Things You May Not Know About Dog Death

Dog Death: 12 Things You May Not Know About

Below are some things that many dog lovers may not know about the death of dogs.

1. Dogs die with their eyes open. It takes active muscle control to close the eyes. (The same is true of humans.)

2. Many dogs “hide” when they are sick. This is a defensive mechanism to prevent predators from spotting them in a vulnerable state. They can often be ill for days or weeks before an owner may realize it.

3. Many dog owners think that when a pet goes off to “die” it is a peaceful death but many times (most times) it is not. Many dogs will suffer for hours or even days before they die.

4. When humans die, the sense of sight is the first to go and hearing is the last. The same is thought to be true for dogs.

5. Many dogs will continue to breathe and have muscle movements after their heart has stopped.

6. The oldest living dog documented was an Australian Cattle-dog named Bluey who was owned by Les Hall of Rochester, Victoria, Australia. Bluey was obtained as a puppy in 1910 and worked among cattle and sheep for nearly 20 years. He was put to sleep on November 14, 1939 at the age of 29 years, 5 months.

7. Dogs do not suffer from myocardial infarction (heart attack) as people do. In dogs, the term is typically used to either define a collapsing episode (more accurately termed as syncope or loss of consciousness) or to describe sudden death of an animal in terms that people can understand.

8. Humans are not the only species to bury their dead. Both chimpanzees and elephants have been observed covering the bodies of deceased members of their groups. Scientists have observed elephants gently touching the skulls and tusks of other elephants long after the bodies have decomposed.

9. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt believed that animals and people shared the afterlife so they wanted to be buried with the animals that shared their lives. Beloved pets were frequently mummified and placed into tombs with their owners.

10. Dogs get almost every disease that humans get including diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and cancer.

11. When our beloved dogs die many people choose to bury them nearby, in the backyard or garden. While this may bring us great comfort it may also be against the law. In many areas, government regulations prohibit this practice. So find out what is permitted in your area before you bury your dog.

12. Many dogs will mourn the loss of a companion dog although and some dogs get closure from seeing the body of a deceased companion dog. However, many dogs seem to not mourn or seek any closure from seeing a deceased companion.