
If your dog hasn’t passed away yet, we do know that one day he (or she) will. As heartbreaking as it is to think about, we should be prepared. A dog breed that can weigh upwards of 100 pounds (about 45kg) presents some unique challenges upon their death. Today I’ll cover each one!
In This Article You’ll Discover:
- How to Deal With the Unexpected Death of Your Dog
- How to Plan for the Death of your Big Dog
- The 3 Steps to Take When Your Big Dog Passes Away
- How Long You Can Expect Your Big Dog to Live
- Which Big Breeds Live the Longest (and Shortest) Live
- Plus, I’ll answer the 5 most frequently asked questions (FAQs) I receive pertaining to a big dog passing away. There’s a lot of helpful information to go over, so let’s get started!
What To Do When a Big Dog Dies at Home
The end of your dog’s life may come naturally and quietly in the night. This natural ending is most often caused by age, and will most often be heralded by other signs that the end is near. We’re going to cover what those signs are here today, so you can know what to expect.
5 Signs Death Might be Near for Your Big Dog
- Loss of Coordination: This is more than painful joints. Loss of coordination can mean your dog will fall, or even walk into a wall.
- Lethargy: Of course a dog slows down as he (or she) ages, but a healthy older dog will still be excited to see you and still take a keen interest in the things that interest your particular dog. A lethargic dog will no longer show interest in the things that once delighted him (or her) and may act indifferently to your presence (or your absence).
- Incontinence: As your dog’s organs begin to shut down at the end of life, they may lose the natural urge that prompts them to eliminate their waste. You can buy pads designed for incontinence to put in your dog’s bed if the issue is small. If it’s a “messier” issue, there are diapers for dogs to help you through a difficult time.
- Loss of Appetite/Thirst: As a dog nears the time of death, the mechanism that tells them they’re hungry or thirsty fails. Some dog owners will moisten their dog’s mouth during this time, but it is really only a comfort issue at this point.
- Trouble Breathing: This is usually the very last and clean indicator that death is near, and it’s certainly heart-breaking! If you’ve decided to let the death process happen naturally, now is the time to calmly say goodbye. Comfort and love are all you have to offer at this point in time, and your dog deserves plenty of both. Stay calm, and do lots of petting, stroking,
If your big dog dies at home, it’s good to take a few minutes to say goodbye. You’ll want to follow the 3 steps to take when your big dog dies you’ll find just a little further along in this article.
Aftercare for Your Large Breed Dog
Whether you’re making plans for the eventuality of your big dog’s death, or find yourself needing them unexpectedly and immediately, a pet aftercare service can make the passing of your dog a less stressful time.
Pet aftercare is exactly what the term implies. A reputable service will respond immediately after your dog’s death. This will include transportation of your dog’s remains, a memorial service, and/or ‘viewing”, as well as cremation or burial services.
Most companies offer unique mementos and can help bring closure for the humans that will grieve the loss of their beloved pet.
If you want to find a pet burial service, or a pet crematory in your area, the IAOPCC (International Association Of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories). is a helpful resource.
The service isn’t without cost, though, and so I hope you’ll consider planning ahead if you have the luxury of time. The cost varies greatly from state to state and is additionally affected by the choices regarding your bid dog’s aftercare. The range is generally from $200-$2000. This brings us to the subject of…
Pet Insurance
As we just discovered, pet aftercare (especially with a big, big dog, can be expensive! Too often, the aftercare cost can be in addition to a costly medical treatment or surgery. Without question, we will usually be willing to try anything to help our four-legged best friends. Fortunately, we live in a time when pet insurance exists! Here’s how it works:
Pet insurance will help pay some of the costs incurred should your big dog face illness, injury, or death. You will pay a monthly (or yearly) premium, and will likely have a deductible to pay at the time you use the insurance company’s services.
Do some research, and learn which pet insurance company will best suit your needs and budget.
3 Steps to Take When Your Big Dog Dies
Step One: Address the Physical
When your big dog passes away, addressing the aspects of his (or her) physical body is the first thing you should do. Death of the body can sometimes cause a bowel movement, discharge from the mouth, or urination to occur. Even if you’ve already arranged pet aftercare services, you may want to do your dog the honor of cleaning any “mess” and wrapping the body in an old sheet or something of the sort.
