Chemo no longer working

[NoMoreXmasTree]

DDog has been having chemo for the last year and has absolutely thrived on it but it appears that it is no longer working and we are now at palliative care stage. She is still well in herself and loving life, loving her food, loving her walks but the tumours are growing and we are out of treatment options.

I know it's an impossible to answer question but I would be interested to hear other's experience of this stage as we start the journey to the end. How long was it from end of treatment to the bitter end? How do you know when is it the time to make the call.

Completely broken here and can't bear thought of what is to come and am trying to prepare myself and the family as best I can so we can make the right decision at the right time.

No experience but I didn't want you to go unanswered. I can understand your heartbreak. Your love for her shines through in your post

Sorry to read this op. Having recently lost my boy all I can say is have as many cuddles as you can x

I think you do know when it's the right time. I found using a quality of life score helpful (vet recommended it) look up HHHHHMM
Sorry you're facing this - this is the hard part of dog ownership.

I had not heard of this before but just looked it up. Really helpful. Thank you so much. xx

Was also going to recommend looking at the quality of life score.

I'm so sorry. It is so hard, we have recently been through it with our boy. Glad to hear your girl is still doing ok, and long may it continue.

Remember that dogs are generally quite good at hiding their pain. Hopefully you have many happy weeks/months ahead before you make the decision, but it's better a day too soon than an hour too late. If you start to really wonder whether it's time, it probably is. And remember, making that decision will be your final act of love and kindness for your precious girl.

We put our boy to sleep a few weeks ago, just before Christmas. It is a truly horrible time, but as the days become weeks, you start to accept the decision and make peace with it, and remember them with a smile, instead of tears.

We are going through the same thing with our old girl, she has a tumour on her face. It’s slow growing. She’s eating, drinking, going for walks and doesn’t appear t ok be in pain although she is on painkillers. For us it will be when she stops getting up every time the fridge door opens or the front door opens, when she stops being interested in life. I’m broken hearted too but we’ve decided to spoil her rotten for however long we have her for

@Work2live I'm sorry you recently lost your boy, thank you for the advice and kind words.

@notgood I'm so sorry to hear you are going through this, we have a similar thing in whether she still leaps up as soon as you start peeling a carrot or open the dishwasher. I feel so responsible for her even though she is DH's dog, really. It's me that has walked her and fed her the most and we have such a strong bond. 😢