Warning signs your dog or cat may be dying that you should know about

Cats and dogs alike, these pets are essential to us. While their presence reassures us on a daily basis, their absence can have a profound effect on us. More than just living beings who share our home, they are essential pillars of our equilibrium. Their benefits have been demonstrated many times over, and today it's more than commonplace to have one at home.

But while life expectancy is increasing in humans, in cats it stagnates between 12 and 18 years. The average for dogs is between 10 and 13 years. Here are the signs that a pet is dying.

End-of-life signs in dogs

They're there for us when things aren't going well, present in vacation photos and always ready to ransack any plant in their path. Since the dawn of time, dogs have been considered man's best friend. Their loyalty, their love and their usefulness in high-risk jobs are no longer in question.

For many, it's the ideal family pet. However, with a life expectancy much lower than that of humans, it's generally common to witness the terrible tragedy of an animal's death. In the case of the dog, several signs can alert you to this terrible but natural end, as reported on the Leesville Animal Hospital website:

• Loss of appetite
• Complicated hydration
• No longer wants to go for a walk or play as usual
• Extreme laziness
• Vomiting or incontinence
• Slow breathing
• Need to cling to you or feel alone

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End-of-life signs in cats

Our second favourite pet, the cat, is alsoa much-appreciated living creature. With a character in stark contrast to that of the dog, this little ball of fur brings joy, comfort and tranquillity in its own way.

Sometimes reaching twenty years of age, your cat will be with us for a long time, passing on all the love (and asking for expensive swill) he has inside him. But, sadly, there's a good chance that this purring little bundle of joy will go before us. Here are the signs that can alert you to a cat's imminent death:

• Rapid personality change
• Urinary problems
• Staring into space
• Don't touch your food
• Seeks isolation
• No longer enjoys being carried (if they liked that when younger)
• Lower body temperature

This article was translated from Gentside FR.

Sources used:

Leesville Animal Hospital: 'How Do I Know When My Dog is Dying?'