Did I make the right choice for my dog with a suspected tumor?

I am sorry to hear of your loss, it is a very difficult time to lose a pet as even as time passes, memories are brought back by many triggers. I would also have agreed that euthanasia was a valid and kindest option given the symptoms of such severe weight loss of more than a quarter of his body weight, bleeding into the bowel and likely the chest given the pink fluid and black stool and the failure to respond adequately to steroids. Please do not feel guilty for allowing him to go with some dignity, quality of life has to be much more important than quantity for our pets and often allowing them to go is the bravest and kindest treatment we can offer in debilitating conditions

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jake. Since you have received conflicting information, I would recommend seeking a second opinion. Your veterinarian can refer you to specialist such as an oncologist or an internal medicine doctor. You can also seek the opinion of another local general practitioner. You want to know you are selecting the correct choice if considering euthanasia I hope this information helps.

It is always a tough decision to say goodbye to a beloved pet but from your description, you made the right choice for him. His quality of life was poor, and you prevented him from suffering. I hope this helps!

Oh wow, I am so sorry. That is so hard. Don't feel guilty, based on his symptoms, I don't think Dustin would have survived surgery. Letting him go was the best option for him, the kindest thing for him. You let him pass without any further pain or suffering. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Based on the information you provided, I believe you made the correct choice. Bone cancer is extremely painful. If it was in the pelvis and inhibiting her ability to defecate, this would be even more painful. If bone cancer occurs in a limb, that leg can be amputated. This will provide the patient a few more months to live (even this is not a cure). This would likely not have been an option for the pelvis. You relieved her pain and suffering by electing to euthanize her. I know what a heartbreaking choice this is, but you should bravery by putting her needs above your own. I hope this information brings you some peace.

Hello, I am incredibly sorry to hear about your loss of Daisy. Based on the information you provided it sounds like the veterinarian's primary concern was a cancer called hemangiosarcoma. This is a very aggressive form of cancer that causes bleeding tumors in the spleen and liver. Surgery and follow-up chemotherapy is the recommended treatment. You are correct in that the tumor is submitted for biopsy after removal to reach a definitive diagnosis. Prior to moving forward with surgery, your veterinarian performed chest x-rays to look for evidence of metastasis, or travel of the cancer to the lungs. Hemangiosarcoma almost always leads to metastasis. Based on what you say, I suspect that your veterinarian saw evidence of cancer within Daisy's lungs. This essentially proves (without biopsy of the tumor) that Daisy has cancer. Even if you moved forward with surgery,, she would likely only live a few weeks before the cancer in her lungs/body would cause her to become ill again. These situations are incredibly challenging and unexpected. I hope that my explanation can provide some clarity and help you to realize that you did the right thing for Daisy. Again, I am incredibly sorry for your loss.