My 10 year old Border Collie has been diagnosed with a large liver tumour.  She is picking at her feed, panting a little, drinking relatively normally, lying on her side rather than on her tummy, reluctant to get up onto the furniture, and the flesh on her back is being 'drawn' as the tumour is pulling it down.  She is still bright eyed, though her gums etc are pale and she has a 'yellow' look - but she is a red Border so that could be to do with her body colour.  She still wants to play and cuddle.  Our Vet has suggested we euthanaise her before she loses her dignity and before she really starts to suffer.  My Husband keeps pestering me to have it done, but I just feel she is not ready - she doesn't seem to be suffering!  How do I know that it's the right time?  I don't want to be 'too late' with this, but I don't want to be too early either!  If I leave it a few more days will she start to be 'ill'?

I'm so sorry to read your story Jacey - you are coming to the point that all of us dread - the day when we have to do the last kind thing for our beloved dog.    I can only tell you that with one of our beloved labs, we had decided that her quality of life was no longer good, and that we had to make an appointment with the Vet.  This we did - but that particular morning, she was bouncy, bright, and full of life - so we cancelled that appointment.   Almost two weeks later, however, we knew the day had come, and she went peacefully, with both of us stroking her, and telling her to "go, seek".

You will know when the day is right for her - I know it is better a day too soon than a day too late, but I think you will know.

{{{hugs}}}}

Margot - who will give Purdey an extra hug tonight.

you will know when it's time,they find there way of showing you.my oldies the first sign wasn't eating as normal then they didn't want to do much and things became too much effort.even though they didn't suffer from any kind of pain.you will understand when you have been through this i don't think it is ever easy to know when,the vets say one thing and the dog shows another.
if i had pts my girl when the vets 1st said it i would have missed 2/3 years of her doing what she can and normal untill the last weekend.all for the sake of meds and extra care and attention.she just stopped eating completely and didn't want to get out of her bed so i knew it was time for her.
hope this helps just watch her and try and read the signs for what they are you know what is best for them and what is normal for her more than any vet.
my vet kept asking me all i said is when her tail stops wagging or she is in pain then i will.she had a heart problem medically she should have gone into failure alot sooner than she did,the scans said 1 thing the dog sais another. while she was happy with the life she had i wasn't going to end it before it was needed.

I agree with marie, you will know when its right. I know how you feel our yorkie had a tumour and one of her glands and she also had cushings diseise. The only thing i can say is spend as much time with her as you can and enjoy her. She will tell you when its right, please know that we are all thinking of you in this hard time :(

sarah xxxx

Jacey
Im so sorry to hear your news..
I can only tell you 'our story' charlie my 10 year old had a swelling which i soon found out was Lymphoma.. My vet gave charlie between 2-4 months to live. I was more than devestated.. i cried for what seemed like forver.. The vet said the best thing to do would be have him pts
I couldnt do this... i knew in my heart it wasnt time...
you see jacey that was '17 months' ago and still evry day is special.. he's on medication and has bad days now and then but he hasnt gave me the look that says .. let me go
Im sure you will know when its time... as long as there is no suffering and plenty of hugs and love you cant go far wrong...
I wish you all the best for the future
Mountains of hugs
Donna and charliex

You will know when the time is right but when it is you must let go xxxxx

If It Should be

If it should be I grow frail and weak And pain prevents my peaceful sleep

Then you must do what must be done When this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand Selfishness might stay your hand

But on this day, more than the rest, Your love and freindship take the test.
We've had so many happy years

That what's to come can hold no fears

You'd not want me to suffer So,
When the time comes please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend. Only stay with me until the end.

Hold me firm and speak to me. Until my eyes no longer see.
I know, in time, you, too, will see Its  a kindness you do for me
Although my tail it's last has waved
From pain and suffering I've been saved
Do not grieve it should be you who must decide this thing to do

We've been so close, we two, these years....... Don't let your heart hold any tears

Author unknown

my two frc had liver cancer last year you know when the time right.in fact rush told me he loved wispa puppy at the time when he was ill,but 1 day he wouldnt lick  and kiss the puppies and he turn his head away to say that enough,so we let him go that day.

i know how hard it is to do it but a lease you had good time together.

We had to deside when to 'let go' of our wonderful Golden, Poppy, last year - she had Lymphoma.  I know how hard it is, but once you have made that desicion, then enjoy the time you have with her.

We are here for you.

Sweep x

Hi Jacey, so sorry to hear about your beloved BC, I know how hard it is to make this decision.
But, I'm afraid I agree with your vet and husband, if there's no hope of a recovery or good quality of life, I would let her go sooner rather than later.
Difficult though it is, I think you've got to ask yourself whether you're prolonging her life for her sake or your own.  I know many people reckon dogs let you know when they've had enough but I'm not so sure....love can often blind you to what you don't want to see....

Best wishes

So sorry to hear your news.  I had a dog with a liver tumour, she lived with it for many months although it was quite obvious.  Her quality of life was good for all this time.  Then one day she went very listless, I think she may have knocked it.  I took her to the vet who looked at her gums which were very pale and this showed internal bleeding.  Her eyes told me she was in pain and I had to let her go.

It will not be an easy decision but pale gums are not a good sign.  

The poem Mattie put up makes me cry every time I read it, but it is so true.

Thinking of you
Sandra

I read the poem, even though I knew it would make me cry.  I put my beloved Moxie to sleep about two years ago.  It was the worst day of my life .. and I've had some very bad days. 

Despite that, the one thing that I regret was that I let her suffer longer than she needed.   She had cancer which had most likely spread elsewhere. There were no symptoms until two weeks before she was PTS.  In the end, even with meds, she was in continual mild seizures day and night.  However, I listened to my husband and let her go on longer than was necessary for her.   I regret that deeply.  If I had to do it over again, I would have let her go earlier.  I would rather her last days had been relatively good days .. rather than those where it was clear to me that she had no quality of life. 

Stacey

The poem has just set me off crying too.  It is a lovely poem but if you have just lost a dog it really gets to you doesn't it.  Someone put it on a message board for me when I had to have my beautiful german shepherd dog put to sleep on 10th July this year.  He was only five years old (it was his 6th birthday on Aug 22nd).  He had anal furunclosis and at the end he couldn't go to the toilet as his back passage had almost closed up.  He only had it a few months but the vet said he had a very bad case of it.  I miss him so much.

Sorry to hear about your dog I know what a hard decision you have to make.  I felt like I had actually killed my dog because I made the decision to have him put to sleep right away rather than wait a few more days like my partner wanted.  I couldn't see him suffer anymore even though he was on high dose steroids and painkillers.  I couldn't even go with him to the vets my partner and brother in law had to take him.  I felt such a coward and still do.  I couldn't even say goodbye, I really let him down.  I really admire people who can have the courage to be with their dog at the end but I just couldn't and I am ashamed at that.  Sorry if there are any mistakes but I am crying so much I can hardly see the screen.

Hi Jacey

I am sorry to hear about your girl.

Hard though it is it is always better for your dog, to be a few days too early than a few days too late.  You know in your heart she will not get better so if she is up to it, do something special with her that you can remember and then call out your vet to do the last thing you can do to show her you love her - give her a pain free death. 

Liver cancer is painful and it is instinctive for dogs to hide their pain and act as normally as possibly.

Most of us have to make this decision at some point and even with a pack of dogs it does not get any easier.

Thank you all for your help.  This latest warm spell is not helping her either.  We are speaking with the Vet again tomorrow.

Any news?

Sweep