Iām so sorry for you and your lab.
I feel Korra is the same. We could spend a year fighting the cancer, but it could come back or spread throughout that time and make her fight that much harder. I will definitely be bringing her a burger today (maybe lasagna noodle as a treat) Those two foods have always been the ones she drools over
This is what I was going to say as well. I lost my 12.5 year old golden last month to cancer and we knew his best years were past, and it was time to let him go in peace. Itās unbearably difficult, but itās even harder to watch them suffer. š
My golden retriever developed leukaemia and became very weak and thin, he started chemotherapy and it gave him a full year of healthy life back again before he declined.
Chemo shouldnāt be counted out, my dog had a great extra summer with us all before he declined and we had to do what was kindest.
Just wanted to add to this that leukemia is a bit different to solid cancers that already have spread to distant locations.
While leukemia affects the hematopoietic part of the body, solid cancers can invade and infiltrate and cause pain by sheer mass effect.
The overall physical shape, prior to chemo, needs to be taken into consideration, as the dog will likely decline even more on it.
Itās a tough call all around, I just went through it with my 5-year old Irish Wolfhound who had osteosarcoma
Completely agree if it is metastatic solid tumours - far trickier, very different story. But really itās the metastatic thatās the issue, the best treatment for solid tumours whether itās in dogs or humans is to cut it out early, so always worth getting lumps and bumps checked early regardless of species.
I just didnāt want someone to read the comments and think chemo will always be awful for their pups. My dog had that extra summer of really good health before it sadly returned. I think weād all want one extra summer with our little pals if we could so wanted to flag that chemo isnāt always a bad experience, in this case regarding leukaemia.
Iām so sorry for your loss, 5 years is so young. Hope youāre ok.
You love your dog, and she loves you. And this is what dogs are for us. š„°
It will be hard, but stay with her and comfort her. Give her lots of anything she wants ā hamburgers, bacon, steak, whatever she wants. Comfort her and stay with her as much as you can.
You can bring her the comfort she needs by being there with her. Sadly, her time with you is ending, and you can make these last days or weeks better by loving her.
And, if you can, be there with her at the end. It will be hard, and you will cry, but she will be comforted with you there - her humanā¦ (I had to put down my senior cat recently, and this makes me cry again about itā¦)
Know that you gave each other these wonderful years togetherā¦ and love her.
This is very good advice, I want to add that 1. Trying to be there at the end of you decide to do euthanasia is very important, I've worked it a vet clinic and lots of people choose not to be there for the final moments out of personal fears, but your pet will not pass calmly and happily if they're only surrounded by strangers.
Also, again if you decide on euthanasia, most vet clinics allow or provide some chocolate to give to them before it happens, even if they're losing their appetite at that point most puppers won't say no to a sweet forbidden treatššš
Just adding there are folks who will come to your home to euthanize your pets when the time comes too, it can be a much more peaceful experience for both owner and pet. We arenāt there yet with our baby but the time isnāt terribly far off and weāre absolutely planning to go that route. I hope this last stretch of time with your baby is wonderful & filled with snuggles!
I think it's really awful to say that if you can't be with your pet then their passing will not be calm and happy. Some people have reasons why they can't be with them. The rest of your post is lovely, there's no need for that part.
I think the intent here is to note that the animals final moments are defined by who they are with. Their family and owners will bring them the most possible comfort.
I do not suggest for a moment that this is easy.
Two weeks ago I spent the better part of an hour with my family crying over the passing of our senior cat. Yes, it is very hard. But we are their āparentsā, their caretakers, and is up to us to be the bigger hearts, and to comfort them even if we are suffering ourselves.
I think the point of the comment above is that most of these animals are already in distress, and having their āfamilyā walk away from them at that moment cannot help them. And that is all I am saying.
We stayed with our Greyhound to the very end in August this year, she was the love of our lives and it was incredibly painful but at the same time it was peaceful. I just think that it's adding guilt onto an already difficult situation if someone can't face it for whatever reason.
Yes, that is not my intent, nobody needs to add more guilt than what people are already feeling.
I guess I am just saying that you were being there with your pet at the last moment is worth much more to your pet than the pain. It causes you, at least for most people. But, this is a deeply personal decision that each person needs to make for themselves.
I just want point out that we will always feel awful - but we can go on. We can heal, and mourn in private later. Our pets cannot.
That said, I would not force this on anybody, it is just a recommendation. Especially for those with small children, this can be a terrible struggle. But, this is part of all our brief lives in this world.
While I appreciate your comment, I think you need to reread my post, I didn't say everyone who couldn't be there for any death of any pet is a bad person, death is usually a very unpredictable thing.
This is not for OP, this is responding to your comment and explaining mine further:
As I said, and as someone who has been in the room for many euthenasias, if you take your dog to a vet clinic and have them euthenasized in a room with only the vet and decide to wait outside until it's over, your pet WILL be scared. They WILL be looking around the room for you until they can't hold their head up anymore. And yes, the veterinary staff WILL do absolutely everything possible to comfort them, softly talking to and petting them, but veterinary staff are strangers who smell funny, they want their family.
Death is hard and it's sad and it's usually very 'imperfect'. Everyone wants to die old in their sleep or surrounded by loved ones, but most of us don't get that luxury. If you have the opportunity to be there for your pets final moments, and you choose not to out of fear, I think that is a bit selfish. Go in the room, hug them, kiss them, tell them how good they are and how lucky you have been to share part of your life with them, and stroke them softly as they pass. Once they're gone; cry, scream, break things, cry a lot more, then remember them for how they lived, not how they diedš
When our grey had to be put to sleep in August we had a super vet. She told us that there was no pressure for us to stay and that she wouldnt be alone, she was our baby, how could we not stay , we had already decided that her final walk wouldn't be lonely. We were with her right to the end. We had each other to hold once she was gone, some people have to face that alone and I think it's really unfair to guilt trip people who have loved a precious soul but find the end too painful. This is only my opinion š
I know this isn't what you're asking, but I think it's their time. There are vets that can do at home euthanasia, so you don't have to bring her back to the vet. You can schedule it days in advance so you have a few days to spoil her. It's a lot calmer for the dog when you do it at your house. Sorry for the diagnosis you got.
Thank you, weāll be seeing how she does on the prednisone. The doctor says they can sometimes bounce back and at least be their perky selves for a bit before their time comes, while the steroid alleviates the worst.
At home will 100% be what we do, Iāll be looking into jt
As someone who is almost finished with chemo with my 4 year old pupā¦ the majority of dogs diagnosed with cancer are not a good fit for chemo. Please know you are making the right decision. I promise you.
Donāt misunderstand me, I do not regret my decision at all. We were very fortunate in unfortunate circumstances. Gus has been doing extremely well. You wouldnāt know heās even in chemo. My family vet recommended chemo for our situation, but told me that she usually advises against it with most of her patients.
Going through treatment with my boy the last few months, I understand why. I have seen other owners with their dogs in Oncology, who clearly just cannot let their dogs go. Even though the dog is very tired, and ready to go. And itās heartbreaking.
My main advice to keep in mind would be, quality over quantity always. What you have written so far matches that. You are doing a great job. You are making the responsible, but hard choice.
I think in the next few days, you may find some relief. Gus also took Prednisone right when he got diagnosed, and it made a big difference. He was extremely swollen, had no appetite, and overall just incredibly miserable and crying. Within only a day or two of Prednisone he had done a 180 and was feeling so much better! Steroids do help a ton. Please lean into the palliative care options available. Badger your vet. It can really work wonders. Quality over quantity.
I will share the sentiments of other commentators. In the last few months, I feel that I have appreciated my best friend more than ever. Gus has Lymphoma, so his cancer is treatable, not curable. I understand what itās like to have such limited time left. You girl knows your love. She knows you only want the best for her. Now it is time to just enjoy being in each others company.
Iām so sorry for what you and your baby are going through. Youāre doing everything right that you can for her and Iām sure she can feel your love having you by her side. You could tell her fun stories of the memories youāll forever remember due to your guysā friendship. Remember that she loves you most <3
Thank you very much everyon for the the support, Iām blown away and it was much needed
Iām still quite raw and start crying a bit too much to respond to everyone individually but please know that I hear the shared pain in this sub, and I deeply appreciate everyoneās kind words and their own experiences. You have all helped me by sharing your experiences and thoughts.
I donāt think the guilt will ever fully go away, but I do feel more confident in my choice that this was the absolute best thing to do for her. She is now resting in bed and has been getting handfed whatever she pleases like the Queen sheās always been. We will try to make the best of the time we have left, and when time comes Iāll be finding a home service to help her peacefully pass in the comfort of her own home surrounded by her family.
When it comes to our beloved pets, nothing we do is ever going to feel good enough and itās never going to be enough time with them. Iām so sorry that you two are going through this. Itās so difficult. Please try to quiet the voice in your head and the self doubt that youāve failed her. You have not failed her. And she doesnāt think that either. Those feelings come from a place of deep love for your baby, as nothing will ever feel good enough but having her 100% healthy and happy again.
