My dog has cancer and trouble walking. How to spot pain or decline?

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.

I'm so sorry Blue has cancer! Signs of pain in dogs include a reluctant to move, decrease in appetite, lethargy, and whining. Should you see any of those signs, I would give her the pain medication as directed by your vet.

I cannot comment on whether or not it is time to euthanize Sasha since I have never done an exam on her. With her not eating, drinking and urinating in herself, then you have to look at her quality of life. I would talk to your vet to see if there is anything that could help her or if her bloodwork looked too bad. You may talk to your vet about medicine for cognitive disorder (dementia) like anipryl and omega 3 fatty acids. Also, you can add a medicine that helps with incontinence (urinating while sleeping) called proin that may help. Finally, if she is weak and not able to get around and her bloodwork looks good, you may want to talk to your vet about medicines for arthritis. Thee are also appetite stimulants and anti-nausea medicines that usually work really well in animals too. I hope you are able to find a way to keep her comfortable for a little while longer. But also know if your vet says she will not improve, please take comfort in knowing you gave her a long wonderful life. I hope this helps. Hugs!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sassie. I am sorry to hear that her condition has deteriorated so much. I recommend taking her to see her veterinarian for a quality of life exam. Based on your description, she seems to be struggling in her daily life. You can ask her veterinarian for a mild sedative prior to her exam to decrease her anxiety. I am also available for a consultation if you wish to discuss her case in greater detail. I hope this information helps.

I'm sorry Jessy isn't doing well! Whenever the question comes up about putting a dog to sleep, I ask the owners to look a the dog's quality of life. Make a list of five things the dog used to like to do, and when they cannot do at least two of them, their quality of life has declined to a point where euthanizing them is recommended and is the best option. If she is coughing all night, incontinent, and sleeps all day, I would say that her quality of life isn't the best. Dogs can be stoic, and are often sicker than they let on. I think it's time to have a serious talk with your sister about Jessy. You don't want her to deteriorate to a point where she is extremely sick, that would be cruel to her and very hard for you to see. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly neck or back pain though it could also be due to arthritis. It could still be pain associated with a leg even if nothing seems wrong with them. I recommend that you have Sausage evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include radiographs. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications to make Sausage feel better. In the meantime, reduce his activity as much as possible as that in itself can make a big difference. Good luck and have a good day!