If your dog’s life ended suddenly in tragedy (think dog attack or being hit by a car) you may want to take photographs before touching the body. Insurance or legal issues may arise later on, and the photos will be evidence of the tragedy’s results.
If the ending of your dog’s life is a tragic event, you may want to call the police or animal control in your area to see if there’s anything you should do, according to the situation.
Step Two: Address the Practical
Addressing the practical after your dog’s death is something you should plan in advance, if possible. It may surprise you if you’re a first-time dog owner to discover how stressful and emotional this time can be. Anyone who says, “It’s only a dog!”, quite simply, has never owned one. Losing a dog feels just like losing a dear friend, or even a member of the family… because they are!
The Practical Things to Address (According to Situation and Circumstance) After Your Big Dog Dies Are:
- Calling an Aftercare Service: If your dog is aging and/or tends toward illness, you may want to consider procuring a Pet Aftercare Service sooner rather than later. Most companies, however, will also provide emergency and immediate services should your big dog die unexpectedly before you’ve made arrangements. Either way, if this service best suits your needs, they will need to be called.
- Reporting the Death Where Applicable: If your big dog dies during an attack from another dog, is negligently hit by a car (meaning the dog was properly restrained and within a designated walking area), or passes away at his (or her) daycare or kenneling facility, the death should immediately be reported to law enforcement or animal control, and you should follow directions precisely if directions are provided. You’ll also want to report the death to the dog-licensing bureau in your city.
- Arranging a Certificate of Death if Applicable: You may want to establish a certificate of death for your big dog if you live in an area that recognizes them. At the very least, a veterinary exam should be completed and documented.
- Canceling Recurring Dog-Product Deliveries or Dates: After your big dog dies, it’s wise to review any dog products you may have on auto-order. Additionally, you’ll need to cancel any appointments that may be already set with the groomer, doggie daycare, or any other event that was pre-scheduled.
- Gathering the Dog’s Possessions: Other than removing your dog’s food and water bowl, you don’t have to rush through gathering your dog’s possessions, but eventually, it will need to be done. I recommend that when you are ready, you box the items up and temporarily set them to the side. When a little time has passed, you can decide whether to keep the items as mementos, pass them along for another dog to enjoy, or just get rid of them altogether. It’s best to make the decision when the worst of the grief is a distant memory, however long that takes.
Helpful Tip: If you don’t have other dogs when your big dog passes away, dog shelters are always in need of dog food. The no-kill animal shelters have the biggest need, as they’re devoted to caring for their animals for life, if necessary.
Step Three: Address the Emotional
As I have mentioned, the death of your big dog, unexpected or not, is going to have a huge impact on you emotionally. Some big dog owners have told me they feel silly for grieving the loss so deeply. I get it, I do. But here’s the thing. We’ve poured our love and affection unabashedly into that dog! Our dog has been our silent confidant, our personal jester, and our loyal companion who lived to please us and who returned any love or affection we showed him or her 100-fold. The loss is going to hurt!
The best thing you can do for your mental health is to face the grief you feel and to allow it. Sit with your grief for a spell, and know that, even as you are hurting, the pain will become manageable for you. Remind yourself that you will move forward, but grief is a natural part of the healing.
Go ahead and cry! That’s okay. Go ahead and leave your big dog’s favorite toy on the living room floor if the thought of putting it away immediately breaks your heart. There is no “correct” way to grieve, nor is there a time limit on grief. It will hurt as long as it hurts. Just remember to acknowledge your feelings and remind yourself that only time will help them feel more manageable.
Don’t be surprised if you feel you’ve healed, and a memory washes a fresh wave of grief over you. This is normal and may happen weeks (or even months) after your dog dies.
Be encouraged by the fact that many dog owners that have been broken-hearted by the loss of their dog go on to acquire another dog to love. And lose. This fact testifies to the fact that the love we feel for a pet is more powerful than the grief a loss brings.
The loss of your big buddy can be devastating! Preserve & honor them and their memory with caskets, urns, burial markers, memorials, or jewelry. HERE at Pet Memorials, you can find many beautiful choices.