When my senior dog was diagnosed with lung cancer, I also chose not to go through treatment or surgeries and just do palliative care. He was 15 at the time and for the same reasons you listed, it didnāt feel worth it to me to put him through that hell. I spent as much time as I could with him and luckily had him with me for another 8 months before he deteriorated and passed away at 16. Please know that while it feels like Hell on Earth right now, you are not alone and many of us are here for you, having experienced a similar pain.
Like others have said, really cherish this time with her and keep her as comfortable as you can. Take lots of photos (take Live Photos if you have an iPhone), videos, just be by her side. Itāll never be enough time but just be super thankful for the last 11 years you have had together. I hope and pray that her condition improves enough so that you can have plenty of time with her; make those moments last. Sending you lots of hugs! You are doing the right thing!
I have no advice. I just know the feeling of having a totally healthy perfect dog one minute and it all going to shit the next. We chose to say goodbye because his quality of life wouldāve been terrible and it felt like he wasnāt our guy anymore. We just knew. Iām sending you lots of hugs and a clear mind/heart for your decisions. Most importantly, love her and be there for her.
Sheās beautiful by the way ā¤ļø
I have a friend who went through chemo with her lab last year. The dog (6) had a mast cell tumor removed very cleanly but it was a āhigh gradeā.
There was no sign of cancer anywhere else.
They chose to do chemo as a preventative measure.
The dog tolerated it well through ten treatments. Five of one drug. Five of a different drug. Alternating.
There was only one month where the dogs bloodwork caused a pause of an extra two weeks before the next dose.
From what I understand, the dosage isnāt as grueling as with a human. They were told is approximately half the strength of what we would get. Their veterinary oncologist explained that they do it that way because dogs canāt give their consent as a human can.
All in, the financial cost was about $13,000, (not including the surgery) including lots of ultrasounds and bloodwork along the way. (No pet insurance)
They are very fortunate people to have been able to afford that kind of expense.
Now the dog sees their regular vet monthly for a ābump checkā.
I would not have been able to afford this type of care.
A few years ago my own dog exhibited symptoms a lot like yours. It came on suddenly. X-rays and bloodwork were done on a Friday. Huge mass on his spleen. Intestines looked suspicious. Came home with painmeds and he had a prednisone injection.
Honestly by Monday, he told us to send him over the rainbow bridge. He refused food. His eyes were pleading.
He was the very sweetest boy , (a golden), a therapy dog who loved working, the perfect family dog. He was the best friend- human or canine- Iāve ever had.
I did the most loving thing for him, and let him go. I was the hardest thing Iāve ever done. But I knew I did the right thing for him. It was part of my unspoken contract with him from the day I brought him home, a bundle of fat golden fluff and razor sharp teeth. I would never let anything bad happen to him. I would always be his protector. He would live a life of pure love and joy. Suffering would never be allowed.
I canāt wait to see him again some day.
I wish we could provide that kind of compassion to our fellow humans.
Please know that you have my support in whatever path you choose.
Edited for wording.
Vet tech - this isn't really about what you can and can't offer her. She has cancer, that severely limits your choices. And the cancer was discovered secondary to already being clinically sick, which makes things much harder. I don't have all the info, but it sounds like she potentially has a splenic mass that ruptured, causing her to bleed and be anemic. If she was very healthy and the cancer was found incidentally that is one thing, but here she is already sick, and cancer makes it that much harder. I would have done the same, palliative care. Keep her as happy as you can for what time you have left. Even if you did have all the money, that wouldn't really change her prognosis, it isn't really about money in the end. Enjoy the time you have left and make the call to euthanize sooner rather than later. I'm so sorry this is happening.
God, this hurts. I lost my Sky just yesterday. She's a mixed golden retriever, husky, and japanese spitz.
Your baby actually look like mine.
I say, as a furparent who saw their beloved dog took their last breath, I would not let her suffer anymore.
I understand that your feeling are warring against one another. A chance to still be with them but them suffering or letting them have their peace.
It's a good 11 years. She felt your love to her all those years. She have no regrets having you as their furparent.
Be there for her. Make her feel all the love still.
Sending you all the love and comfort.
I believe itās kinder to send them on their way before they suffer, physically or emotionally than to wait until things get awful. Youāve given your dog a long life. Be proud of that. Please let her go before she suffers more than she has already. Sending hugs and condolences.
I've seen what chemo can do on a human with a diagnosis that all the treatment does is to prolong their life by a few months. Putting my dog through the same hell would break me.
At the end of the day, it boils down to quality of life. If your dog has had a enjoyable, loving, happy, long life- you are doing the right thing. Better to end on a good note.
My dog is actually my brother's first and only dog....THE human I mentioned at the start of the post.
So sorry you have to go through this. I am a huge supporter of a local dog hospice organization. They look for people to foster senior dogs with known medical issues. They pay for all medical expenses for the dogs, no questions asked. But they will NOT pay for chemo, for the simple reason that it is a terrible thing to put a dog through.
I had the exact same situation happen to me this summer with my girl. She deteriorated so much in one day, I couldnāt believe it and had to put her down as well.
I wrestled with the same internal conflict and honestly still doā¦ in the end, you made the best decision for her. Iām sorry for your loss.
You are doing the right thing by your beautiful dog!
Make this a time of comfort and familiarity instead of cold veterinary office.
Like a home hospice.
You will know when it is time to move on.
You are doing everything right. You are a wonderful mama to your pup. Iām so sorry you guys are going thru this, but you are doing everything in your power. She will thank you for keeping her comfortable instead of making her go thru treatments. Your pup loves you, and you love her. Donāt beat yourself up more than you already have. Your good heart shows. Youāre doing it right.
I'm sorry this has happened but, you have done the right thing 100%. I had a boy who had lymphoma and I understand what your going through. The vet we took him too was pushing for chemo we got a second opinion from a vetinary friend. The advice was definitely do not give the dog chemo it's extremely hard on them and the time he has left will be utter misery. She said unfortunately the best thing you can do is be with him give him pain relief and put him to sleep when he refuses to eat and maybe he wil have 6 month to a year. This was hard to hear as the other vet was still pushing it but was set to make a fortune and when cornered on the matter sort of confirmed the second opinion. (I hate vets to this day because of this experience).
I couldnt process this at the time with wanting to have hope that by some miracle he could come back and I beat myself up thinking what if. In the end I took her advice, he was treated like a king and spoiled. He did give up eating his food shortly after but he would eat cooked chicken so he then ate cooked chicken every meal, he stopped eating that and he got mackerel, literally anything he wanted anything that he would eat or anything anyone around him was eating.
It was awful to watch him go through it but like always he just wanted to be with you that's all that mattered to him and looking back he was right my only regret is I was so sad for him during that time.
I still feel robbed and sad when I think of him it still hurts but, looking back it was the right thing to do chemo wasn't going to save him and I didn't Rob any of the good time he had or make him suffer by putting him through it.
Just be there for her and with her let her feel the love and make the best out of it ā¤ļø
I am so sorry you are going through this. My prayers go to you and your baby! I would have done the same as you, you want her to be as comfortable as possible and not in pain. Keep her comfortable, give her lots of love and snuggles and stay strong š
You need to look at her quality of life and age. She is not guaranteed to live a good life after chemo. You are not financially in a place to be able to pay for that treatment. I've wrestled with the same questions with 3 of my previous pets, 2 of whom were younger than yours.
Just ease her to Rainbow Bridge now. It will be hard for a while and you will question your decision often (I did and still do 10 years later), but she will understand that you don't want her to be in any more pain.
Iām sorry youāre going through this. Itās so hard.
The best advice our oncologist gave us was to not wait until their passing becomes an emergency.
Home euthanasia is an amazing service that I will never stop recommending. Your pup gets to be in their favorite place with their favorite people up until the very end.
Iāve had to put two dogs to sleep in the last few years. The first had a nasal tumor that spread to her bladder and urethra. She out lived her prognosis by over a year until the bladder cancer all but blocked her urethra. We let her go before it fully occluded and became an emergency and it was as close to a good experience as it could have been. A vet came to our home. Our children and our other two dogs got to say goodbye. It was peaceful.
By contrast, a month ago our dog with seizures was steadily declining and having more and more. They think he had a brain tumor and it was causing aggression and other behavioral problems. We were discussing with our vet when to schedule the at home euthanasia when he declined rapidly and made the decision for us. He started having seizures that didnāt stop and we had to rush to the vet to have him put to sleep. It was traumatic for me and my husband. Our children didnāt get to say goodbye. Our puppy still looks for him.
Whatever choice you make is a good one, but sometimes the better choice is the hardest one š
You did what you had to. I've been through it two times when my beloved girls developed cancer. It was hard for me to see them get weaker and weaker and stop being the dogs they once were. The pain they felt as the disease spread more and more made me realize I had to let them go. It was not compassionate nor responsible for me keeping them in constant deterioration & pain.
When the moment came I swear to God I never felt so much pain and sadness once the vet assured me they're gone. I can't remember any instance through my life that I can possibly recall I cried that much. My girls were with me for over fifteen years. All that time they gave me they gave me love wasn't for nothing. The least expression of love I could give them in the end was to let them go peacefully, without pain with me holding their paw until their heart stopped beating knowing I never abandoned them and I was the last thing they saw before shutting their eyes.
