It’s completely understandable to feel frightened, overwhelmed, or just plain sad after learning your dog has a chronic health condition. After all, they’ve always been there for you. In addition to frequent vet visits, you may be confronted with a life without them, or a life that now revolves around administering medications, experimenting with different treatments, or planning for the inevitable.
In This Article
Emotionally Coping With Your Dog’s Chronic Illness
For dog owners, whether puppies or seniors, chronically sick or terminally ill, here’s some reassuring news: there’s power in having a solid support system. This network extends beyond your friends and family. Veterinary professionals and mental health counselors can help you and your dog transition to this new chapter. Beyond that, monitoring your dog’s symptoms, adhering to a schedule, and practicing self-compassion can help give your dog the best quality of life, just as you’ve always done.
Chronic medical conditions in dogs can run the scope of inflammatory bowel disease, which can be managed with a curated diet and medication regimen, to certain types of cancer, may focus on aggressive treatment to palliative care. Certain congenital conditions may also require intensive medical care from the start of a dog’s life.
Liz Adams is very familiar with such conditions. Her German Shepherd, “Kayman,” was born with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), megaesophagus, and neurological disorders.
“He wasn’t supposed to make it to his second birthday — he lived to 3,” Adams recalls. “He had his own bed, his spot on the couch, carefully prepared meals, and more accommodations than most humans get. He bonded more with my other dogs than with me, but he was safe, loved, and truly lived, which is what mattered.”
What Is Compassion Fatigue?
As the current owner of another special needs dog, she acknowledges that owning a chronically ill pet isn’t easy. It’s normal to struggle with “compassion fatigue,” which is emotional exhaustion from caregiving. But when she finds the matter weighing on her, she takes a moment to reflect.
“Compassion fatigue is real, so I check in with myself,” Adams says. “When a certain level of exhaustion hits, I know I need to ask for help. It can be heartbreaking, too, but when I need perspective, I think about how my dogs might have had to spend their lives.”
Your Mental Health Is Just as Important
Beth Bigler is an educator, pet grief counselor, and author of the book “Honoring Our Animals: 365 Meditations for Healing After Pet Loss.” Caring for an ailing pet demands more than just your mental health, she says. It asks everything from your mind, body, and soul, and this can make you feel untethered from the situation. Yet, as challenging as this time may seem, Bigler emphasizes the importance of staying grounded.
“The first step is giving yourself permission to not have all the answers. You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be present,” she says. “Then, anchor yourself with practical tools. I often recommend quality-of-life trackers to help you see patterns more clearly and reduce decision-making anxiety. Tracking can offer perspective on good days versus hard days and take pressure off your memory, which can be distorted by stress.”
Bigler offers another tip: knowing when to reach out to your support network.
“It also helps to delegate. Ask a trusted friend to take notes during vet visits or create a shared care calendar with reminders and medication logs. You are not meant to do this alone,” she says.
The Importance of Monitoring Your Dog’s Symptoms
Monitoring your dog’s overall health has many benefits. For starters, it helps ensure that your dog can get emergency vet care when they need it. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, weakness, and pale gums shouldn’t be left to resolve on their own. Even if your dog has powered through such symptoms before, you never want to risk their health and should always contact a veterinarian with any concerns.
Additionally, understanding the scope of your dog’s symptoms can also help you see whether they’re truly enjoying life. This understanding can help you feel more confident your decisions regarding their health, whether that includes changing their routine or scheduling a vet appointment.
“I often suggest tracking [a dog’s] quality of life. Not only their physical state, but how they seem emotionally and in connection with you,” Bigler recommends. “Are they still finding small joys? Can they rest comfortably? Do they still feel like themselves, even in a quieter or more limited way?”
This is how Adams operates with her dog, “Mister Biggs,” a mixed breed who is deaf and diagnosed with arthritis, a collapsed trachea, and cancer. Despite his limitations, he wholeheartedly enjoys short walks on sunny days with the help of his supportive harness, along with lying in the grass to keep a close eye on rabbits.
“Biggs walks on his own (with the exception of stairs), doesn’t show signs of pain when he’s moving around, asks for belly rubs, and plays with my cat (his best fur friend). When those behaviors stop, or he’s hurting trying to do any of them, I think it’s time to say goodbye,” Adams says.
Tips for Helping Your Dog Feel Comfortable At Home
Helping your chronically ill dog remain comfortable depends on, well, your dog. It may take some experimentation to meet your goals. For example, with some trial and error, Adams found that her megaesophagus-afflicted German Shepherd took to hand-feeding better than being fed in an upright Bailey chair. With Mister Biggs, she’s found that eating wet, canned food reduces his coughing significantly.
Adams shares another way she has incorporated Mister Biggs’ special needs into her day-to-day life.
“Every morning, he goes outside, and I help him down the stairs,” she says. “He goes sideways, and I lift his back legs for each step down. Once he’s in the yard, he walks around on his own. He barks when he’s ready to come in. I help him back up the stairs by lifting his rear while he hops with his front legs.”
Bigler offers further insight into helping an ailing dog feel comfortable. She emphasizes keeping a business-as-usual attitude and being mindful of your emotions when interacting with them.
“Stick to your typical routines as much as possible. Keep their meals, walks, cuddle times, and resting places predictable. Familiarity is grounding for dogs, especially when their body is changing,” Bigler says. “Focus on what brings comfort to both of you. That might mean resting in your usual spot, offering gentle touch, or listening to a song that always felt like home.”
Treasure the Moments You Have with Your Dog Now
The years pass differently for dogs than for humans, and even differently for chronically ill dogs. Yet, Bigler notes that owners should take comfort in the time they have with their pets right now, rather than worry about running out of time.
“Dogs don’t experience time the way we do,” she says. “They’re not thinking about next week. They’re responding to what’s happening right now. Your steady, grounded presence can be one of the greatest gifts you offer them during this time.”
Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian for the American Kennel Club reminds people that, “Remember, animals are lucky: they don’t know their diagnosis.”
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.