No advice, just sending some hugs your way.
Please excuse my post as I didnt read through all replies. If it was diagnosed by his to pathology as neoplastic then I think the decision is a little easier. If no histo was done, it could have been a low grade or “oma” that could be surgically cured.
It’s always easiest on the pet when lumps and bumps are noticed to have them removed when they are small, rather than after they grow or ulcerate. Often it’s usually 10x more in costs when they become more invasive.
Whatever you choose, he was a lucky dog to be adopted by a loving family especially at such a mature age. Hugs to you.
Hi guys, I appreciate all your help and support. As a quick update, we’re still just keeping him comfortable and he spends his days on his blanket sleeping on various beds and couches. He still plays and runs around some outside, but he’s not very active indoors. We’re just going to keep this course until he lets us know he’s in too much pain.
What has really rang true to me is better a day too soon than a day too late… I’ve struggled with finding which day this is. Some people have said “you’ll know when he no longer wants to eat…” but that seems like a day too late. I figure it’ll be whenever he doesn’t seem happy to do something he loves. I keep seeing glimmers of happiness so we’ve held off on making the call.
[B]
((hugs)) for your beloved gentleman & his family ~
thanks for the update ~
glad he continues to be comfortable & playful and follow his schedule ~[/B]
[QUOTE=OveroHunter;8522161]
What has really rang true to me is better a day too soon than a day too late… I’ve struggled with finding which day this is. Some people have said “you’ll know when he no longer wants to eat…” but that seems like a day too late. I figure it’ll be whenever he doesn’t seem happy to do something he loves. I keep seeing glimmers of happiness so we’ve held off on making the call.[/QUOTE]
I absolutely agree with you. I’m admittedly a bit paranoid about waiting too long to make that call, but I’d rather let them go while they are still happy and (relatively) active than wait until they are unable to walk or eat or enjoy life.
((((((hugs))))))
OP I feel for you. One of life’s hardest decisions.
One thing I will relay, is to know that pets can be very stoic. My girl we lost this year to what we believe was a tumor/bleed somewhere that caused secondary epilepsy. A gazillion tests showed nothing. She never at any point showed she was in pain.
When she crashed, she tried to get up and wag her tail when she saw me even though she was suffering badly from shock (she was with my dad, and I was there within about 15 minutes of him knowing something was not right). She never made a peep. She literally went from being fine one minute to laid out the next.
While is some ways it was easier because she made the decision for us (we took her in immediately and she was put to sleep within minutes) it haunts me that we missed something, or didn’t do enough to catch what got her. Although harder, I would have liked to give her a planned end so we could have spoiled her and given her the best day before she went gently.
A day too soon is never a bad thing.
Hugs.
[QUOTE=toady123;8522281]
Although harder, I would have liked to give her a planned end so we could have spoiled her and given her the best day before she went gently.
A day too soon is never a bad thing.[/QUOTE]
This…^^…I had to make The Decision this past Saturday. My 13 year old GSD was failing (not eating well to not eating at all, having accidents, having a hard time getting up…) but I kept seeing “glimmers of happiness” ie she actually initiated playing with my other two dogs.
I kept putting it off for months as there really wasn’t anything wrong with her (Adequan helped big time!). However, I finally saw the tiredness and the pain and on Thursday, made the call for Saturday. She got a lot of attention and I took a million pictures and she went peacefully with her family beside her.
I wish you peace and comfort in whatever you decide…:sadsmile:
