Our dog chocolate who is a mungrel 3 months ago went off her food and wasnt herself so we took her the vet and at first they didnt seem to believe us that there was a problem so they gave us some abs cos they noticed her tonsils had swollen(which apparently is unusual) while she was on the abs she developed a sore eye which we thought had happened cos of a draft as she had been sleeping by an open window so we took her back to the vet and they said it looked infected so they gave us some other abs for that. Then a couple of days later she clawed the lump by her eye which started to bleed so we obviously cleaned it and then took her back to vet they arranged to admit her to have a proper look. When we went to collect her they said that there looked like they wernt sure whether it was a parasite or cancer but did notice absess in her gum so they removed 2 teeth. Since then she has been on pain killers and abs but she doesnt seem to be getting better,shes lost a lot of weight cos shes only drinking water and cannot eat food even though she wants food. The vet is now saying that they thinj she has tumour and that they feel that is the underlying issue cos she hasnt responded to treatment and that she should be put down even though they havnt done a test for it. One of the things I have a problem with is that we have been taking her to pdsa cos we cannot afford a vet and we dont have insurance(something we didnt think we needed worst mistake ive ever made) and we keep thinking are they just taking the cheapest course of action and would we be best getting a second opinion before we get her put asleep cos only 3 months ago she was fine but now she isnt and we dont just want to give up. Also can we get any medication ourselves or anything we can give her to build up her strenth so that meds have sommething to work with. Any advice would be appreciated.

Although I'm not a vet I have spent the last seven years working in a practice and have worked closely with many vets with many years of experience. What you describe sounds like a very typical scenario of treating the most likely cause of a problem first and then, if that doesn't work, going to the next most likely condition. You don't mention whether any x-rays have been taken; if not then I think that would be sensible if you can afford it. The PDSA, being a charity relying on public donations, would be morally wrong to spend money treating a single animal when it could be treating several, so sadly the choice is yours.

Thanks for the reply the pdsa havent mentioned an xray what would having an xray do would they be able to see what is wrong with her because I am willing to find the money to look into it. Have you any idea how much something like this would cost im new to this because even though our dog is 10 years old this is the first time she has ever been this sick.

An x-ray would show whether there is a tumour there or an abscess, which would give a good indication about how to proceed. It'd involve an anaesthetic (so no food after midnight before the appointment) and would cost in the region of £100 - £150, depending on how many plates were taken.

I don't know about the PDSA you use, but a friend of mine takes her GSD to the PDSA and they have been brilliant. He had a condition where his mouth appeared to be rotting, all his lip was eroding away. She had been having him seen by her normal vet but then he said it needed to be cut away, and she couldn't afford what he was going to charge. She qualified for PDSA treatment so I suggested she go there.  They did the full works X rays, sent biopsies of the tissue for investigation, and did the op which was a huge success and all the follow up treatment.  Maybe it just depends on who you get, but the vets there were good if not better than her own vet.  Her GSD is 11 yrs old, so they could have said treatment wasn't economically worth it, but that isn't what they are there for.  They always ask for a donation towards the cost.

Perhaps some are better than others, but I would want some further investigation first, and offer to pay most of the cost.

Does anyone know how I can arrange some cancer treatment for my dog ive been lokking on the internet and cant find out how. I could ask the pdsa but I know they will just advise me theres no point and look at us like we are being cruel and thats the last thing we are,were just not prepared to lose her without a fight

You have to take your dog to a vet who will do various tests to see what the lump is and the vet will then advise you of the next course of action. If your dog has cancer the treatment can be very, very expensive and  can run into thousands of pounds.

My dog had a small tumour removed from over his hip area - and the biopsy, removal and after care came to about £800 - his tumour was a grade 1 tumour and small - about the size of a malteser and was benign.

Choc
It's hard to comment on your dog because I can't see him, but am worried by what you say, that he is losing weight and won't eat, these are incredibly worrying signs in a dog. Believe me I know it is hard to lose a dog, but perhaps you really need to look at him and ask yourself honestly what is best for him? 
Personally I would have wanted to have x-rays and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis before making such a monumental decision, but sometimes that decision is taken out of our hands, if the dog is suffering and whether realistically there is any treatment that is going to give a good outcome for her. If she is still not eating and losing weight she is going to be in distress soon, and any treatment that you could undertake would probably be too hard on her when she is so low. Putting a dog through treatments that won't save her and will distress her would be terrible for you both in the long run.

I understand your distress and need to save her only too well, but she must come first above all else. Do not let her suffer because you can't bear to lose her.  If you have to do something, do go back to the PDSA, and tell them that you want to have an x-ray and biopsied and will pay for them. You can't just arrange for cancer treatment when you do not know what type of cancer it is, or even if it is cancer. I assume that the PDSA in the same way that a normal vet can, can refer you to a specialist centre. Insist upon it if you are intent upon fighting for her, what they think of you becomes is the least of your worries. But do it fast, and please ask yourself if there is a chance that they are right, and whether you should you do it at all.  You didn't say how old she was?

I do hope this hasn't come over as uncaring.... nothing could be further from the truth, and having lost two this year, I wouldn't wish it on anybody. But....when my girl, the second one I lost was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, I knew what I had to do - for her sake, not mine. It tore me apart, but I can live with myself knowing she was spared the pain and suffering that was in her future, no matter what I did.  Sometimes battles sadly just can't be won. If they can I am with you 100% that they should be fought.  The hardest part is recognising whether it is a battle that can be won, and sometimes only the professionals can tell you that. I don't know if this is the case for your girl and I feel for you, I really do, and wish you peace with the path you take.