The Dog Aging Project End of Life Survey reveals owners' perceptions of canine death and highlights areas to improve client education.

Owner perceptions of pain, suffering, and quality of life drive euthanasia decisions in aging dogs.

The Dog Aging Project End of Life Survey analyzed 646 owner responses regarding canine death and euthanasia decisions. The study found a mean age at death of 13.0 years, with 83% of dogs experiencing euthanasia rather than natural death. Most euthanasias (76.7%) occurred in veterinary clinics, while 14.7% of dogs died without veterinary involvement. Owner-perceived causes of death included cancer (29.7%), old age (29.4%), and organ system diseases (22.3%). The most common reason for euthanasia was pain and suffering (48.5%), followed by poor quality of life (24.8%). Perimortem quality of life was negatively associated with age at death. The findings underscore that owner perceptions regarding pain, suffering, quality of life, and senescence significantly influence euthanasia decisions. These insights are valuable for veterinarians to better educate clients about end-of-life care and provide compassionate support to aging dogs and their families.

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