The Food of Love: A Dog’s Last Meal

Even a taste of chocolate is okay on the last day. photo: AdobeStock

We rarely want to think about our dog’s last day or his last meal.  But this is an inevitable truth: someday our beloved friend must leave us. 

As Benjamin Franklin once said, only two things in life are guaranteed - death and taxes. But for most dogs, these guarantees also usually include unconditional love and a devotion to eating. So how can we make our best friend’s last days and hours mutually gratifying using morsels of delight? 

When our canine companions become ill, aged, or anorexic, we may find ourselves hand feeding them their favorite treats, such as cooked chicken or even ice cream. This can be a very stressful time for us, yet it is also gratifying to  play this nurturing role using food to show our love for them. (Of course, it is always important to contact your veterinarian to determine if there is a specific cause or illness that should be addressed).

But when animals move towards death, many times they will stop eating. During the dying process, which can take days or hours, the body systems start to shut down and the energy provided by food is no longer needed. Digestion and chewing also take energy they may no longer have.  

When the inevitable last days come, it may be at the end of a long life as the aging process takes its final toll.  Or it may come as a distressing surprise when our dog is suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness or when there is a severe injury with no hope of recovery. In each scenario, the decision of when and if to euthanize our beloved companion comes close to our hearts. As an end-of-life veterinary practitioner, I always tell my clients to take on the pain of grief now, so that their animal companions do not have to suffer. This is never easy.

Whether it is an urgent or contemplative decision, we all hope we have time to offer our friend as much comfort, love, and gratitude as possible in their final days and hours. We may have the opportunity to take them on a gentle walk on their favorite beach or trail. Or perhaps we offer them a moment sitting in the sun in the garden.  We might decide to treat them to delicacies that they love, or foods that we would never dare offer them before.  I have seen dogs being fed ice cream with cones, chocolate cake, hamburger sandwiches, and much more for their last meals. Of course, we veterinarians do not encourage giving dogs foods they might be allergic to, or anything in excess. But even a taste of chocolate is okay on this last day.

Some dogs will not want to eat anything towards the end, especially if their body has already started to turn itself off with chronic illness or fever. This is fine, too. Surely your love and touch is more than adequate in these last moments. 

But even if a dog has not been eating, I still encourage my clients to have some special foods available at the euthanasia appointment. They can offer these morsels and tidbits to their beloved friend just prior to, during, and after the initial sedation injection as a distraction and a last act of love. 

The sedation medication may take 10 minutes to take effect. I have found that if the dog is able to accept food, hand feeding during these final moments of connection can offer important bonding and memories for the humans involved, especially for children. This usually works about 90% of the time if the dog is still eating; generally, if they won’t eat, they are feeling so poorly they are past caring. 

I always caution my clients that showing interest in a final meal does not mean their dog is now eating again and that they can get better. It simply means that this is a final moment of connection, of their devotion to food and to you.

When I perform a home euthanasia for a dog, I always come prepared with beef jerky and chocolate kisses just in case the people are too distracted with grief to think about food (cats typically prefer tuna or churro). It is never easy to say goodbye. But a final meal or treat can be rewarding during these difficult moments, for the dog and for the humans who love him.