My dog has cancer

darkman2

Hi,

I have a small Prince Charles Caviler, 12 Years old. In recent weeks my dog been in bad shape. I noticed two lumps - one on the head and another on the stomach. Quite big. I bought her to the vet because I notice she was breathing very fast and she sleeps all the time. The vet said she has cancer and gave her injection and pills. Whilst he suggested as an option putting her down he also said give it two weeks with the pills. However I sense she is in pain and has a highly irregular breathing pattern. It's almost as if she herself realises something is going to happen.

Im of the opinion I should put her to sleep now but my siblings suggest waiting it out for two weeks.

I am also wary that with this particular breed they are mostly put down anyway because they go blind or have other difficulties.

So that is the choice. I believe she is in pain and is consigned to the inevitable pretty shortly. My sister thinks we should wait.

I know it seems vague but what is your honest opinion on the best course here?

Wolflikeme

darkman2 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a small Prince Charles Caviler, 12 Years old. In recent weeks my dog been in bad shape. I noticed two lumps - one on the head and another on the stomach. Quite big. I bought her to the vet because I notice she was breathing very fast and she sleeps all the time. The vet said she has cancer and gave her injection and pills. Whilst he suggested as an option putting her down he also said give it two weeks with the pills. However I sense she is in pain and has a highly irregular breathing pattern. It's almost as if she herself realises something is going to happen.

Im of the opinion I should put her to sleep now but my siblings suggest waiting it out for two weeks.

I am also wary that with this particular breed they are mostly put down anyway because they go blind or have other difficulties.

So that is the choice. I believe she is in pain and is consigned to the inevitable pretty shortly. My sister thinks we should wait.

I know it seems vague but what is your honest opinion on the best course here?

Hi Darkman,

Firstly, I'm very sorry to hear about your dog. I had a King Charles up until a couple of years ago (12 also) and he started to develop heart and stomach problems, not to mention arthritis.

The vet said we could send him to a heart specialist and he might survive for 6 months...but......I mean, really, there was no point putting him through that so we made the difficult decision.

Honestly, 12 is good for a King Charles. Having said that, what are the expectations after the 2 weeks? If it's going to result in more visits, pills etc AND the dog is still in pain then honestly, I'd put her out of her misery.

That's my honest take on it.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

luvdogs

Been where you are, if you feel shes in pain ...she is! let her go now, if you wait and see her suffering you`ll wish you`d done it sooner.....do the right thing for her, not you, and let her go!
i think you know its time anyway.
shes a great age, stay with her when she goes.......feel for you xx

darkman2

Hi guys,

It's going to be very difficult for me and my sister and small brother. We grew up with her and she really is a wonderfully playful and beautiful dog. I think I have decided what to do as indicated in the OP. This is our first dog so I do need other opinions and I appreciate the feedback very much. It's sad really but you both seem to be of the opinion I am.


I have Thursday as the day to put her to sleep so we can say goodbye. But I still hope she will react sooner to the pills (however remote that is) and we don't have to do it. Sadly im just not comfortable near her now in her current condition. But we do hope all the same.

I particularly appreciate comments from those who have had the same breed. It really is an awful decision and I think I will know how it feels very soon to have to make a decision to put the dog to sleep.

The vet was positive about the pills. That, if anything, makes it not worse but harder to make a decision.


I also want to ask - will the vet allow us to be there if she is put to sleep? And will she feel pain at that stage?

Thanks for your comments and support. Very much appreciated.

Sundew

darkman2 wrote: »

Hi guys,



I also want to ask - will the vet allow us to be there if she is put to sleep? And will she feel pain at that stage?

We used to have a wonderful westhighland terrier.A few yeas ago she got breast cancer. At the time of the diagnosis the vet gave her anything up to 6 mths and said I would know when it was the right time to bring her in.
Well she had some good quality of life for some time after, but she collapsed out for a short walk one evening (she insisted on following my Dad through the field). We had to carry her home and we just knew it was time. If her breathing is getting laboured then I would have no hesitation in ringing the vet.

