Older dog and cancer

[userxx]

Our 14 year old dog has a tumour, I'm pretty certain it's cancerous as is the vet. He has suggested a biopsy so we know for sure, I'm just so torn, I don't want our boy to suffer any more than he has to. Anyone been through the same who could offer words of wisdom ?

Just recently we lost our 17 year old dog, who had liver cancer.

He took a while to be diagnosed and needed to be kept for an overnight stay as he’d become dehydrated. Once we knew what the issues were, we were able to sort out pain killers for him and get a few more weeks; as long as he was eating and drinking we felt (with the guidance of the vet) that he was ok to be with us. He spent a few weeks sniffing around the garden, and most evening just cuddle up on the sofa in his blanket.

As soon as he stopped eating, we knew it was time to let him go. The extra few weeks were just enough for lots of being spoiled, trips to the beach and for the other dog to realise her mates time was coming to an end.

Our vet was brilliant but my lovely boy really did let us know he was ready to go when he was. I hope your vet is as kind and helpful as mine was. It’s a really difficult time, and knowing what to do is difficult.

Similar, same age. He suddenly became very ill and was admitted to the vet for tests. Turned out to be a large tumour that they said would be impossible to remove by surgery because it was attached to a lot of his organs. The options were pts or take him home with meds that might give him a short while longer.

We had decided in advance that if it was something fixable with surgery we’d do it, but we didn’t want to put him through chemo or multiple operations. He had other health problems and we didn’t want him to go through a worse quality of life to keep him going a few more weeks.

It was devastating but I’m certain we did the right thing. He was pts eating treats and having cuddles.

I hope it ends better for you, but for us, having a family discussion in advance what we’d do if the news was bad did help a lot. Good luck.

Thanks for both of your experiences. It's so bloody hard knowing what to do, it's heartbreaking.

I think deep down I know the answer, the vet wouldn't be able to operate if it's a malignant melanoma, so he'd go through the stress of anaesthetic and probably pain from where the biopsy is taken for absolutely nothing.

My old girl had to be put to sleep a couple months back. She would have been 15 next month. She developed a tumour on her face (under her lip, we noticed it when it was about the size of a blueberry but at the end it grew to about the size of a large grape) we took her to the vets when we first noticed it around 4/5 months before I'd say. The vet offered more tests which were super expensive but she did say I can do the tests to give you the fact that it's cancer but in my years of experience I can tell you just by looking at it that it's extremely likely it is cancer. She also offered operating but kindly said it would be very traumatic for her at her age. Very nice vet and clearly not just after the money. She prescribed medication, including painkillers and told us to enjoy the time we had with her as when it's time to say goodbye we will know because she will suddenly go down rapidly, off her food and weak etc.
It was around 4 m-5 months after this exactly started to happen, DM called to book in at vets for the following day but on that same day she jumped off settee, went off her legs then started walking with a stagger and kept tipping her head to one side. Vet got her in pretty much within a couple of hours and she was put to sleep 😥 she said it may have spread to her brain or ear or potentially a stroke.

The only advice I will give is what we were told by the vet. Take the pain killers/medication and enjoy the time you have left with him because when it's time, you will know.
So sorry for you ❤️❤️

@ijustcouldntthinkofausername Thank you, as awful as it is that others have been through it, it's quite comforting in a strange way, it helps. Started him on gabapentin tonight and he's sleepy, hopefully pain free.

@ijustcouldntthinkofausername you will do the right thing by him, and even in the times you doubt yourself eventually it will bring you some comfort.

I’d ask what the treatment options are with and without the biopsy and decide from there. If the only options after biopsy would be too invasive then I wouldn’t have it done, but, I’d want to ask the question in case there was a better palliative option if they diagnose it than if they didn’t.

Sorry! @ijustcouldntthinkofausername meant to tag in @userxx.

One of mine was diagnosed with a small tumour on his spleen. He went in to have it removed, Several years ago one of mine had the same thing, had her spleen removed & made a full recovery so was expecting the same.
However the phone rang at 10am, it was the vet. She said she had him on the operating table, opened up & had found that it had spread to his liver, in fact “ all through him”. I was devastated, completely unexpected.
She then asked if she should put him to sleep there & then or stitch him back up to come home & enjoy “ the few weeks” he had left.
I said the latter, couldn’t face losing him so suddenly like that.
He came home on painkillers & surprisingly next day was his usual happy self. Took him back for the stitches out & the vet was amazed how well he’d come round. He stayed on painkillers, nothing very strong, & went back to see the vet every month for a check up. Her words were..” he doesn’t know he’s ill” he just seemed his usual happy, bouncy self…….for two years!!! Then one weekend he suddenly went into a fit as he was eating his dinner. I got him round & he seemed ok but deteriorated rapidly over the course of that day, a Sunday. So next day I took him for the final time.
you’ll know, really you will, when the time comes but you could have some happy times till that day comes. Wishing you every hope that will be more than you dread.

@Darklane Wow! That's impressive, he'd clearly decided he wasn't going anywhere! I hope I have your luck, I really do.

Depends on the type of cancer? Our dog was young - 7yo. He started limping on his back leg, we thought it was early arthritis due to him being a lab. A couple of days later he wouldn’t put weight on it. Vet scanned him, said it was aggressive cancer, said he was too bouncy and big to have 3 legs without lots of difficulty.

Told us to kill him basically. I said FRO, he was having his leg off and having a chance. 24 hrs after his op he was walking, 3 days running. The chemo was tough on him but he’s had all his doses now. Cost us £5k to keep him alive (that’s with insurance). Don’t regret it. He’s still happy. Doubt he’ll be here next Christmas but he’s getting spoiled on this one, and I will cross the decision point when I come to it.