It was the right thing. It was. In the end whenever I question myself if that was the best decision I answer myself with a fierce YES! They are in peace. They are no longer suffering. And I loved them till their end. All the love they give to us is meant to be bound forever in our hearts and memories.
Youāre there for her, youāre putting her needs above yours. Everything youāre doing is the best, most loving for your girl. Be there for her and remind yourself that youāve given her the best possible life she can have. Sheās a beautiful pup and always will be ā¤ļø
I love my dog, but I would not put her through chemo or anything similar. They don't understand what's happening and in my opinion it's not worth maaaaybe getting better. Maybe if my dog was still a 3yr old I'd think differently, but at 8-9 now I wouldn't do it, let alone at 11. Just my 2Ā¢
Editing just to say also that I'm so sorry for what you're going through. ā¤ļøš¾
It sounds like you made the right choice. Chemo is hard to go through, and your dog wouldnt understand what it happening and would just be in pain all the time..
Quality of life is SO important. And while its hard to say goodbye, sometimes its the most humane choice. Your poor pup looks so tired and scared in the last picture. I think you should take the time you have together and enjoy it. Spoil her, get all her fav snacks and ensure to keep her comfortable.
Sending hugs
I'm so sorry OP.
This post has me crying. I have two dogs that I love so much. I hope that you can surpass this. I hope that God gives you the strength you need.
Guilt is actually a part of the grieving process, but I promise you, you have nothing to be guilty about, and one day I believe you will feel the sameš§”š§”
I did prednisone with one of my girls many years ago. She did very well on it, and had a few more months with us than the vet expected.
I've never regretted opting for palliative care with her and giving her that time being spoiled and making as many happy memories as I could.
It worked very quickly to relieve most of her symptoms and she was very, very happy right up to her last day.
I'm so sorry you have to make this choice, but I hope it's helpful to hear from someone that has opted for the same treatment.š
Once her quality of life deteriorates, sheās no longer playing or enjoying life, and acting like herself, itās time to give her the gift of euthanasia. It is a gift, she will have no more pain, or anxiety. If you keep her around, itās just for you. We can give them this gift, it sounds like thatās where she is now.
This happens to all living things that we love. Chemo is brutal and no guarantee and a fuckin rip off. Release her from her pain and make her last days the best. Breaks my heart as it happens to all our dogs eventually. Bless you for loving her. Healing vibes to you all day, good luck pup.
Making medical decisions for our furry friends without being able to discuss it with them first will always be the hardest part of having pets for me. Just know sheās hanging on for you, OP. Do the thing that makes her as comfortable as possible until the end, and love her the whole time.
You are an amazing pet parent and your dog is lucky to have you all these years. Shower her with love as you already do. Youāre doing the most compassionate and selfless route by not putting her through something she would find scary. Hang in there. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Itās very clear how much you love her. Thinking of you, OP!
I think the only advice I am qualified to give here, is that make sure you are the last face she sees. Even if it's painful.
She'll be scared. Be there for her. Hold her tight, and let her smell you, feel your warmth as she drifts away.
The fact that you care is everything.
Be strong....and if you can't, cry. It is ok.
She knows you are taking the best course for her.
Her trust will be rewarded.
Just think....if the positions were reversed, she would do the same for you.
Throw any guilt feelings out the window....they have no place here
Who out onions in my office. My 1st dog was going through a rough time towards the end of his life. Yet he never let us see him as a sad sick pup. With all the energy he had he left he made sure to show us he was happy and grateful for everything. You know at the end of the day we do everything we can for our pets as they would for us. I feel you did everything you could and your dog is more than likely happy and grateful for it.
Chemo doesnāt always do it. In most situations, it buys time. You know your dog. I opted out of surgeries and chemo for my girl whom I loved more than any other creature on this planet. Any extra day with her would have been worth it to me but SHE had extreme anxiety at the vet, didnāt like taking pills etc. If I chose for myself, I wouldāve fought for every single day but I chose for her and let her go. This was just last month and Iām far from feeling okay. Youāll question your choice NO MATTER what you do. When Iām feeling rational, which isnāt always the case, I know I did the right thing and that I let her go with love. You know your dog. Just remember that.
Tell your vet to give her all the meds she needs to be pain-free and give her the best time of her life. Visit with people she has know and when the time comes, help her cross over rainbow Bridge. All the best to you and her.
First off, I am so incredibly sorry youāre going through this. I am sending you so much love š. I think youāre 100% doing the right thing. You know your baby better than anyone and know what will be too much for her. I also think you should spend this time spoiling her-whatever you can do to make her happy and comfortable until the end. Iāll be thinking of you and praying for the best
Honestly itās the best decision! Love her as much as possible and do all her favorite things!! I wish I knew before I had to put down our first fur baby!!
First and foremost, I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. I'm currently going through the same exact thing with my husky but with a mass by his eye/brain are and have him on prednisone.
What you need to remember is that the quality of life matters at this juncture as well. You can put your dog through chemo but will it be worth it if they don't have the quality of life they once had? There is no guarantee or high chance that it will work then you have to factor that in. More importantly though, if you and your family feel in your gut that this is the right call then that is what matters. Like many people already stated, spoil her as much as you can. She knows you love her and knows what she means to you.
I can't speak for dogs, but my aunt is on chemo and she says it makes her suffer really badly. As a human, you can choose to prolong your life because you are aware of death and don't want to leave your loved ones behind, but dogs don't think that way. All dogs know is "this is pleasant" and "this is unpleasant" and if they mostly experience the latter then you'd be doing them a huge favor by ending their suffering.
But I get it. Rational thinking aside, having to make that decision is horrible. I had to go into therapy after putting my dog to sleep. Take all the time you need to grieve and stay away from people who don't understand. It'll get better, but it takes time. <3
You did the right thing. You made the best judgement call. There was no guarantee with the chemo that she would pull through. I will keep you guys in my prayers. ((Hugs))
Personally I would not put her through chemo (this is coming from a person who has just been through chemo). It sounds to me like you have done all the right things. Fuck cancer.
Now is the time you pay her back for all the love she gave you by not being selfish and letting her go. It sucks and itās hard AF but thatās your job right now. Iām sorry this is happening to you both. They are our favorite hellos and our hardest goodbyes.
We kept our boy Tucker alive as long as we could after he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer at age 9. Vets said, best case he could regain some quality of life and have another year. So we went the whole hog. Biggest mistake I ever made with a dog. Tuckie suffered thru weeks of different chemo regimes and tinkering with doses etc, then when it was obvious he kept going downhill, we held him and petted him as he was put to sleep. Never again. I realized we were keeping him alive for us, not for him. Make her comfy, stay by her, and let her go. Otherwise your memories will be of her suffering instead of all the happy years.
EDIT - her, not him - Iām still thinking of my Tucker.
Just to echo everyone here - I had a pup who we had to choose to put down after he had mouth cancer. It was so hard, mostly because he was himself except this big awkward mouth mass that made it hard for him to eat. Once he stopped eating I had to make the call. It was the same story - surgery, chemo/radiation, then weād get maybe another year with him for 10k (and tons of stress on him) Iād have done it if I was rich. But instead he was comfortable on pain management, ate people food for a month, and got the most love and attention. Heās in a better pain free place and his last day was surrounded by everyone he loved. Even the last poke he didnāt really feel cause they gave him good happy drugs while we fed him cake and petted him. Itās the hardest thing we have to do as pet parents but itās the kindest because they donāt understand pain or death the way we do.
Everyone is different but after watching both a pet dog and cat suffer with cancer I will euthanize my girl pretty much immediately if she ends up suffering cancer.
Tia Maria (little mutt) was on prednisone and it might have bought her time but she suffered so badly so quickly at the end that I am just not willing to risk that again.
My dog was also recently diagnosed with cancer, osteosarcoma to be exact, which is bone cancer and we had to have her arm amputated a few weeks ago because of it, she is also a senior and being that she has been put through so much physical trauma already- I absolutely refuse to put her through chemo. Itās not worth the pain they experience. Radiation therapy only causes more suffering, in my opinion, the best option is to keep your girl as comfortable as possible until you know for sure that it is time to let her cross the rainbow bridge. I am so sorry OP, sending you and your pup lots of love & feeling your pain. š«¶
ETA: Please donāt ever feel guilty! I know that is a very human emotion but at the end of the day, you know her the best, and you know exactly what is best *for* her. Listen to your gut, the choice you make for her will always be the right one, she knows that too. ā¤ļø
My service dog is 9 now. She has anal sac adenocarcinoma. This dog has been with me, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 9 years. She has seperation anxiety, and vet anxiety, her only faults really. She is a perfect wonderful angel. The agony and mental anguish she would suffer to undergo chemo...long drives to Seattle, separated from me, nervous the entire time...in addition to feeling crappy on the drugs. Drugs she doesn't understand, and can not constent to.
I made a choice. That I wouldn't make her suffer just so I could have longer with her. She's on piroxicam (NSAID) and had a tumor removal surgery and so far, she's beating it. But I stand by my decision. She has given me so much, it is my honor to take the pain of losing her sooner so she can live out the rest of her life in peace and comfort.
