My dog has cancer. How do I know if she's in pain and needs medicine?

Unfortunately, yes cancer is painful to dogs. Dogs are quite good at hiding their pain, so they often do not show many outward signs of being in pain until they are very sick and quite painful. I'm sorry she is so sick :-(

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.

Sassy is such a cutie, and I'm sorry she is sick! If she is having some trouble walking, I would be concerned she may be painful and I would speak to your vet about possibly putting her on some pain medication. Otherwise, it sounds like from your description she is doing ok so far. In terms of symptoms you would see when she deteriorates, you would notice a decrease in appetite and/or a complete lack of appetite, decrease in energy and an increased desire to lay around more, and possibly difficulty controlling her bowels. Those are signs that cancer is making her sicker, and if you see any of those signs, have her seen by a vet as soon as possible to see if there are any additional treatments that may help her. Again, I'm sorry she is so sick and I hope this helps!

I'm so sorry that Brownie has cancer! Depending on where her lump is, it can cause pain as she places pressure on it. If there is any bleeding or discharge from her lump, that can be painful as well. You can discuss your concerns with your vet, who can prescribe pain medication for Brownie to make her more comfortable. I hope this helps!

You can speak to the vet about prescribing pain medication for Sadie to see if that will help her be more comfortable, but if she is really bad off like you describe, letting her go peacefully would be the kindest option for her. I know you aren't ready, we are never ready to let our beloved pets go, but we do have to put their interests over ours. You don't want her to suffer, and letting her go would be a great gift for her. I'm sorry you are facing this :(

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.

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.