New research reveals that pet owners experience grief similarly, no matter how their dog dies, and veterinarians may need to do more to help.
HOUSTON — Two new studies from the Dog Aging Project reveal that the emotional toll of losing a dog is remarkably consistent, regardless of whether the pet was euthanized or died on its own, according to research published Wednesday by Texas A&M University.
The studies examine how dog owners perceive canine death, make end-of-life decisions and cope with grief. They point to a clear takeaway: The strength of the human-animal bond does not waver based on the circumstances of a pet’s death.
The studies were conducted through Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
“Loss is loss regardless of how it happens,” said Dr. Jake Ryave, a clinical intern in the university’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. “The human-animal bond is really strong, and regardless of how a pet passes, that bond doesn’t change.”
One study, led by Dr. Kellyn McNulty, a former internal medicine resident at Texas A&M, analyzed the Dog Aging Project’s End of Life Survey to understand how owners perceive a dog’s death and how those perceptions shape their decisions. The survey was designed to capture both medical data and the perspectives of pet owners themselves.
The research found that pain and suffering were the most common reasons owners chose euthanasia, followed by poor quality of life and a poor prognosis. Owners often described behavioral and physical cues that signaled their dog was struggling, including changes in mobility, vocalizations and shifts in facial expression.
“Participants would often describe changes such as vocalizations, depressed mentation, changes in mobility, or even statements like ‘he looked at me, and I knew it was time,'” McNulty said.
However, the study also found that some owners may have difficulty interpreting their pet’s behavior.
“The findings suggest that owners may not fully understand how to recognize pain or aging symptoms in their dogs.”
The second study analyzed open-ended written responses from the same survey, comparing accounts from owners whose dogs were euthanized with those whose dogs died without medical intervention. Researchers expected to find more negative emotions among owners who experienced a sudden, unassisted death, but that was not the case.
Ryave said the results surprised him.
“I thought that there may be more significant negative emotions in the cases of unassisted death as owners may not have had time to emotionally prepare for the loss.”
Instead, grief, guilt and feelings of blame appeared at similar rates across both groups. Many owners used the survey’s comment section to share detailed narratives about their dogs’ final days, though a number also chose to reflect on happier memories.
“Even after a difficult loss, many people focused on the joy their pets brought to their lives.”
Both studies point to gaps in how veterinarians communicate with clients about aging, pain management and end-of-life care. McNulty’s research found that a notable portion of owners reported that the prognosis was not discussed or fully understood during their dog’s final veterinary visits.
The researchers say veterinarians should also take a more proactive role in connecting grieving owners with emotional support resources, particularly in cases of sudden or unexpected death, when owners may not have the same access to support they would receive in a clinical setting.
Ryave said the research is a reminder that veterinary care extends beyond the animal on the exam table.
“We get into this field because we want to help animals. But animals always come with people, and supporting those people is part of our responsibility, too.”
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