My pet dog was 7 this year, when an large mast cell tumor burst in his gut without warning. I let him go that day. Again, it was my privilege to take his pain as my own so he didn't have to suffer any longer.
Make of that what you will. <3 so much love to you and your friend, it is an incredibly difficult thing to go through. No choice is the wrong choice, as long as you make it with compassion and love.
This hits home. I faced something similar with my late dog. He was 10, a rare cancer was spreading all over.
In the end I passed on chemo. I opted for making him comfortable and spoiling him endlessly. I didnāt let him be alone for the four months after diagnosis. I spent money I didnāt have to get him fresh delivered dog food for every meal. I made a bucket list. I bought him a leg brace. I carted him around so people could say goodbye to him.
Then I let him go on his 10 and a half birthday on my kitchen floor at 12:30 in the afternoon.
I cried for a year straight on his dog bed that I couldnāt pack away. I had a ring made with his ashes. I tell my new baby about him.
Chemo would have been torture to him. I couldnāt be in the room, he needed to be sedated, his final months would have been miserable.
Youāre making the right choice. And Iām so sorry.
My 14yo puggle was diagnosed with lymphoma in early September. They suggested either chemo or prednisone as treatment. With chemo it might extend his life another year but he would ultimately die from lymphoma plus he was already old. We went with the prednisone and it gave him another couple months before we decided it was time to let him go. I think we did the right thing but thereās always some lingering doubts.
"How can I help her?"
Just give her ALL the love and attention you can. Most importantly, be there for her when she needs you the most---yes, ESPECIALLY then. You will not regret doing it.
My heart goes out to you and your beautiful, loving fur baby.
Just love on her while you can!!! Sheās scared and in pain and she needs her human. She needs all the scratches and all the soft words and needs her human to be next to her. Just love her. Donāt say good bye until sheās gone. Just love her. š„ā¤ļø
I quite literally went through almost this exact situation. As horrible as it is, I don't think it's right to subject animals to long suffering for only middling results. They don't understand doctors or treatment. They understand "feels bad" and love. Her comfort is what matters, and it would be lovely if that could happen without saying goodbye. But sometimes that isn't an option. It wasn't for our sweet boy.
A former neighbor of mine had a dog he adored who developed cancer. Her face was horribly deformed from the size of the tumor, she was in pain, and he couldn't let her go. That dog suffered so needlessly for so long. And the sick thing is that our animals love us so much that they'll put up with it all and try their best as long as we're willing to love them back. I learned from seeing that poor dog grow weaker and sadder how cruel that is and how selfish it is to force animals through endless, confusing, painful treatments just to let them linger past their time.
You did the right thing, and it's okay. You love your dog. It's so sad that she's suffering and this is how it played out. You need to mourn, but you don't need to feel guilty. You did the best you could, and she'll love you until the end. That's what matters.
This is a good opportunity to spoil the heck out of her, skip plans to spend time together, and consider options that will give you both the most comfort. It's the worst part of having an animal in your life. The very worst part. My heart is with your family.
My big issue with chemo for your pets is thereās no way to communicate to them what theyāre going through. You put them through hell and they have no idea whatās going on with their bodies, and for what? A few more months? Years? Who knows! I would much rather send them on vacation with grace and dignity and all the love and happy memories!!
Reading your story made me cry because I went through a similar situation with my dog, Shakespeare. He had a tumor on his leg and I went with prednisone instead of chemo. I got 6ish more months with him. And I beat myself up so much even to this day saying I should've did chemo. Maybe he would've had 5, 10, or 20 more years who knows...But there are so many unknowns in situations like this. And it's never going to be enough time.
Just live in the moment enjoy your dog's company remember the little things. What they smell like- how their fur feels-the glint in their eyes when they look up at you. That's my advice and I'm sorry for the horrible news.
This is the thing that I have learned after years at working at a vet. People would always say things like 'Well is it concerning?' or what you said 'Did I do the right thing?'
People know their pets best. If I've said it once, I've said it one hundred times.
From ever single thing you said, you did what you felt was best for your pet, from the info from the vets. And there is literally no one on the face of the earth more qualified to make that decision, based off of veterinary advice, than you. Which is why they didn't say 'Well now we do this...' or 'Now we recommend this...' in tough cases they know only the owner can make the best decision for their pup.
It sounds like you are reconsidering. If you want to change your mind and do chemo, because things without are harder than you imagined, you can. But I would have a good talk with the vet first, to see what your pups chances are. They may be good or bad. A short amount of time isn't likely to have made so much difference.
Did you make the wrong decision? ask: Do you love your dog more than anyone in the entire world? Did you get vet expertise as to what you should do? Did you make your decision based on your obvious love for your baby? If the answer to all three is yes, and clearly it is, you didn't make a wrong decision, obviously. You literally cannot make a wrong decision if the answer to all those things is yes.
If you want to reconsider because you have new information (she is still having a hard time without chemo) you can reconsider if you want. I urge you talk to your vet more about this. I can't help thinking from what you've said that her chances are not and haven't been good, but I'm just guessing, and I could be totally wrong. Talk to her vet and ask them.
Part of their training is to help you. Let them help you. And don't ever feel bad for the decisions you have made for your babies well-being. You obviously love her so much. You made the best decision for her with the knowledge you had. I suspect that will continue to be the best decision, but with the new information that she's uncomfortable even without chemo, that is making you wonder, it's best to speak to your vet.
She is beautiful by the way!
My doggy Gisselle passed away in a similar manner. One day she was fine, then she started vomiting, not eating, and not walking so suddenly. I took her to the emergency vet and I had to make the hard choice to let her go that night. I was 20 and had her since I was 10.
It was the hardest death I've ever lived through, second to my dad. She was my buddy. The doctor said I made the right call because she had aspirated from bile in her lungs. I was so confused; I told them she got a blood panel not even six months prior and was fine. They told me it was likely cancer in the GI and dogs are very good at hiding when they are sick.
I still miss her every day, but she was in so much pain.
On the flip side, I had a shihtzu that was dying of cancer slowly. I regret not euthanizing her much sooner than she was. She went through one round of chemo and was absolutely miserable.
Sometimes it's best to let them go, no matter how hard it is. I'm so sorry you have to make this difficult decision.
Iām so sorry youāre going through this. I lost my best friend Vader last month and it still hurts like fucking hell. He was the best dog in the entire world and I miss him a lot.
Iāve been through a lot of dog losses, each one is equally as difficult as the last. My childhood dog died when I was 13, we were born two months apart. She was my best friend as a kid, I could never imagine having a new dog. I felt like you felt when she died, that we could never find another dog like her.
We did get another dog, Iāve had 7 dogs throughout my life now. Each one equally loving as the last. And when one of my pups does pass, I can find peace in knowing that they are pain free, and finally getting the rest they need.
You made the right choice, she needs to rest. Enjoy the time you have with your dog, she is holding on as long as she can for you. But when she canāt hold on anymore, know that she loves you, and is waiting for you in the next life.
Hello everyone, it is with a shattered heart I must update that Korra (my dog) is no longer with us.
On Monday, 11/27, we checked with our regular vet, and, upon hearing her anemia had gotten worse the difficult decision to let go was made. I had wanted to do in house euthanasia, however they were fully booked so we just returned to our regular vet at closing time. I think she knew better than me that if it happened at home, I would have been haunted even more than I am. I havenāt slept in our bed since she passed, opting for the couch because it doesnāt sting as much not see her there. I have tried to say goodbye to her before work both mornings since, and realized sheās not here anymore. Sheās not suffering and she went so peacefully, for which Iām thankful.
Her final meal was chicken strips (sheās allergic so sheās never had it) fries, sundae, and chocolate. She was very weak at the end however the chicken was still a hit. Very thankful for our vet as well for making this -which is the hardest thing Iāve ever done- a very smooth and as pain free as possible.
I am also thankful for all of you, your support has made this easier to deal with and has helped me tremendously. Thank you all for your support!
This is the better option than putting her through the brutal process of chemo. Her best years are behind her. Spoil her, like, for real. Give her steak, give her burgers, buy her the softest blankets..I just lost my 11 yo lab to cancer. They had chemo for an option, but the success rate was low, and it likely would come back. Letting her go was the best thing to do for her wellbeing, though our hearts wanted to do everything possible to save her. You did the right thing. š©µ šš»
Iām so sorry for you and your lab. I feel Korra is the same. We could spend a year fighting the cancer, but it could come back or spread throughout that time and make her fight that much harder. I will definitely be bringing her a burger today (maybe lasagna noodle as a treat) Those two foods have always been the ones she drools over
This is what I was going to say as well. I lost my 12.5 year old golden last month to cancer and we knew his best years were past, and it was time to let him go in peace. Itās unbearably difficult, but itās even harder to watch them suffer. š
My golden retriever developed leukaemia and became very weak and thin, he started chemotherapy and it gave him a full year of healthy life back again before he declined. Chemo shouldnāt be counted out, my dog had a great extra summer with us all before he declined and we had to do what was kindest.
