Vet shares what dogs think about before dying and it’s heartbreaking | UK | News

A vet has shared a heartbreaking insight into what may be going through a dog’s mind in their final moments – and it’s left pet owners fighting back tears.

For many dog owners, the thought of saying goodbye to their beloved pet is almost too painful to imagine.

But one vet believes there’s an important reason why owners should stay by their dog’s side right until the very end.

In an emotional video, a pet care content creator, who is known as @dr.morgan.dog.care, explained while dogs spend their lives looking to their owners for comfort, guidance and reassurance, that bond doesn’t disappear when they are nearing the end of their life.

She said: “We know dogs think about us when we’re gone, but researchers wanted to know what’s the last thing a dog thinks about before they die.”

According to Dr Morgan, observations of dogs receiving end-of-life care revealed a touching pattern.

She said: “They found the dog’s eyes were searching not for food, not for comfort, but for their person. This means your dog’s final thought isn’t, ‘I’m scared’ or ‘I’m in pain’. It’s ‘Where are you?'”

The vet explained many owners understandably struggle with being present during euthanasia because of how emotional the experience can be.

However, she said dogs often spend their final moments looking towards the door, expecting the person they love most to walk back into the room.

She said: “The dog’s eyes go to the door. They’re looking for you, waiting for you to come back because you always come back.”

Dr Morgan urged owners to remain with their pets if they feel able to do so.

“When that day comes, stay,” she said. “It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but it’s the last gift you can give them. Let the last face they see be yours. Let the last thing they feel be your hand.”

While there is no scientific proof that dogs understand death in the same way humans do, experts say they are incredibly sensitive to changes happening around them.

According to pet health experts, dogs can detect subtle differences in smells, sounds and behaviour that humans often miss.

Their powerful sense of smell allows them to identify everything from illnesses and low blood sugar levels to impending seizures and infections.

Some experts believe dogs may even notice biological changes in animals and people who are nearing death.

Whether dogs understand these changes in themselves remains unknown, but they can certainly sense when something is different.

As dogs become seriously ill, they often experience changes to their routine, comfort levels and physical abilities. They may also pick up on the emotions of the people around them.

The emotional video quickly struck a chord with pet owners, with many sharing stories of staying by their dogs’ sides until the very end.

One user said: “As vet professional, we have been talking about this for years. Please stay with your pet.”

Another user added: “You always stay. They would stay and protect you.”

A third user said: “I’ve always been there at the end, whispering in their ear how much I love them and tell them what a good dog they’ve been and the biggest gift in my life has been them.”