My darling girl is dying and in palliative care and it’s so hard :’(

[headache]

We found out in September that DDog who is 10 and a large breed has a lump in the bond of her nose which was probably benign from the biopsy.

Its inoperable and the vet suggested we could try radiotherapy but with no guarantees, DDog is very nervous and hates a trip to the vets as it is and wouldn’t cope with weekly trips to a vet school. We decided at her age to take her home and spoil her rotten.

So here we are, 5 months later she’s on metacalm, gabapentin and paracetamol for the pain, she’s still eating (like mad) and apart from a touch of arthritis she seems her normal self. The lump has gotten bigger and she snores a lot. She’s started licking her paws a bit now and again which could be a sign of pain, I’ve kept up to date with vet visits and they have said she’s doing ok just now.

It’s just so bloody hard I don’t know how sore she is, I said I would know when she had had enough that it would be when she stopped being interested in eating as she is very very greedy. I just don’t want her to suffer. It’s breaking my heart everyday.

Still going for and enjoying walks? I think that’s a good barometer.

Only when it’s sunny and she’s off leash. She’s always been a fair weather girl though she even hates peeing in the rain. She still goes mad if she thinks there’s a squirrel or a strange cat in her garden.

My old boy had a tumour in his mouth, it wasn't cancerous but kept growing, at 14 I absolutely didn't want to put him through the trauma of having it removed. He had a couple of bad nights and I just knew it was time, you'll know too.

I found the dog quality of life tools so useful. It helped me to workout when my lovely old girl had hit that tipping point and it was time. Most good vet hospitals have a copy of the online as do the specialist vets who offer hospice and end of life care at home.
Dogs live in the moment and yes you will know when they have had enough. Just been through that and it’s true.

Well DDog is still with us 😢 thought it was time 2 weeks ago but the vet said she didn’t think it was so we added in another 2 painkillers.

it’s heartbreaking, just looking at her beautiful face with big soulful eyes then this big lump. She’s still interested in life though, guarding the house and eating everything in sight. Food is still life!