My dog has a mass, vets disagree. Should I consider euthanasia?

I'm sorry to hear about Jake's condition. Neurologic conditions are generally assessed during a physical exam by turning a dog's foot over to see if he can place it appropriately, assessing tail and anal tone, reflexes, etc. Unless an infectious condition is suspected as an underlying cause, there isn't much other testing that can be done in a general practice clinic. For some conditions, a referral to a neurologist for an MRI or CT can be helpful to obtain a more definitive diagnosis. Since your vet is concerned about pain and Jake's quality of life, he prescribed gabapentin, which helps with neuropathic pain as well as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication which will help with overall pain and inflammation. Decisions about a pet's quality of life and considering euthanasia are very personal. If you need a second opinion to feel at peace with making this decision, you should get another opinion. However, if you also feel that Jake's quality of life has declined and has not changed with his medications, perhaps it is best to take your vet's advice. I don't know how helpful this is, but ultimately, you know Jake better than we vets ever will. Trust your gut.

It can be very difficult to determine exactly what area of the bowel is affected by a mass without invasive and expensive testing which may not be in Jake's best interests given the very poor prognosis. However some benign prostate conditions can be more treatable in entire males (if no blood changes such as elevated calcium are detected). A specialist ultrasound exam, prostatic wash or needle biopsy from the prostate can be worthwhile as if benign may respond to medical treatment in some cases

I am very sorry to hear about your loss of Jake. Based on this information, I believe you made the kindest and most humane decision to let Jake go, as this information all supports a diagnosis of an invasive tumor in a region not amenable to treatment.

This is an extremely difficult decision to make. I always try to look at a dog's quality of life to determine if they are still able to do most of the things they've always loved. If they are unable to do half of their favorite things, it is likely that their overall quality of life has declined and euthanasia may be warranted. Since your dog is currently eating, drinking, acting and playing normally, it does not sound as though her time has come. However, since one of her masses ruptured, there is a chance that it could become infected. Ideally, the mass would be surgically removed and biopsied. If surgery is not an option, she may need a course of antibiotics to prevent the onset of infection in the open lesion. If the open mass continues to bleed or begins to cause discomfort, you may need to decide if she should have surgery or euthanasia. If you are beginning to question if the time for euthanasia has arrived, consider discussing this with your vet to get their take since they have examined your dog and can provide some insight into her current quality of life. I hope this helps.

I am so sorry you said goodbye to Jake today. Please accept my condolences for your loss. A mass on x-ray is typically very bad, but it could also be a cyst or an abscess. If it progressed fast, I would suspect cancer. Please don't second guess yourself, the vet wouldn't have put him down if it wasn't the best option for him. Again, I'm sorry for your loss.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concerns. I am sorry to hear that Tara is not doing well. With her history of mast cell tumors, I am concerned that some, if not all, of the tumors you are seeing are mast cell tumors. If the veterinarian is advising euthanasia, it may be the most humane decision to make if she is suffering. If she is no longer eating, is getting sick and if the mass in the throat is causing complications I would take the veterinarian's recommendation into consideration. If she is still eating / drinking and seems to have a good quality of life, then I would maybe consider having the lumps removed and having her blood tested to see if there are any other abnormalities. I would also have chest x-rays taken to see if there is any spread of cancer into the lungs. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Putting Frank down is a permanent decision. Before you do that you may want to consider a second opinion with a veterinary specialist. They may recommend blood work and do X-rays and an ultrasound so they can look at the pancreas and other organs. Also they could do an exploratory surgery to open his abdomen to see if it is cancer or maybe he ate something that has damaged his intestines. If they see what is wrong perhaps they can fix it. Frank is a young dog so having cancer is less likely than an intestinal problem or infection. If they find it can't be treated you can consider euthanasia at that point. Personally with my dog I like to understand the reason for the illness. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Frank.