Dealing With the Unexpected Death of Your Dog
It is an unfortunate fact that death can occur in the most unexpected of ways. Listed below are some common ways big dogs can die unexpectedly and what you should do in each unique situation.
Being Hit by a Car: Alert the police and/or animal control. Follow any instructions they may have for you and then proceed with pet aftercare, whether you will be performing it yourself, or hiring a service that provides the aftercare.
Poisoning: If your dog passes away from being poisoned and you have reason to believe the poisoning was intentionally orchestrated by a human being, file a police report and schedule an autopsy via your dog’s veterinarian. Then proceed with pet aftercare.
Choking: More dogs die annually from choking on bones, toys, or items they oughtn’t to be chewing on than you might think! If your dog meets this tragic ending because of a defective product, you’ll want an autopsy performed and documented. After that, proceed to pet aftercare.
Strangulation: Like choking, big dogs die often from strangulation. Always be aware of your dog’s collar, and any leash or tether you may employ for his (or her) safety. Remove your dog’s collar when using a crate and also for frolicking outdoors (Only in safe-for-roaming places, of course!) Whether or not you’ll schedule a veterinarian exam is completely your preference. Lastly, perform pet aftercare, or call a service to perform the aftercare.
Undiagnosed Medical Condition: Tragically, dogs can have hidden health issues just like humans can, and we don’t find out until it’s too late. If your dog gets sick and quickly dies, you really should call the veterinarian to discover the cause. Heed the veterinarian’s advice before moving to the pet aftercare phase.
FAQ: Do Dogs Need a Death Certificate?
Although laws vary from state to state, there is usually an option to have your big dog’s death documented if you so desire, and there are a couple of good reasons to do so. The first is because your dog’s tags (also called dog license) will be renewed on a yearly basis. Having a veterinarian document your dog’s death will show the dog tags are no longer eligible for renewal.
If your big dog is pure-bred, the documentation of his (or her) death, along with the reason, should be added to the dog’s documented lineage.
Having Your Big Dog Euthanized
Some of the signs we went over in the section above this one are manageable and are not necessarily indicators that your dog is suffering. However, if your big dog has stopped eating and drinking, or is having problems breathing, it would be considered merciful to accommodate your dog’s euthanization with your veterinarian’s help.
Here’s What Happens When a Dog Is Euthanized
If you’ve made the decision to end your dog’s suffering, the veterinarian will make an appointment with you, depending on the severity of your dog’s unique situation. When you arrive with your dog, you will likely be given the opportunity to spend a few minutes saying good-bye. If it will make your dog more comfortable, the veterinarian may administer a sedative and then will administer a lethal dose of medication that will make the dog’s system quickly and painlessly shut down.
The medical aspect of the procedure will take less than 5 minutes, and the veterinarian will declare the dog’s death. If you so desire, you will be able to spend some time with your dog’s remains before pet aftercare begins.
FAQ: Should Dogs be Buried or Cremated?
Responsible pet ownership dictates we take this subject seriously. Your big dog was loyal and faithful to you in his (or her) life, it only makes sense you lay your four-legged friend to rest in a way that is respectful.
Mostly gone are the days when we buried our pets under the tree in the backyard, but for some, it is still an option. Most veterinarians recommend the cremation of your dog’s remains. If either option is open to you, then it becomes a matter of simple preference.
Here you can find help with big dog burial.
5 Tips to Increase Your Big Dog’s Longevity
We all want our dog(s) to live the longest, healthiest, and happiest lives possible! Although there will always be circumstances beyond our control in this life, there are some things we CAN do. When it comes to canine longevity, here’s how we can help:
- Hydration: Make sure your big dog has a constant supply of fresh clean water. There are two times when it’s appropriate to remove your dog’s water bowl. The first is at feeding time, especially if you’ve opted to feed your dog dry kibble. Removing water during feeding time allows the digestive juices in your dog’s stomach to properly break the dog-food down for digestion. Removing the water bowl at bedtime can help to prevent housetraining accidents. Just don’t forget to replace the bowl in the morning!
- Nutrition: You’ll want to feed your big dog food that is specially formulated for large breed puppies or dogs (according to the dog’s age). These foods contain the correct caloric content for big dogs and have helpful vitamins and minerals that promote healthy bones and joints. To discover everything you should know about dog-food, I’ve got you covered! Check it out right here in the Big Dog Den.
