My dog has nasal cancer. How do I know if he's in pain or suffering?

I'm so sorry Ghost has cancer and you are going through this, it's very hard! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face these questions with my clients all the time. I would speak with his vet about pain medication. He can be put onto a pain management protocol that could make him feel better, and increase his quality of life. You can also talk to your vet about the possible use of laxative on him, which may make it easier for him to pass feces. Having these medications on board can help significantly improve him quality of life for a period of time so that you can have more time with him before having to let him go. I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow to speak about these issues. When it comes to saying goodbye, I tell my clients to make a list of five things their dogs loves to do. When they aren't doing at least two of them, then their quality of life has declined to a point where euthanasia should be considered. It's very important to take his quality of life into account when making the decision to let a pet go or not. I hope this helps! If you'd like to discuss things further,, I'd be happy to snout with you, just click the "consult online" button under my answer.

This can be a very difficult decision, especially with stoic (or stubborn) dogs. As long as he is eating, drinking and behaving normally otherwise, he may be fine. Signs of pain or discomfort include lethargy, loss of appetite, panting, drooling, lameness or walking "hunched". Whining is typically the last thing dogs do when in pain. If you haven't already, discuss palliative care with your veterinarian. Keep track of Chopper's "good" days and "bad" days. When the bad days outnumber the good ones, it may be time. I am sorry you are facing this decision. It is always one of the most difficult decisions for a pet parent and a veterinary professional to make.

I’m sorry to hear that you were going through this with your old boy Maxx. It’s going to be a tough time for him and for you as you try to navigate his geriatric years. The most important thing to consider when making a decision like this is Maxx’s quality-of-life. If he is still mostly acting like himself, happy, enjoying going on walks, eating, and doing the things that he has always loved to do, then I would say his quality of life is good. If however he is lethargic, sleeps most of the day, and is grumpy or withdrawn from the family members, then his quality-of-life may not be as good. Based on your description of Max it sounds like he is not in pain which is a good thing. If Max is having more good days in a week then bad I would consider this a good quality of life. When you start to notice the good days are becoming further apart or he stops acting like himself it may be time to let him go. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Boppa. The mass appears quite large from your pictures and ulcerated. I assume this is painful to him. If he is no longer eating well, this is also a sign of pain. I recommend discussing euthanasia with his veterinarian. He appears to be a stoic dog based on his breed and other than not eating well, will likely not tell you he is in pain. I am sorry for your situation and hope this information helps.

I hate to hear that about Bandit. Assessing pain can be difficult. I recommend to record the behavior and also try to note if it happens during certain times or is triggered by certain activities. Then I recommend to have Bandit seen by his veterinarian for an exam to check for pain. Make sure to go over anything you have figured out and also show the doctor the video. Best of luck. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there! Thanks for letting us take care of you today! Sorry to hear about Sam. I definitely know where you are coming from as I mostly see cancer patients. What I usually tell my clients is that the time to consider humane euthanasia is when they stop being themselves. For example, when they stop doing 3 out of their 5 favorite things (eating, playing, or whatever these are), it is time to let them go without suffering. Of course this is if not considering treating the cancer. There are always palliative medications you could consider like pain control medications such as Tramadol and NSAIDs to be added to the gabapentin just from a palliative standpoint to try to make Sam feel better in the meantime. Sorry you are going through a rough time.

I'm so sorry that Harley has cancer! Every dog is different, and some decline faster than others. I would monitor him daily, and make a list of five things he loves to do. If he reaches a point where he isn't doing at least two of these things, then his quality of life has declined to a point where euthanasia should be considered. I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face these issues with my client on a regular basis. If you'd like to consult with me further on this, I'd be happy to speak with you. Otherwise, I'm very sorry he has cancer and you have to face this issue :-(