My dog passed away. Does paw in mouth mean she was in pain?

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s not unusual for their mouth to be in a variety of different positions at death, and depending on their skin type and breed, some dogs will appear to have their eyes closed. So the way you found her isn’t terribly out of the ordinary. I am so sorry for your sudden loss. Let us know if there’s anything else we can help you with.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to something affecting the mouth such as dental disease, inflammation or even a growth causing discomfort. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check what is going on so that therapy can be started. Best of luck!

Hello. I am so sorry for your loss. You must be heartbroken. There are so many things that could have lead to Fifi's death, including infection, inflammation, organ failure ( kidneys, heart ), heartworm disease, & cancer. It does not sound like she was in any pain or discomfort, so it sounds like she passed quietly. Without a necropsy, an exact cause will never be known, just be glad she did not suffer. Please accept my condolences on your loss & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm so very sorry that you had such a traumatic experience with losing Lani. What it sounds like you are describing as her last breaths are something called agonal breathing. It occurs after consciousness is lost. It is an unconscious reaction that we will sometimes see just before a dog dies. From your description of events, I suspect that Lani died in her sleep. When her heart stopped, her body had some unconscious reactions that look disturbing to us, but she was likely already gone or at least unconscious by then. I hope that was helpful in allowing you to understand what occurred yesterday. My deepest sympathies in your loss of Lani.

Here at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach we are very sorry for your loss. We are glad to hear that we were able to help you with him. Please let us know if you ever need anything else from us. We will be thinking of you as you go through this difficult time.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It is difficult to say for sure what the primary cause of her passing was. There could have been a primary infection that led to her untimely passing. She may have been suffering from a primary neurological condition or infection in her brain as well. It might be best to speak with the veterinarian that had been treating her to see what his / her thoughts were on what was going on so you can get some closure. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Eppie. Many changes happen during the dying process. The heart slows, blood pressure rises & then falls, & oxygen is redirected away from limbs & muscles to the brain & internal organs. Often there are strange & abnormal movements, but these are totally involuntary. It is very, very unlikely that Eppie was aware at this point, so there was no conscious effort to control things, & blessedly, pain & discomfort disappear. Please accept my condolences on her passing & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.