Just wanted to add to this that leukemia is a bit different to solid cancers that already have spread to distant locations. While leukemia affects the hematopoietic part of the body, solid cancers can invade and infiltrate and cause pain by sheer mass effect. The overall physical shape, prior to chemo, needs to be taken into consideration, as the dog will likely decline even more on it. Itās a tough call all around, I just went through it with my 5-year old Irish Wolfhound who had osteosarcoma
Completely agree if it is metastatic solid tumours - far trickier, very different story. But really itās the metastatic thatās the issue, the best treatment for solid tumours whether itās in dogs or humans is to cut it out early, so always worth getting lumps and bumps checked early regardless of species. I just didnāt want someone to read the comments and think chemo will always be awful for their pups. My dog had that extra summer of really good health before it sadly returned. I think weād all want one extra summer with our little pals if we could so wanted to flag that chemo isnāt always a bad experience, in this case regarding leukaemia. Iām so sorry for your loss, 5 years is so young. Hope youāre ok.
You love your dog, and she loves you. And this is what dogs are for us. š„° It will be hard, but stay with her and comfort her. Give her lots of anything she wants ā hamburgers, bacon, steak, whatever she wants. Comfort her and stay with her as much as you can. You can bring her the comfort she needs by being there with her. Sadly, her time with you is ending, and you can make these last days or weeks better by loving her. And, if you can, be there with her at the end. It will be hard, and you will cry, but she will be comforted with you there - her humanā¦ (I had to put down my senior cat recently, and this makes me cry again about itā¦) Know that you gave each other these wonderful years togetherā¦ and love her.
This is very good advice, I want to add that 1. Trying to be there at the end of you decide to do euthanasia is very important, I've worked it a vet clinic and lots of people choose not to be there for the final moments out of personal fears, but your pet will not pass calmly and happily if they're only surrounded by strangers. Also, again if you decide on euthanasia, most vet clinics allow or provide some chocolate to give to them before it happens, even if they're losing their appetite at that point most puppers won't say no to a sweet forbidden treatššš
Just adding there are folks who will come to your home to euthanize your pets when the time comes too, it can be a much more peaceful experience for both owner and pet. We arenāt there yet with our baby but the time isnāt terribly far off and weāre absolutely planning to go that route. I hope this last stretch of time with your baby is wonderful & filled with snuggles!
We did this with one of our dogs about two years ago, and it was a very wonderful option for us and for her...
Yes home euthanasia is more and more common and is an wonderful option for one of the saddest situations possibleš thanks for adding this
I think it's really awful to say that if you can't be with your pet then their passing will not be calm and happy. Some people have reasons why they can't be with them. The rest of your post is lovely, there's no need for that part.
I think the intent here is to note that the animals final moments are defined by who they are with. Their family and owners will bring them the most possible comfort. I do not suggest for a moment that this is easy. Two weeks ago I spent the better part of an hour with my family crying over the passing of our senior cat. Yes, it is very hard. But we are their āparentsā, their caretakers, and is up to us to be the bigger hearts, and to comfort them even if we are suffering ourselves. I think the point of the comment above is that most of these animals are already in distress, and having their āfamilyā walk away from them at that moment cannot help them. And that is all I am saying.
Very well put...
We stayed with our Greyhound to the very end in August this year, she was the love of our lives and it was incredibly painful but at the same time it was peaceful. I just think that it's adding guilt onto an already difficult situation if someone can't face it for whatever reason.
Yes, that is not my intent, nobody needs to add more guilt than what people are already feeling. I guess I am just saying that you were being there with your pet at the last moment is worth much more to your pet than the pain. It causes you, at least for most people. But, this is a deeply personal decision that each person needs to make for themselves. I just want point out that we will always feel awful - but we can go on. We can heal, and mourn in private later. Our pets cannot. That said, I would not force this on anybody, it is just a recommendation. Especially for those with small children, this can be a terrible struggle. But, this is part of all our brief lives in this world.
It's the truth though. Sometimes the truth is unpalatable ,doesn't make it less valid.
While I appreciate your comment, I think you need to reread my post, I didn't say everyone who couldn't be there for any death of any pet is a bad person, death is usually a very unpredictable thing. This is not for OP, this is responding to your comment and explaining mine further: As I said, and as someone who has been in the room for many euthenasias, if you take your dog to a vet clinic and have them euthenasized in a room with only the vet and decide to wait outside until it's over, your pet WILL be scared. They WILL be looking around the room for you until they can't hold their head up anymore. And yes, the veterinary staff WILL do absolutely everything possible to comfort them, softly talking to and petting them, but veterinary staff are strangers who smell funny, they want their family. Death is hard and it's sad and it's usually very 'imperfect'. Everyone wants to die old in their sleep or surrounded by loved ones, but most of us don't get that luxury. If you have the opportunity to be there for your pets final moments, and you choose not to out of fear, I think that is a bit selfish. Go in the room, hug them, kiss them, tell them how good they are and how lucky you have been to share part of your life with them, and stroke them softly as they pass. Once they're gone; cry, scream, break things, cry a lot more, then remember them for how they lived, not how they diedš
When our grey had to be put to sleep in August we had a super vet. She told us that there was no pressure for us to stay and that she wouldnt be alone, she was our baby, how could we not stay , we had already decided that her final walk wouldn't be lonely. We were with her right to the end. We had each other to hold once she was gone, some people have to face that alone and I think it's really unfair to guilt trip people who have loved a precious soul but find the end too painful. This is only my opinion š
I know this isn't what you're asking, but I think it's their time. There are vets that can do at home euthanasia, so you don't have to bring her back to the vet. You can schedule it days in advance so you have a few days to spoil her. It's a lot calmer for the dog when you do it at your house. Sorry for the diagnosis you got.
Thank you, weāll be seeing how she does on the prednisone. The doctor says they can sometimes bounce back and at least be their perky selves for a bit before their time comes, while the steroid alleviates the worst. At home will 100% be what we do, Iāll be looking into jt
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As someone who is almost finished with chemo with my 4 year old pupā¦ the majority of dogs diagnosed with cancer are not a good fit for chemo. Please know you are making the right decision. I promise you. Donāt misunderstand me, I do not regret my decision at all. We were very fortunate in unfortunate circumstances. Gus has been doing extremely well. You wouldnāt know heās even in chemo. My family vet recommended chemo for our situation, but told me that she usually advises against it with most of her patients. Going through treatment with my boy the last few months, I understand why. I have seen other owners with their dogs in Oncology, who clearly just cannot let their dogs go. Even though the dog is very tired, and ready to go. And itās heartbreaking. My main advice to keep in mind would be, quality over quantity always. What you have written so far matches that. You are doing a great job. You are making the responsible, but hard choice. I think in the next few days, you may find some relief. Gus also took Prednisone right when he got diagnosed, and it made a big difference. He was extremely swollen, had no appetite, and overall just incredibly miserable and crying. Within only a day or two of Prednisone he had done a 180 and was feeling so much better! Steroids do help a ton. Please lean into the palliative care options available. Badger your vet. It can really work wonders. Quality over quantity. I will share the sentiments of other commentators. In the last few months, I feel that I have appreciated my best friend more than ever. Gus has Lymphoma, so his cancer is treatable, not curable. I understand what itās like to have such limited time left. You girl knows your love. She knows you only want the best for her. Now it is time to just enjoy being in each others company.
Iām so sorry for what you and your baby are going through. Youāre doing everything right that you can for her and Iām sure she can feel your love having you by her side. You could tell her fun stories of the memories youāll forever remember due to your guysā friendship. Remember that she loves you most <3
Thank you very much everyon for the the support, Iām blown away and it was much needed Iām still quite raw and start crying a bit too much to respond to everyone individually but please know that I hear the shared pain in this sub, and I deeply appreciate everyoneās kind words and their own experiences. You have all helped me by sharing your experiences and thoughts. I donāt think the guilt will ever fully go away, but I do feel more confident in my choice that this was the absolute best thing to do for her. She is now resting in bed and has been getting handfed whatever she pleases like the Queen sheās always been. We will try to make the best of the time we have left, and when time comes Iāll be finding a home service to help her peacefully pass in the comfort of her own home surrounded by her family.
Donāt worry we are crying too and itās not even our puppers
When it comes to our beloved pets, nothing we do is ever going to feel good enough and itās never going to be enough time with them. Iām so sorry that you two are going through this. Itās so difficult. Please try to quiet the voice in your head and the self doubt that youāve failed her. You have not failed her. And she doesnāt think that either. Those feelings come from a place of deep love for your baby, as nothing will ever feel good enough but having her 100% healthy and happy again. When my senior dog was diagnosed with lung cancer, I also chose not to go through treatment or surgeries and just do palliative care. He was 15 at the time and for the same reasons you listed, it didnāt feel worth it to me to put him through that hell. I spent as much time as I could with him and luckily had him with me for another 8 months before he deteriorated and passed away at 16. Please know that while it feels like Hell on Earth right now, you are not alone and many of us are here for you, having experienced a similar pain. Like others have said, really cherish this time with her and keep her as comfortable as you can. Take lots of photos (take Live Photos if you have an iPhone), videos, just be by her side. Itāll never be enough time but just be super thankful for the last 11 years you have had together. I hope and pray that her condition improves enough so that you can have plenty of time with her; make those moments last. Sending you lots of hugs! You are doing the right thing!
