Our dog has cancer

I am so sorry to hear that your dog has cancer.  Having to make the decision as to when to have them put down is so difficult.  They are members of our family, too.

Im so sorry about your dogs cajun and donna, I know how hard it is to have to put an animal down when it has cancer, we had to put our beloved cocker spaniel down a little over a year ago. He had cancer of the mouth and there was no stopping it. He was my sons dog but we all loved him. It has to be one of the hardest things to go through, saying goodbye to someone who has always given you unconditional love. I just couldn't deal with seeing him in pain anymore though. Praying for you to find the strength inside yourself to know when it is best for them.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley

I feel so strongly about this so I'm sorry if I come across the wrong way but I feel it is something we can do for our animals OUT OF LOVE, to keep them from suffering for too long. I have had dogs for over 30 years and most of them have died from cancer. I have put all of them down and it never gets easier but every time, I have reminded myself that quality of life is what is important here, to put my feelings aside and think of what is best for the dog. You might ask but I don't know when? And I will tell you what I've been told, over and over "YOU WILL KNOW"...think of 2 or 3 things that your dog really loves...might be eating, taking a walk, being massaged, and when those things no longer are enjoyable, then it is time. Don't allow him to suffer. Euthanasia is an act of love and does NOT hurt the animal. I've been with every single one of my animals, cats and dogs each time, holding them close to me and I can tell you there is no pain involved.
I am really sorry you are going through this.
I am currently fostering a Golden, who is 3 years old, with lymphoma. He also has a congenital heart defect and seizures, so chemotherapy is not an option for him. He is on high doses of Pred and currently his lymph nodes are in remission. He's been with us for three weeks and doing pretty good. Oncologist thinks he has about 2 to 3 months. With chemo, they can survive for 3 years. I had a Golden with lymphoma about 7 years ago that lived 15 months with chemo and had superior quality of life during that time.
Again, my prayers are with you. I'm not saying it is easy...it broke my heart each and every time. What you need to keep reminding yourself of is QUALITY OF LIFE...for all the love they give to us, unconditional love, it is the most selfless thing we can do for them.
I wish you well
Miriam

I am so very sorry about your dog.  It is never easy.  I had a wonderful medium sized mix named Blue and she was my very first dog of my own.  # years ago I took her to the vet for a chest x-ray and her lungs were full of cancer and I put her down on the table.  She was not comfortable by then and it was best for her but heII for me.  It does not get any easier.  I really feel your pain. 

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. It is such a difficult decision to make. Three years ago we had to put our dog Molly to sleep. We came home from work and she was thrashing on the floor, trying to get up. Her entire left side was paralyzed and she was making sounds like she was in pain. She had been perfectly fine that morning. We took her to the animal hospital and the vet said she had a massive stroke. He said she seemed like she was in pain. We put her to sleep that night. It all happened so quickly. She was only 8 years old and had always been in good health, but we could not let her suffer. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Take care!

I'm so sorry, it is heartbreaking to watch our fur babies suffer. My Scooter had
cancer and had to be put down. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Cajungirl.

Hugs,Robin

I'm so sorry that you are facing this decision with your dog.  I'm in the same boat with my dog of 10 years, except mine is suffering from hip dysplasia.  Until the last month he was still acting like a pup though he had trouble moving around.  Lately, we can see the frustration in his face.  We took him to the vet just this week to see if anything more could be done and were told no, to bring him home, spoil him and say our goodbyes.....

 

He's been my companion, comforting me, making me laugh and my protector.  One of the best dogs I've ever had.  What makes it more difficult is we all have a special emotional bond with him as he was my son's dog before he passed away.  Now he will soon be in reunited with him first master.....

 

It's such a difficult decision to face.  My thoughts are with you

Just_Grace, My 8.5 year old shepherd does not have any hip sockets whatsoever.  I had her x-rayed at 5 months and it was like that then.  I do not let her do steps or jump, she does not go for car rides either but she does have 15 acres to run.  She runs the fenceline with the horses.  She does what she can but it hurts my heart to see her gimp sometimes. 

I share my tramadol with her, too expansive to get from the vet.

I am dreading the day when her body gives out.  Usually the heart is still there

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I still miss my schnauzer that died in 2005. A critter got to her and hubby and I both blubbered like babies when we were burying her. It was like losing a family member. She was the first dog I had ever owned all on my own.

I believe there are leg braces for dogs who cannot walk. Someone on facebook was talking about them the other day. They found the brace by doing a Google search.

I too am sorry for your pain. Pets are such a huge part of our lives it always seems to take a piece of our hearts when they have to leave us. It is a sad part of life but just remember what an honor it has been to be a part of your dog's life. Please take care, Lisa

Post Edited (geckogirl) : 9/2/2010 9:01:03 AM (GMT-6)

I am going to come across as hard, but I grew up on a cattle property where we saw life and death of animals we loved all the time.
My children to this day will tell you it is kinder to put a pet down as to let them suffer just to spend more time with them. We had a wonderful little mini foxie. He was only 5 when he was bitten by something. We had no choice but to put him down. No matter what dog we have it will never replace him. We will always remember him and his photos take pride of place,but our kids know we had no choice but to relieve his suffering.
When my husband buried him it was with his favorite toy and a blanket to keep him warm.
We have had other pets which we have put down for their sakes. S0me times we only keep pets alive for our sakes as we wish to keep them alive for us. My mother is a exampe of this she had a wondweful little dog which she refused to have put to sleep. He was blind, had cancer all through his body and was not in a good place. He was not the little dog we all loved, finally she was forced to have him put to sleep, she will not forgive her self for letting him suffer now, but at the time she just wanted him with her.
Some times we forget the being cruel to be kind, part of being a pet owner
Kathy

kathydownunder-

Thanks for that but I will not put him down until it is time. As long as he is still happy, wagging his tail, standing up in my husbands truck to look out of the window, eating and going use the bathroom, I am not taking that away from him just yet. As the vet said, we his is uninterested in these things, then it is time.

Karen- I LOVE that pic. I will have to send you one of my daughters huskey. He is gorgeous now. I think I was supposed to send it but forgot. I will get a pic to show you.