My poor little puppy has been diagnosed with Lymphoma at the young age of 6, and I'm fully aware that what i'm going to have to deal with in the next month or so is going to crush me. Abby has always been affectionate with everyone she comes across, but has always shown a little extra for me. I always joked that she thought i was her boyfriend. Over the past month or so, she's been extra affectionate with me. She'll follow me from room to room, and hardly leaves me alone while i'm around. My question is: Is a dog conscious of it's sickness? Does Abby know her fate, or at least that there is something terribly wrong? Perhaps that being the reason she's showing me all the extra attention?
2006-11-08 06:34:10 · 16 answers · asked by scott s 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes, dogs do know when the end is near, and sometime they become especially clingy and affectionate..
You hear often, of the old dogs that go away to die...Yes, those dogs know when its time, and make the instinctive decision to just go off and pass away...
One of mine did this, and yet he was the sweetest and most affectionate of dogs..However, I only wish that he had stayed near me, so i could comfort him...dogs face their own demise in different ways..
2006-11-08 06:45:27 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
I am so sorry to hear this. My beautiful girl Keilah (rottie) was diagnosed the first of Sept and died on Sept 30th of the same thing lymphoma. It is a terrible cancer. Keilah was also 6 years old. I think she knew something was wrong., She was always affectionate but did seem to stay really close her last month. And I do think she also felt our pain. We started on the chemo with her and she was the perfect patient. Unfortunately it did not help for very long. She was also on predisone. Since then I have read several things that say you can not do chemo and predisone at the same time. I don't know if this had an affect or not. But you might want to check this out before you start treatment. Again I am so sorry, I know exactly what you are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your loving pup. And pay no attention to GetEmGangs remarks. He is an idiot who likes to pray on peoples feelings. He will get his someday. Best of luck to you. Just love Abby and she will know how special she is to you. And take alot of pics. You will be glad you did.
2006-11-08 08:11:25 · answer #2 · answered by Sue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really can't say if your dog is completely aware of the seriousness of her illness, but when my dog isn't feeling well, she's up against me all the time and so I know when she's ill even though I don't see the physical signs. Maybe she's taking comfort from being with you or maybe she's trying to comfort you. I believe dogs do sense our moods. I'm very sorry to hear about your poor little friend. For me dogs are one of God's greatest creatures. I also know that any words of comfort are not enough to help you through what you must be feeling now. Wish I could truly help.
2006-11-08 06:55:37 · answer #3 · answered by Brenda B 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Vets are required to achieve this in some circumstances, does that recommend animals have extra rights than human beings. I ought to be allowed. yet there muat additionally be a volume of time allowed, say six months or a twelve months, between the determination and the act, to allow for the undeniable fact that the determination would have been made interior the warmth of the 2d and replaced into no longer the genuine prefer of the affected person.
2016-10-21 11:58:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I am so sorry to hear of Abby's diagnosis. I lost my favorite dog when I was 18 to brain cancer.
Yes, dogs do know when they are sick...as the illness progresses, it is very common for dogs to want to retreat to a quiet place to pass on.
You sound like you are a great canine companion, so give her all the love and support she needs and also recognize that when the time comes to end her pain that you will have done it with much compassion and grace.
Peace, Tigger
2006-11-08 06:45:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes your little one know she is sick and she knows she won't be around long....So, she is trying to say thank you and tell you how much she loves ya before she goes. Most do (like mine) by nature distance themselves from their owner and stop eating just before the end. My pit bull was 12 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She never acted sick or complained if she was hurting, still greeted me and showed me all kinds of affection. When the CA got the better of her, she then showed me signs of it's time. I could not bear to watch her suffer, so I had her put to sleep. I held that little girl till she took her last breath. My thoughts are with you during this devasting time.
2006-11-08 08:51:29 · answer #6 · answered by be happier own a pitbull 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that the majority of her behavior is her reaction to your sadness. Obviously you're very close to your pooch, and she loves you. I know that whenever I didn't feel well, all I had to do was tell my dog, Jack, that I didn't feel well, and he'd settle down and he'd actually be carefull around me. Animals are incredibly intuitive. Perhaps for her sake, try to think positively and just send lots of love her way! You'll both feel better for it.
2006-11-08 07:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by diney2u 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I`m afraid so. When their condition worsens, dog`s tend to get sad, weak and lonely. It pains my heart to read this, but at least, do exactly what you always do with her. Make her last moments the better ones. Again, I`m sorry.
2006-11-08 06:50:52 · answer #8 · answered by Cloud 9 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe your dog does know that she is sick. She may not know that she is dying but she may know that something isn't right. It is terrible to watch a dog with cancer die. My husky got cancer and she was having such bad symptoms that I had to take her to the vet and have her put to sleep so she would no longer suffer. My prayer is with you for comfort during this difficult time with your pet.
2006-11-08 06:44:46 · answer #9 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No. Dogs don't have any concept of future and past. They live for the now - so as long as she is feeling ok right now she will be perfectly happy. It may well be that she is picking up on your sad feelings and reacting to those.
2006-11-08 06:37:04 · answer #10 · answered by stienbabe 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