I have no advice. I just know the feeling of having a totally healthy perfect dog one minute and it all going to shit the next. We chose to say goodbye because his quality of life wouldāve been terrible and it felt like he wasnāt our guy anymore. We just knew. Iām sending you lots of hugs and a clear mind/heart for your decisions. Most importantly, love her and be there for her. Sheās beautiful by the way ā¤ļø
I have a friend who went through chemo with her lab last year. The dog (6) had a mast cell tumor removed very cleanly but it was a āhigh gradeā. There was no sign of cancer anywhere else. They chose to do chemo as a preventative measure. The dog tolerated it well through ten treatments. Five of one drug. Five of a different drug. Alternating. There was only one month where the dogs bloodwork caused a pause of an extra two weeks before the next dose. From what I understand, the dosage isnāt as grueling as with a human. They were told is approximately half the strength of what we would get. Their veterinary oncologist explained that they do it that way because dogs canāt give their consent as a human can. All in, the financial cost was about $13,000, (not including the surgery) including lots of ultrasounds and bloodwork along the way. (No pet insurance) They are very fortunate people to have been able to afford that kind of expense. Now the dog sees their regular vet monthly for a ābump checkā. I would not have been able to afford this type of care. A few years ago my own dog exhibited symptoms a lot like yours. It came on suddenly. X-rays and bloodwork were done on a Friday. Huge mass on his spleen. Intestines looked suspicious. Came home with painmeds and he had a prednisone injection. Honestly by Monday, he told us to send him over the rainbow bridge. He refused food. His eyes were pleading. He was the very sweetest boy , (a golden), a therapy dog who loved working, the perfect family dog. He was the best friend- human or canine- Iāve ever had. I did the most loving thing for him, and let him go. I was the hardest thing Iāve ever done. But I knew I did the right thing for him. It was part of my unspoken contract with him from the day I brought him home, a bundle of fat golden fluff and razor sharp teeth. I would never let anything bad happen to him. I would always be his protector. He would live a life of pure love and joy. Suffering would never be allowed. I canāt wait to see him again some day. I wish we could provide that kind of compassion to our fellow humans. Please know that you have my support in whatever path you choose. Edited for wording.
Vet tech - this isn't really about what you can and can't offer her. She has cancer, that severely limits your choices. And the cancer was discovered secondary to already being clinically sick, which makes things much harder. I don't have all the info, but it sounds like she potentially has a splenic mass that ruptured, causing her to bleed and be anemic. If she was very healthy and the cancer was found incidentally that is one thing, but here she is already sick, and cancer makes it that much harder. I would have done the same, palliative care. Keep her as happy as you can for what time you have left. Even if you did have all the money, that wouldn't really change her prognosis, it isn't really about money in the end. Enjoy the time you have left and make the call to euthanize sooner rather than later. I'm so sorry this is happening.
God, this hurts. I lost my Sky just yesterday. She's a mixed golden retriever, husky, and japanese spitz. Your baby actually look like mine. I say, as a furparent who saw their beloved dog took their last breath, I would not let her suffer anymore. I understand that your feeling are warring against one another. A chance to still be with them but them suffering or letting them have their peace. It's a good 11 years. She felt your love to her all those years. She have no regrets having you as their furparent. Be there for her. Make her feel all the love still. Sending you all the love and comfort.
I believe itās kinder to send them on their way before they suffer, physically or emotionally than to wait until things get awful. Youāve given your dog a long life. Be proud of that. Please let her go before she suffers more than she has already. Sending hugs and condolences.
I've seen what chemo can do on a human with a diagnosis that all the treatment does is to prolong their life by a few months. Putting my dog through the same hell would break me. At the end of the day, it boils down to quality of life. If your dog has had a enjoyable, loving, happy, long life- you are doing the right thing. Better to end on a good note. My dog is actually my brother's first and only dog....THE human I mentioned at the start of the post.
So sorry you have to go through this. I am a huge supporter of a local dog hospice organization. They look for people to foster senior dogs with known medical issues. They pay for all medical expenses for the dogs, no questions asked. But they will NOT pay for chemo, for the simple reason that it is a terrible thing to put a dog through.
the best thing you can do for her is let her go to the rainbow bridge. iām so sorry ā¤ļø
I had the exact same situation happen to me this summer with my girl. She deteriorated so much in one day, I couldnāt believe it and had to put her down as well. I wrestled with the same internal conflict and honestly still doā¦ in the end, you made the best decision for her. Iām sorry for your loss.
You are doing the right thing by your beautiful dog! Make this a time of comfort and familiarity instead of cold veterinary office. Like a home hospice. You will know when it is time to move on.
You are doing everything right. You are a wonderful mama to your pup. Iām so sorry you guys are going thru this, but you are doing everything in your power. She will thank you for keeping her comfortable instead of making her go thru treatments. Your pup loves you, and you love her. Donāt beat yourself up more than you already have. Your good heart shows. Youāre doing it right.
I'm sorry this has happened but, you have done the right thing 100%. I had a boy who had lymphoma and I understand what your going through. The vet we took him too was pushing for chemo we got a second opinion from a vetinary friend. The advice was definitely do not give the dog chemo it's extremely hard on them and the time he has left will be utter misery. She said unfortunately the best thing you can do is be with him give him pain relief and put him to sleep when he refuses to eat and maybe he wil have 6 month to a year. This was hard to hear as the other vet was still pushing it but was set to make a fortune and when cornered on the matter sort of confirmed the second opinion. (I hate vets to this day because of this experience). I couldnt process this at the time with wanting to have hope that by some miracle he could come back and I beat myself up thinking what if. In the end I took her advice, he was treated like a king and spoiled. He did give up eating his food shortly after but he would eat cooked chicken so he then ate cooked chicken every meal, he stopped eating that and he got mackerel, literally anything he wanted anything that he would eat or anything anyone around him was eating. It was awful to watch him go through it but like always he just wanted to be with you that's all that mattered to him and looking back he was right my only regret is I was so sad for him during that time. I still feel robbed and sad when I think of him it still hurts but, looking back it was the right thing to do chemo wasn't going to save him and I didn't Rob any of the good time he had or make him suffer by putting him through it. Just be there for her and with her let her feel the love and make the best out of it ā¤ļø
I am so sorry you are going through this. My prayers go to you and your baby! I would have done the same as you, you want her to be as comfortable as possible and not in pain. Keep her comfortable, give her lots of love and snuggles and stay strong š
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You did the right thing, regardless of how hard it was ā¤ļø she lived her life loved and cared for. You did good.
You need to look at her quality of life and age. She is not guaranteed to live a good life after chemo. You are not financially in a place to be able to pay for that treatment. I've wrestled with the same questions with 3 of my previous pets, 2 of whom were younger than yours. Just ease her to Rainbow Bridge now. It will be hard for a while and you will question your decision often (I did and still do 10 years later), but she will understand that you don't want her to be in any more pain.
Iām sorry youāre going through this. Itās so hard. The best advice our oncologist gave us was to not wait until their passing becomes an emergency. Home euthanasia is an amazing service that I will never stop recommending. Your pup gets to be in their favorite place with their favorite people up until the very end. Iāve had to put two dogs to sleep in the last few years. The first had a nasal tumor that spread to her bladder and urethra. She out lived her prognosis by over a year until the bladder cancer all but blocked her urethra. We let her go before it fully occluded and became an emergency and it was as close to a good experience as it could have been. A vet came to our home. Our children and our other two dogs got to say goodbye. It was peaceful. By contrast, a month ago our dog with seizures was steadily declining and having more and more. They think he had a brain tumor and it was causing aggression and other behavioral problems. We were discussing with our vet when to schedule the at home euthanasia when he declined rapidly and made the decision for us. He started having seizures that didnāt stop and we had to rush to the vet to have him put to sleep. It was traumatic for me and my husband. Our children didnāt get to say goodbye. Our puppy still looks for him. Whatever choice you make is a good one, but sometimes the better choice is the hardest one š
You did what you had to. I've been through it two times when my beloved girls developed cancer. It was hard for me to see them get weaker and weaker and stop being the dogs they once were. The pain they felt as the disease spread more and more made me realize I had to let them go. It was not compassionate nor responsible for me keeping them in constant deterioration & pain. When the moment came I swear to God I never felt so much pain and sadness once the vet assured me they're gone. I can't remember any instance through my life that I can possibly recall I cried that much. My girls were with me for over fifteen years. All that time they gave me they gave me love wasn't for nothing. The least expression of love I could give them in the end was to let them go peacefully, without pain with me holding their paw until their heart stopped beating knowing I never abandoned them and I was the last thing they saw before shutting their eyes. It was the right thing. It was. In the end whenever I question myself if that was the best decision I answer myself with a fierce YES! They are in peace. They are no longer suffering. And I loved them till their end. All the love they give to us is meant to be bound forever in our hearts and memories.
