Dog Aging Project study points to end-of-life education gaps

Dogs in the Dog Aging Project were usually euthanized rather than dying unassisted, and pet parents most often identified cancer, “old age,” or organ system disease as the cause of death, according to a new JAVMA study analyzing 646 End of Life Survey responses. The survey covered dogs that died between December 26, 2019, and March 24, 2021; 83.0% were euthanized, most often in a veterinary clinic, while 14.7% died without any veterinary involvement. Pain and suffering was the most commonly cited reason for euthanasia, followed by poor quality of life, and the authors said owner perceptions of pain, suffering, quality of life, and aging shaped end-of-life decisions. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the findings point to a client education gap around recognizing chronic pain versus age-related change, discussing prognosis clearly, and preparing families earlier for end-of-life decisions. Texas A&M researchers said some pet parents may not fully understand pain or aging symptoms in dogs, and related reporting on the Dog Aging Project’s companion grief study suggests bereavement support should be offered broadly, not only when euthanasia occurs in-clinic. (vetmed.tamu.edu)

What to watch: Expect follow-on analyses from the Dog Aging Project to further parse how pet parent perceptions influence reported cause of death, euthanasia decisions, and support needs in late-life care. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)