My 17-year-old dog has a tender belly lump. Is it time to say goodbye?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Brie! I think that if the mass is getting traumatized, is bleeding or infected or if it appears painful to her then it might be time. Especially if removing it isn't an option. Otherwise, if she is eating, drinking, not in pain, the mass isn't bleeding, she interacts with the family and can control her urine and defecation then I would give her more time. I always tell owners to measure the good and bad days and when the bad days out weigh the good then it is likely time. I hope this helps and I wish you and Brie the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I think it would be best to have her evaluated before considering euthanasia as this may be able to be treated. I recommend you have Savano evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I only see cancer patients and as you can imagine, I see terminal cancer patients on almost a daily basis. First of all, sorry to hear about Timmie. Give her lots of love, treats and all the good stuff that she deserves and wants. Usually regardless of the cancer type, I recommend treating any symptoms if they occur. Meaning that if Timmie develops any decreased appetite or nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, these are treated with medications. Otherwise, if you not pursuing cancer therapy, there is really nothing else to do. This decision is hard to make, no question. However, what I tell my clients is to consider making this decision if they think that quality of life has been severely affected. This means when Timmie does not seem to be enjoying herself anymore. You could consider doing it if Timmie stops doing 2 out of her 3 favorite things (that could be eating, playing, running, etc). Best wishes for you and Timmie!

Euthanasia is a very personal decision that must be made between you, your animal, and your veterinarian. It sounds like Baby has plenty of problems but still has some good days. When people are undecided about how to proceed I refer them to the oncology quality of life scale, which permits people to place an objective figure on things, even if it isn't doesn't make the choice for you. https://www.aplb.org/resources/quality-of-life_scale.html I hope this helps you make a decision one way or the other.

Before even thinking about putting her down (age is not a disease) I would make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam of Pebbles. SInce Pebbles is not spayed there is a possibility that she has mammary tumors, but these masses could also be abscesses or cysts. without seeing these in person and a hands-on exam a diagnosis is not possible and therefore it is also not possible to determine whether euthanasia is an option.

I'm sorry Ben has an anal tumor! Your vet is right that he will be pain, even if he doesn't act like it. Dogs can be very stoic about pain, and he is also showing you he is in pain from his arthritis based on the fact that he moves around slowly and can't get up stairs well. It's a hard choice to make as to when it's time to say goodbye to a beloved pet. I work for a home euthanasia company, so I face this question all the time with my clients. I recommend making a list of five things Ben loved to do. When he's not doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has declined to a point when humane euthanasia should be considered. Also consider his quality of life if he starts having trouble passing feces due to the size and location of the tumor. In the meantime, I would discuss giving him pain meds with your vet. This may improve his quality of life in terms of getting around and help with the pain from the tumor. If you'd like to discuss things further with me, you can request a consult for more in-depth help. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Jade! This is the hardest part of owning pets. You know what is best for your pet. You know her quality of life better than anyone ever will. Your Vet and we can help you decide when it is time. I consider a decreased/poor quality of life when the bad days out weigh the good days. When an animal no longer hangs out with the family, can't get around well, has vomit, diarrhea or won't eat, is crying or whimpering then I consider that a poor quality of life. I don't think it is wrong to try some time with pain medications to see if you can improve her mobility. But if it doesn't work and you think she is in pain then it might be time to consider putting her to sleep. I wish you and Jade the best!