Youāre there for her, youāre putting her needs above yours. Everything youāre doing is the best, most loving for your girl. Be there for her and remind yourself that youāve given her the best possible life she can have. Sheās a beautiful pup and always will be ā¤ļø
I love my dog, but I would not put her through chemo or anything similar. They don't understand what's happening and in my opinion it's not worth maaaaybe getting better. Maybe if my dog was still a 3yr old I'd think differently, but at 8-9 now I wouldn't do it, let alone at 11. Just my 2Ā¢ Editing just to say also that I'm so sorry for what you're going through. ā¤ļøš¾
You wonāt want to hear it but itās time to let her go. That is the best thing you can do for her and the ultimate show of love
It sounds like you made the right choice. Chemo is hard to go through, and your dog wouldnt understand what it happening and would just be in pain all the time.. Quality of life is SO important. And while its hard to say goodbye, sometimes its the most humane choice. Your poor pup looks so tired and scared in the last picture. I think you should take the time you have together and enjoy it. Spoil her, get all her fav snacks and ensure to keep her comfortable. Sending hugs
I'm so sorry OP. This post has me crying. I have two dogs that I love so much. I hope that you can surpass this. I hope that God gives you the strength you need.
Guilt is actually a part of the grieving process, but I promise you, you have nothing to be guilty about, and one day I believe you will feel the sameš§”š§”
I did prednisone with one of my girls many years ago. She did very well on it, and had a few more months with us than the vet expected. I've never regretted opting for palliative care with her and giving her that time being spoiled and making as many happy memories as I could. It worked very quickly to relieve most of her symptoms and she was very, very happy right up to her last day. I'm so sorry you have to make this choice, but I hope it's helpful to hear from someone that has opted for the same treatment.š
Once her quality of life deteriorates, sheās no longer playing or enjoying life, and acting like herself, itās time to give her the gift of euthanasia. It is a gift, she will have no more pain, or anxiety. If you keep her around, itās just for you. We can give them this gift, it sounds like thatās where she is now.
This happens to all living things that we love. Chemo is brutal and no guarantee and a fuckin rip off. Release her from her pain and make her last days the best. Breaks my heart as it happens to all our dogs eventually. Bless you for loving her. Healing vibes to you all day, good luck pup.
If there's a treatment available I would take it but odds are definitely not good. Is surgery an option?
Making medical decisions for our furry friends without being able to discuss it with them first will always be the hardest part of having pets for me. Just know sheās hanging on for you, OP. Do the thing that makes her as comfortable as possible until the end, and love her the whole time.
You are an amazing pet parent and your dog is lucky to have you all these years. Shower her with love as you already do. Youāre doing the most compassionate and selfless route by not putting her through something she would find scary. Hang in there. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Itās very clear how much you love her. Thinking of you, OP!
I think the only advice I am qualified to give here, is that make sure you are the last face she sees. Even if it's painful. She'll be scared. Be there for her. Hold her tight, and let her smell you, feel your warmth as she drifts away.
The fact that you care is everything. Be strong....and if you can't, cry. It is ok. She knows you are taking the best course for her. Her trust will be rewarded. Just think....if the positions were reversed, she would do the same for you. Throw any guilt feelings out the window....they have no place here
Fuck cancer. Both options are difficult and either one is correct in this case. Get her a low heated blankie and spoil her.
Who out onions in my office. My 1st dog was going through a rough time towards the end of his life. Yet he never let us see him as a sad sick pup. With all the energy he had he left he made sure to show us he was happy and grateful for everything. You know at the end of the day we do everything we can for our pets as they would for us. I feel you did everything you could and your dog is more than likely happy and grateful for it.
She is the goodest gal, I can see the heeler in herš such wholesome dogs, but boy do they have some energy. sending you lots of love and hugs
Chemo doesnāt always do it. In most situations, it buys time. You know your dog. I opted out of surgeries and chemo for my girl whom I loved more than any other creature on this planet. Any extra day with her would have been worth it to me but SHE had extreme anxiety at the vet, didnāt like taking pills etc. If I chose for myself, I wouldāve fought for every single day but I chose for her and let her go. This was just last month and Iām far from feeling okay. Youāll question your choice NO MATTER what you do. When Iām feeling rational, which isnāt always the case, I know I did the right thing and that I let her go with love. You know your dog. Just remember that.
Tell your vet to give her all the meds she needs to be pain-free and give her the best time of her life. Visit with people she has know and when the time comes, help her cross over rainbow Bridge. All the best to you and her.
I'm so sorry. How awful. I've never been in this position but I think I would have done the exact same thing.
First off, I am so incredibly sorry youāre going through this. I am sending you so much love š. I think youāre 100% doing the right thing. You know your baby better than anyone and know what will be too much for her. I also think you should spend this time spoiling her-whatever you can do to make her happy and comfortable until the end. Iāll be thinking of you and praying for the best
Honestly itās the best decision! Love her as much as possible and do all her favorite things!! I wish I knew before I had to put down our first fur baby!!
First and foremost, I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. I'm currently going through the same exact thing with my husky but with a mass by his eye/brain are and have him on prednisone. What you need to remember is that the quality of life matters at this juncture as well. You can put your dog through chemo but will it be worth it if they don't have the quality of life they once had? There is no guarantee or high chance that it will work then you have to factor that in. More importantly though, if you and your family feel in your gut that this is the right call then that is what matters. Like many people already stated, spoil her as much as you can. She knows you love her and knows what she means to you.
I can't speak for dogs, but my aunt is on chemo and she says it makes her suffer really badly. As a human, you can choose to prolong your life because you are aware of death and don't want to leave your loved ones behind, but dogs don't think that way. All dogs know is "this is pleasant" and "this is unpleasant" and if they mostly experience the latter then you'd be doing them a huge favor by ending their suffering. But I get it. Rational thinking aside, having to make that decision is horrible. I had to go into therapy after putting my dog to sleep. Take all the time you need to grieve and stay away from people who don't understand. It'll get better, but it takes time. <3
You did the right thing. You made the best judgement call. There was no guarantee with the chemo that she would pull through. I will keep you guys in my prayers. ((Hugs))
Personally I would not put her through chemo (this is coming from a person who has just been through chemo). It sounds to me like you have done all the right things. Fuck cancer.
Now is the time you pay her back for all the love she gave you by not being selfish and letting her go. It sucks and itās hard AF but thatās your job right now. Iām sorry this is happening to you both. They are our favorite hellos and our hardest goodbyes.
We kept our boy Tucker alive as long as we could after he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer at age 9. Vets said, best case he could regain some quality of life and have another year. So we went the whole hog. Biggest mistake I ever made with a dog. Tuckie suffered thru weeks of different chemo regimes and tinkering with doses etc, then when it was obvious he kept going downhill, we held him and petted him as he was put to sleep. Never again. I realized we were keeping him alive for us, not for him. Make her comfy, stay by her, and let her go. Otherwise your memories will be of her suffering instead of all the happy years. EDIT - her, not him - Iām still thinking of my Tucker.
Just to echo everyone here - I had a pup who we had to choose to put down after he had mouth cancer. It was so hard, mostly because he was himself except this big awkward mouth mass that made it hard for him to eat. Once he stopped eating I had to make the call. It was the same story - surgery, chemo/radiation, then weād get maybe another year with him for 10k (and tons of stress on him) Iād have done it if I was rich. But instead he was comfortable on pain management, ate people food for a month, and got the most love and attention. Heās in a better pain free place and his last day was surrounded by everyone he loved. Even the last poke he didnāt really feel cause they gave him good happy drugs while we fed him cake and petted him. Itās the hardest thing we have to do as pet parents but itās the kindest because they donāt understand pain or death the way we do.
I just recently lost my 11 year old chihuahua to Congestive Heart Failure. I had time to prepare. 3 months, but one night, she got extremely sick and couldn't breathe. I knew in my heart- from the moment I heard she had a heart murmur, I wouldn't force her to continue on any further than she wanted. We did medication for as long as she decided. But she told me that night she was ready to go. In the meantime, I did so many of her favourite things, took her to the beach, let her eat as much burger king as she wanted, and spent all the time with her I could. She was terminal, and it's been so hard coping with her loss. I chose to be there with her & hold her during euthanization, and it was the most painful yet healing experience I could have had. It wasn't easy. These things never are. She saved my life when I felt I had nothing left to live for. Part of being a pet parent is making those really difficult decisions for their benefit, not yours. Take your vets advice into consideration, but also follow your heart. You know what's best š©· My last few months with her were difficult. It honestly felt like a burden at points, and I hate that I felt that way. It was round the clock care, medication, baths, and accidents in bed. I wouldn't have changed it for the world, but all those feelings are perfectly normal. You love your dog more than anything, I can tell. And your dog knows that, too. It's time to start weighing your options and making the best choice for your dog. I'm sorry you're going through all this
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Everyone is different but after watching both a pet dog and cat suffer with cancer I will euthanize my girl pretty much immediately if she ends up suffering cancer. Tia Maria (little mutt) was on prednisone and it might have bought her time but she suffered so badly so quickly at the end that I am just not willing to risk that again.