- Healthy Bonding & Socialization: Like people, dogs thrive under loving attention and avid socialization. Every interaction you have with your big dog is an opportunity to strengthen the bond you share. Socializing your dog means exposing him (or her) to other dogs, other people, and a variety of scenarios on a regular basis. The more socialization, the better the overall well-being of the dog!
- Medical Attention: Routine medical examinations are a must if you want your big dog to live as long as possible! Schedule a veterinary exam as soon as you get your dog, and follow the recommendation the veterinarian gives you for your dog’s next visit. Usually, once a year is sufficient until your dog is considered a senior. Then the veterinarian may suggest a twice-a-year schedule. Early intervention is key to preventing your dog from passing away sooner than he (or she) has to.
- Training: Yes, training! First, training is a safety issue. Having a dog that heeds your instructions could save him (or her) from being hit by a car, plus a plethora of other situations that could put the dog’s life in danger. Second, training is “exercise” for your dog’s mind! In terms of longevity, mental health is as important as physical health. Dogs are susceptible to boredom, loneliness, and stress. None of these conditions promote good overall health!
FAQ: How Long Will My Big Dog Live?
Depending on the breed, your healthy big dog will live from 8-12 years of age, but some bigger breeds have even longer life spans and a couple, shorter.
The 5 Longest Living Big Dog Breeds
- Large Mixed Breeds: Believe it or not, the offspring of two big dog breeds with longer life spans will have an even longer life span! These mixes normally weigh about 100 pounds (45 kg), and (if raised in a healthy fashion) can live from 10-17 years!
- Standard Poodle: Weighing in at about 75 pounds (34kg), a healthy Standard Poodle will live in the vicinity of 14-15 years.
- Chow-Chow: The Chow-Chow slides into the big dog category with an average weight of 70 pounds (32kg). A healthy Chow-Chow will live from 12-15 years.
- Retrievers: Whether your Retriever is a Golden or a Labrador, you can expect his (or her) lifespan to be about 12 years. Adult Retrievers can reach a weight of up to 100 pounds (45kg).
- Giant Schnauzers: A healthy Giant Schnauzer will weigh about 90 pounds (41kg) in adulthood and will generally live from 10-12 years.
Big Dogs With Short Life-Spans
7 Years: Burmese Mountain Dogs, Irish Wolfhounds, and Mastiffs.
8 Years: Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Great Danes.
9 Years: Bullmastiffs, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Rottweilers, and Scottish Deer Hounds.
Whether your four-legged best friend will have a long life span or a short one, it’s the quality of his or her life that will make each year extraordinary!
FAQ: Do Dogs Know They’re Dying?
Pet Md says, “It’s impossible to say, particularly since we can’t help but interpret the circumstances through the lens of our understanding of a pet’s mortality.” (Source)
They’re not wrong, since dogs can’t speak to us. But I have to tell you many big dog owners would disagree, claiming their own dog(s) DID know that death was near and exhibited BIG behavioral changes in their final days.
All the information presented in today’s article is accurate and up-to-date. Source include:
- The American Kennel Club
- The American Veterinarian Medical Association
- Pet Md
- Canine Weekly
- And the owners of big dogs!
FAQ: How Long Does it Take to Grieve the Loss of a Dog?
I sincerely hope this article answered every question you had pertaining to the death of your big dog when the time comes. Being prepared can make a stressful time just a little bit easier.
If that time is right now, and you are still hurting, again, please accept my kindest regards and my deepest condolences. Losing a four-legged best friend is a deeply sad life event, this I know from experience.
The more we know about responsible pet ownership, the more pleasant the experience will be for both our nig dog(s) and ourselves! Be sure to utilize the helpful search bar here in the Big Dog Den to answer all of your questions. I hope to “see” you again soon!
I leave you today with a beautiful and very old poem about losing our dog to death. I hope it warms your heart as it did mine!
The Power of The Dog
By: Rudyard Kipling
There is sorrow enough in a natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless, it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumors, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But… you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
We’ve sorrow enough in a natural way,
When it comes to burying bodies of clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent percent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
*This article was reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
