“My dog has cancer. When do I put him down?” This question lingers in the mind of pet parents overwhelmed with guilt as they witness their dog’s health deteriorate while desperately wanting more time together. This guide can help balance your dog’s comfort against your own emotional readiness, letting you make the right decision on when to say goodbye.
My Dog Has Cancer: When Do I Put Him Down?
It may be time to euthanize your dog with cancer if there’s unmanageable physical pain, unremovable tumors, and continuous decline in your pet’s quality of life. These may come with lethargy, incontinence, refusal to eat, or difficulty breathing. Aside from specific signs tied to the type of cancer, behavioral and physical signs can indicate if euthanizing dogs with cancer is the right decision.
Knowing your pet has cancer is heartbreaking, especially when treatment doesn’t seem to work anymore. However, thinking about whether you should consider euthanasia for your dog can be equally agonizing. We’re going to explain how you can decide when to euthanize a dog with cancer.
Dr. Benson, the founder and CEO of Paws into Grace, suggests considering the following questions when making this difficult decision:
- Do your pet’s bad days seem to outweigh the good days?
- Are you trying to avoid a medical emergency or do you feel there could be a chance of one occurring?
- Would you prefer to consider euthanasia on a good day or a bad day?
Sometimes, choosing euthanasia on a good day allows for a more peaceful and intentional passing. It can actually be seen as a final act of love, providing your pet with a dignified and calm transition. These are important things to reflect on when considering what’s best for your pet.
Physical Indicators to Euthanize Dogs With Cancer
The physical signs are the most evident factors that will let you see if it’s time to consider euthanasia for a dog with cancer. These physical effects may cause uncontrollable pain, making your pet downright miserable.
1. Complete Refusal or Inability to Eat
There may be instances where appetite stimulants or diet changes won’t encourage your dog to eat. This is one of cancer’s effects that can lead to more issues.
Symptoms include a decreased appetite resulting in weight loss and discomfort, frequent vomiting or diarrhea resulting in dehydration, and a complete loss of interest in treats or favorite food.
2. Lethargy or Lack of Movement
This can be an effect when dogs stop eating. You may consider euthanasia if this reluctance to move impairs your pet’s health.
Despite pain management, dogs with osteosarcoma will experience progressive destruction of their bones. Eventually, this can lead to limping or difficulty moving their limbs. Additionally, your typically active dog may become extremely fatigued and lose interest in its usual physical activities.
3. Difficulty Breathing
This is a major factor to consider euthanizing your dog, particularly if your pet suffers from lung or heart disease. When dogs with cancer experience persistent and labored breathing despite medical intervention, it is often a strong indicator of unmanageable suffering.
The large lymph nodes can block the throat if your dog has end-stage lymphoma. Tumors in or around the lungs or airways can directly obstruct breathing, while other complications of cancer can lead to fluid buildup or anemia, both causing significant respiratory distress.
4. Incontinence
Dogs with cancer can have unusually overactive bodily functions, causing the involuntary passing of urine or feces.
Incontinence can cause a variety of problems, including skin diseases and the risk of urinary tract infections. Soiled pet bedding and constant cleaning can also take a toll on you as a caregiver.
Emotional and Behavioral Signs to Euthanize Dogs With Cancer
Your dog’s behavior and your emotional preparedness may also help you decide the right time to euthanize dogs with cancer.
1. Drastic Decline in Quality of Life
Have you exhausted every way to improve your pet’s well-being, and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel?
Consider euthanasia for dogs with cancer if their health isn’t getting better. Some dogs may also struggle to keep up with treatments, including surgical removal of tumors, amputation, or radiation therapy. If chemotherapy doesn’t seem to lean toward remission, it may be best to consider euthanasia.
2. Isolation or Extra Affection
Some dogs may become withdrawn and isolate themselves due to pain or discomfort. Others might become more dependent and seek extra affection as they feel unwell or anxious.