You can ask to be with her (actually I think my vet asked me did I want to stay with her!). I made sure to be with my dog. I did not want her to be on her own. The vet was wonderful. He gave her the injection and she passed away in my arms. I then wrapped her in her blacket and we brought her home to bury her in the garden.
It was very emotional and just make sure it's the right thing for you.....however I have to say I have never had any regrets being with her when she passed away.

mymo

I had a dog all through my childhood and at 16(both of us were 16) had to make the decision to have him put to sleep. It was so hard, but he was in pain and too sick to have any quality of life, I knew the day he ignored a ball in front of him and wouldn't even get up. He had never in his life let a ball pass him, even if he was slow to catch up with it in the last few months. I felt awful suggesting it, but we all knew it was time.
We took him to the vet, but most vets will come to the house if you ask, and they give an injection of anesthetic. Its basically an overdose, so first the pain goes then they slip off to sleep and the heart stops. Just takes a couple of minutes, and you can talk to her and pet her during this.
Its a hard thing to do, but you will know she's at peace, and just remember the great years she gave you.
My thoughts are with you.x

Cherry Blossom

darkman2 wrote: »

Hi guys,
I also want to ask - will the vet allow us to be there if she is put to sleep? And will she feel pain at that stage?

The one thing I will say is don't leave it too long, if she isn't able to manage a short walk or is becomming incontinent then it's time to let her go, likewise if she seems to be in pain for more time than she isn't. The vet will give her a sedative to put her to sleep first then give her the injection to stop her heart through a vein. I believe with cancer it can sometimes be difficult to find a vein especially with smaller dogs so this is another reason not to leave it too long.

darkman2

My dog was put to sleep this morning. Absolutely devastated and disturbed with the way I found her this morning. She had multiple (i assume) spasms in her front right leg. So bad I feared she would literally break her own leg. It was very disturbing thing to restrain her. Just had to get her to the vet ASAP. An awful state. Very sad really. Was a terrifc pet and I will miss her badly for some time I think. House feels so much emptier. A bad feeling.

Thanks for your contributions. Im certain she could no longer go on. I cooked her sausages as I do every morning which she loved. I still have them this morning and it was at that stage it really sunk in and strangely not in the vet.

tazwaz

darkman2 wrote: »

My dog was put to sleep this morning. Absolutely devastated and disturbed with the way I found her this morning. She had multiple (i assume) spasms in her front right leg. So bad I feared she would literally break her own leg. It was very disturbing thing to restrain her. Just had to get her to the vet ASAP. An awful state. Very sad really. Was a terrifc pet and I will miss her badly for some time I think. House feels so much emptier. A bad feeling.

Thanks for your contributions. Im certain she could no longer go on.

i feel so sad for you but you've done the right thing for her, you've ended her suffering.

Saganist

darkman2 wrote: »

My dog was put to sleep this morning. Absolutely devastated and disturbed with the way I found her this morning. She had multiple (i assume) spasms in her front right leg. So bad I feared she would literally break her own leg. It was very disturbing thing to restrain her. Just had to get her to the vet ASAP. An awful state. Very sad really. Was a terrifc pet and I will miss her badly for some time I think. House feels so much emptier. A bad feeling.

Thanks for your contributions. Im certain she could no longer go on.

Hi darkman,

I lost my cat last year in similar circumstances. It really is like a part of the family that is gone. The hurt will decrease in time, however, I know at this stage its tough. Just try and keep the good memories at the front of your mind, the good 12 years she gave you and the fact that she is no longer in pain.

There really isn't much more that can be said. Hopefully you manage over the next few days / weeks.

paconnors

darkman2 wrote: »

My dog was put to sleep this morning. Absolutely devastated and disturbed with the way I found her this morning. She had multiple (i assume) spasms in her front right leg. So bad I feared she would literally break her own leg. It was very disturbing thing to restrain her. Just had to get her to the vet ASAP. An awful state. Very sad really. Was a terrifc pet and I will miss her badly for some time I think. House feels so much emptier. A bad feeling.

Thanks for your contributions. Im certain she could no longer go on. I cooked her sausages as I do every morning which she loved. I still have them this morning and it was at that stage it really sunk in and strangely not in the vet.

Sorry for your loss OP

falabo

sorry darkman2 :-(

thebullkf

darkman2 wrote: »

My dog was put to sleep this morning. Absolutely devastated and disturbed with the way I found her this morning. She had multiple (i assume) spasms in her front right leg. So bad I feared she would literally break her own leg. It was very disturbing thing to restrain her. Just had to get her to the vet ASAP. An awful state. Very sad really. Was a terrifc pet and I will miss her badly for some time I think. House feels so much emptier. A bad feeling.

Thanks for your contributions. Im certain she could no longer go on. I cooked her sausages as I do every morning which she loved. I still have them this morning and it was at that stage it really sunk in and strangely not in the vet.

:(:(:( R.I.P.