Care for a Dying Dog
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How To Train Your Dog to Use the Doggy Door
Show them the doggy door. Take your dog near the doggy door and make a fun playful game of showing them that it leads to the backyard. Most dogs will figure this out pretty quickly and run through the door.
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Ease your dog's pain by administering a painkiller made for pets, if appropriate. Check with your vet for dosage because it will vary depending on your dog's breed and size. Also, if your dog is on any prescribed medications, give them at the correct times.
Encourage your dog to eat. Many dogs like protein-rich foods like eggs and liver, and these can be mixed with regular dog food. When your dog is dying, it might not have much of an appetite, so offer whatever it will eat. If your dog is having problems chewing or with digestion, consider switching to canned dog food during the final days.
Tend to any open wounds. Some dogs can develop open sores or be more likely to be injured while they are dying. Tend to these areas with common first-aid procedures.
Know when to say goodbye. Even if you give your pet the best care possible, you can not extend its life for a great deal of time. If medical treatments are causing more pain than good, discontinue them—even if it means less time with your dog. If your dog's quality of life is so low that it needs euthanasia, provide it while being with and comforting your dog as much as possible in the final moments.