A dog that once enjoyed social interaction yet now hides or avoids family members may be experiencing pain or discomfort they cannot articulate. Conversely, a dog seeking constant reassurance might be feeling vulnerable or distressed by their illness.
3. Fear of Letting Go
Are you prolonging your pet’s life for their sake or yours? Do you feel like you can’t let go despite impending signs of your dog’s end of life? Do you still have enough resources and time to care for your pet?
When answering these questions, prioritize responses that offer dignity and comfort to dogs currently suffering, ensuring their well-being is at the forefront of the conversation.
The deep emotional bond between pets and humans can sometimes hinder you from making tough decisions about your pet’s health.
Signs Tied to Specific Types of Cancer
Signs related to certain types of terminal cancer in dogs can help a pet owner determine if euthanasia is a painful or a compassionate choice. This particularly applies when treatment options are exhausted, and the dog’s health is severely compromised due to various symptoms.
- Prostate tumor: Difficulty or inability to urinate or defecate due to the tumor pressing on the urethra or rectum. This indicates a potential decline in their health despite treatment or pain medications.
- Bladder tumor: Painful or frequent urination, potentially with blood, and if the tumor obstructs urine flow. This may lead to an inability to urinate, which signals a severe decline and limited treatment.
- Anal gland tumor: A large mass in the perianal area that may ulcerate, become infected, cause pain, and potentially obstruct defecation. This suggests terminal cancer that medication and treatment may not be able to handle.
- Brain tumor: Uncontrollable seizures, significant changes in behavior or mentation, loss of motor function, or persistent pain that cannot be managed with treatment, indicate a poor prognosis.
Quality of Life Scale
The HHHHHMM Scale helps pet owners assess their pets’ quality of life across several categories: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More Good Days Than Bad.
This scale is a simplified version of the HHHHHMM scale to help pet parents quickly assess a pet’s health. For each category, consider your pet’s current condition and assign a score from 1 to 10, where 10 is the best possible state.
- Hurt: (Pain control, breathing comfort)
- Score: ____
- Hunger: (Eating habits, appetite)
- Score: ____
- Hydration: (Drinking habits)
- Score: ____
- Hygiene: (Cleanliness, grooming)
- Score: ____
- Happiness: (Joy, interest in surroundings)
- Score: ____
- Mobility: (Ability to move around)
- Score: ____
- More Good Days Than Bad: (Balance of good and bad days)
- Score: ____
A total score above 35 suggests an acceptable quality of life for hospice care. If your pet scores low in several categories, it may be time to consult with a veterinarian to discuss care options.
Related Questions
Is There an Alternative to Euthanasia for Dogs With Cancer?
If you want to delay euthanasia, consider pet hospice to provide comfort care for your dog. However, know that this option won’t cure terminal or life-limiting conditions. Instead, this is the perfect time to prepare yourself and your pet for what’s next to come.
How Do I Know When My Dog Has Had Enough?
When your dog is close to dying, your beloved pet will often communicate their readiness through noticeable changes, including decreased interest in favorite activities, refusing food, difficulty breathing, or showing signs of persistent pain despite medication. Pet parents should watch for several consecutive bad days rather than occasional good ones, trusting their deep connection with their companion.
How Long Should I Let My Dog Live With Cancer?
Pet parents must consider their dog’s comfort, weighing factors like pain levels, mobility, and ability to enjoy daily activities against available treatment options and their effectiveness. The right duration depends entirely on your dog’s response to treatment and well-being, with the goal being to provide comfort and dignity rather than simply extending time.
How Can Pet Parents Deal With a Dog Dying of Cancer?
When your dog is dying of cancer, you may still try various treatment options and provide comfort as much as you can. However, it’s also time to consider alternatives, assess your resources, and talk to your vet about the possibility of euthanasia.
Conclusion
When cancer is drastically impairing your dog physically, emotionally, and behaviorally, it may be time for pet parents to consider euthanizing their pets. Ending a dog’s pain through in-home pet euthanasia with Paws into Grace provides a peaceful and dignified passing, allowing them to transition with comfort and love.