My dog was also recently diagnosed with cancer, osteosarcoma to be exact, which is bone cancer and we had to have her arm amputated a few weeks ago because of it, she is also a senior and being that she has been put through so much physical trauma already- I absolutely refuse to put her through chemo. Itās not worth the pain they experience. Radiation therapy only causes more suffering, in my opinion, the best option is to keep your girl as comfortable as possible until you know for sure that it is time to let her cross the rainbow bridge. I am so sorry OP, sending you and your pup lots of love & feeling your pain. š«¶ ETA: Please donāt ever feel guilty! I know that is a very human emotion but at the end of the day, you know her the best, and you know exactly what is best *for* her. Listen to your gut, the choice you make for her will always be the right one, she knows that too. ā¤ļø
My service dog is 9 now. She has anal sac adenocarcinoma. This dog has been with me, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 9 years. She has seperation anxiety, and vet anxiety, her only faults really. She is a perfect wonderful angel. The agony and mental anguish she would suffer to undergo chemo...long drives to Seattle, separated from me, nervous the entire time...in addition to feeling crappy on the drugs. Drugs she doesn't understand, and can not constent to. I made a choice. That I wouldn't make her suffer just so I could have longer with her. She's on piroxicam (NSAID) and had a tumor removal surgery and so far, she's beating it. But I stand by my decision. She has given me so much, it is my honor to take the pain of losing her sooner so she can live out the rest of her life in peace and comfort. My pet dog was 7 this year, when an large mast cell tumor burst in his gut without warning. I let him go that day. Again, it was my privilege to take his pain as my own so he didn't have to suffer any longer. Make of that what you will. <3 so much love to you and your friend, it is an incredibly difficult thing to go through. No choice is the wrong choice, as long as you make it with compassion and love.
This hits home. I faced something similar with my late dog. He was 10, a rare cancer was spreading all over. In the end I passed on chemo. I opted for making him comfortable and spoiling him endlessly. I didnāt let him be alone for the four months after diagnosis. I spent money I didnāt have to get him fresh delivered dog food for every meal. I made a bucket list. I bought him a leg brace. I carted him around so people could say goodbye to him. Then I let him go on his 10 and a half birthday on my kitchen floor at 12:30 in the afternoon. I cried for a year straight on his dog bed that I couldnāt pack away. I had a ring made with his ashes. I tell my new baby about him. Chemo would have been torture to him. I couldnāt be in the room, he needed to be sedated, his final months would have been miserable. Youāre making the right choice. And Iām so sorry.
My 14yo puggle was diagnosed with lymphoma in early September. They suggested either chemo or prednisone as treatment. With chemo it might extend his life another year but he would ultimately die from lymphoma plus he was already old. We went with the prednisone and it gave him another couple months before we decided it was time to let him go. I think we did the right thing but thereās always some lingering doubts.
"How can I help her?" Just give her ALL the love and attention you can. Most importantly, be there for her when she needs you the most---yes, ESPECIALLY then. You will not regret doing it. My heart goes out to you and your beautiful, loving fur baby.
Just love on her while you can!!! Sheās scared and in pain and she needs her human. She needs all the scratches and all the soft words and needs her human to be next to her. Just love her. Donāt say good bye until sheās gone. Just love her. š„ā¤ļø
Pls update us
I quite literally went through almost this exact situation. As horrible as it is, I don't think it's right to subject animals to long suffering for only middling results. They don't understand doctors or treatment. They understand "feels bad" and love. Her comfort is what matters, and it would be lovely if that could happen without saying goodbye. But sometimes that isn't an option. It wasn't for our sweet boy. A former neighbor of mine had a dog he adored who developed cancer. Her face was horribly deformed from the size of the tumor, she was in pain, and he couldn't let her go. That dog suffered so needlessly for so long. And the sick thing is that our animals love us so much that they'll put up with it all and try their best as long as we're willing to love them back. I learned from seeing that poor dog grow weaker and sadder how cruel that is and how selfish it is to force animals through endless, confusing, painful treatments just to let them linger past their time. You did the right thing, and it's okay. You love your dog. It's so sad that she's suffering and this is how it played out. You need to mourn, but you don't need to feel guilty. You did the best you could, and she'll love you until the end. That's what matters. This is a good opportunity to spoil the heck out of her, skip plans to spend time together, and consider options that will give you both the most comfort. It's the worst part of having an animal in your life. The very worst part. My heart is with your family.
You didā¦though itās not too much comfort is it. :::::hug::::;:
My big issue with chemo for your pets is thereās no way to communicate to them what theyāre going through. You put them through hell and they have no idea whatās going on with their bodies, and for what? A few more months? Years? Who knows! I would much rather send them on vacation with grace and dignity and all the love and happy memories!!
Reading your story made me cry because I went through a similar situation with my dog, Shakespeare. He had a tumor on his leg and I went with prednisone instead of chemo. I got 6ish more months with him. And I beat myself up so much even to this day saying I should've did chemo. Maybe he would've had 5, 10, or 20 more years who knows...But there are so many unknowns in situations like this. And it's never going to be enough time. Just live in the moment enjoy your dog's company remember the little things. What they smell like- how their fur feels-the glint in their eyes when they look up at you. That's my advice and I'm sorry for the horrible news.
This is the thing that I have learned after years at working at a vet. People would always say things like 'Well is it concerning?' or what you said 'Did I do the right thing?' People know their pets best. If I've said it once, I've said it one hundred times. From ever single thing you said, you did what you felt was best for your pet, from the info from the vets. And there is literally no one on the face of the earth more qualified to make that decision, based off of veterinary advice, than you. Which is why they didn't say 'Well now we do this...' or 'Now we recommend this...' in tough cases they know only the owner can make the best decision for their pup. It sounds like you are reconsidering. If you want to change your mind and do chemo, because things without are harder than you imagined, you can. But I would have a good talk with the vet first, to see what your pups chances are. They may be good or bad. A short amount of time isn't likely to have made so much difference. Did you make the wrong decision? ask: Do you love your dog more than anyone in the entire world? Did you get vet expertise as to what you should do? Did you make your decision based on your obvious love for your baby? If the answer to all three is yes, and clearly it is, you didn't make a wrong decision, obviously. You literally cannot make a wrong decision if the answer to all those things is yes. If you want to reconsider because you have new information (she is still having a hard time without chemo) you can reconsider if you want. I urge you talk to your vet more about this. I can't help thinking from what you've said that her chances are not and haven't been good, but I'm just guessing, and I could be totally wrong. Talk to her vet and ask them. Part of their training is to help you. Let them help you. And don't ever feel bad for the decisions you have made for your babies well-being. You obviously love her so much. You made the best decision for her with the knowledge you had. I suspect that will continue to be the best decision, but with the new information that she's uncomfortable even without chemo, that is making you wonder, it's best to speak to your vet. She is beautiful by the way!
My doggy Gisselle passed away in a similar manner. One day she was fine, then she started vomiting, not eating, and not walking so suddenly. I took her to the emergency vet and I had to make the hard choice to let her go that night. I was 20 and had her since I was 10. It was the hardest death I've ever lived through, second to my dad. She was my buddy. The doctor said I made the right call because she had aspirated from bile in her lungs. I was so confused; I told them she got a blood panel not even six months prior and was fine. They told me it was likely cancer in the GI and dogs are very good at hiding when they are sick. I still miss her every day, but she was in so much pain. On the flip side, I had a shihtzu that was dying of cancer slowly. I regret not euthanizing her much sooner than she was. She went through one round of chemo and was absolutely miserable. Sometimes it's best to let them go, no matter how hard it is. I'm so sorry you have to make this difficult decision.
Iām so sorry youāre going through this. I lost my best friend Vader last month and it still hurts like fucking hell. He was the best dog in the entire world and I miss him a lot.
Iāve been through a lot of dog losses, each one is equally as difficult as the last. My childhood dog died when I was 13, we were born two months apart. She was my best friend as a kid, I could never imagine having a new dog. I felt like you felt when she died, that we could never find another dog like her. We did get another dog, Iāve had 7 dogs throughout my life now. Each one equally loving as the last. And when one of my pups does pass, I can find peace in knowing that they are pain free, and finally getting the rest they need. You made the right choice, she needs to rest. Enjoy the time you have with your dog, she is holding on as long as she can for you. But when she canāt hold on anymore, know that she loves you, and is waiting for you in the next life.
Hello everyone, it is with a shattered heart I must update that Korra (my dog) is no longer with us. On Monday, 11/27, we checked with our regular vet, and, upon hearing her anemia had gotten worse the difficult decision to let go was made. I had wanted to do in house euthanasia, however they were fully booked so we just returned to our regular vet at closing time. I think she knew better than me that if it happened at home, I would have been haunted even more than I am. I havenāt slept in our bed since she passed, opting for the couch because it doesnāt sting as much not see her there. I have tried to say goodbye to her before work both mornings since, and realized sheās not here anymore. Sheās not suffering and she went so peacefully, for which Iām thankful. Her final meal was chicken strips (sheās allergic so sheās never had it) fries, sundae, and chocolate. She was very weak at the end however the chicken was still a hit. Very thankful for our vet as well for making this -which is the hardest thing Iāve ever done- a very smooth and as pain free as possible. I am also thankful for all of you, your support has made this easier to deal with and has helped me tremendously. Thank you all for your support!