Owner-reported experiences are similar for dogs experiencing euthanasia or unassisted death: evaluation of the Dog Aging Project's End of Life Survey free-text responses.

Abstract

Objective: To compare experiences of owners whose dogs underwent euthanasia versus unassisted death, focusing on quality of life (QOL), medical signs, and emotional responses.

Methods: We evaluated Dog Aging Project End of Life Survey free-text responses submitted between January 20, 2021, and January 28, 2022. Responses from owners whose dogs experienced euthanasia (n = 70) or unassisted death (n = 70) were evaluated. Dog QOL themes (eg, changes to activity level, appetite, mobility) and positive or negative owner emotions and experiences were identified. Themes that recapitulated response variables provided within forced-choice items were identified. Suddenness of death, time between death and completion of the End of Life Survey, and word and character counts were tabulated. Responses between dog groups (euthanasia vs unassisted death) were compared, either by comparing independent proportions of reported themes (Fisher exact test) or mean values (t test).

Results: Suddenness of death was more common in unassisted death than euthanasia (19 of 49 vs 1 of 49). No significant differences were found between groups for QOL measures, negative or positive experiences, length of response, or time to survey completion. Nearly half of all free-text responses repeated indicators of decreased QOL or medical signs previously queried as forced-choice responses (43 of 98 for both).

Conclusions: Owner-reported QOL for their dogs and description of positive and negative emotions or experiences at the time of their dogs' deaths were similar whether dogs experienced euthanasia or unassisted death.

Clinical relevance: Regardless of the manner of death, owners reported similar experiences and may have benefited from similar grief support.