Am I being selfish? - Operation on old dog

[MothershipG]

Yesterday I found out that my 14 year old Affenpinscher has a mass, probably cancerous, on his spleen.

He is booked in next week to have his spleen removed.
The vet said it is not an especially complicated, but quite a major, surgery.
If we don't go ahead we will have to let him go as it is affecting him and it could rupture.

Am I being selfish to put an old dog thorough major surgery so I get to possibly have another couple of years of inevitably declining health with him?

I only want to do what is best for my dog but it's so hard to even contemplate letting him go.

@MothershipG , that’s totally different to mine then . Mine presented with disorientation and foot knuckling , the node on his spleen was picked up on a scan that was mainly aimed at looking at his adrenal glands . Our vet said it’s the right size / shape to be a malignant one but our dogs main issue is a high BP and due to other factors I know that his BP has been high for at least 3 yrs so I’m reluctant to have him operated on as for all we know the node has been there for years . Due to his age and the fact that he doesn’t heal well historically I won’t be putting mine through any surgery added to which his BP is still a bit dodgy and we’ve had to increase his meds this week . Best wishes whatever you decide 💐

No I wouldn't as I have seen how my much younger dog mentally suffers after major surgery and through recovery.

However I realise that a lot of owners would choose differently.

I wouldn't do it if I were in your shoes. I'm so sorry, it's impossibly hard.

I had a very active 12 years old border collie. Went for our usual run. She stopped dead keeled over in to her side. Eyes,glazed and open, thought she was dead. After a few minutes, she got up,walked back to the car, never done this before. Took her straight to the vet,scan showed splenic tumour, which had ruptured. Secondaries on the liver. I had her PTS.

Oh bless him I wouldn't put him through an operation like that.

Oh bless you OP, its so hard. I'll be brutally honest: no, I wouldn't put a 14 year old dog through major surgery, particularly if its likely cancerous. To be honest if I was 85 I'm not sure I'd want it myself.