My old dog with cancer is struggling. When is it time to let go?

Question

Hello, My dog is a 16 y/o male American Eskimo. He was diagnosed with milignant tumors throughout the integumentary system approx. 4 months ago. Within the last 2 days, he has lost his appetite, not had a bowel movement in 24hrs, and he has been unable to ambulate. He seems to be unable to place pressure on his back paws. Is it possible that this is just an arthritis excerbation, or should we look into putting him to sleep? My biased love for him clouds my judgement. Thank you for your time. Pet's info: Dog | American Eskimo Dog | Male | neutered | 30 lbs

Lauren Barry, BVSc, MRCVS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Poor Frosty, it's so sad to see your beloved family member deteriorate. From your description it sounds like his time is coming to an end, but it still may be worth him having his trusted vet examine him to ensure that additional pain relief won't give him a bit more time. My feeling is that probably this is associated with the malignacy and not due to arthritis, but a physical exam should be able to help determine if he can be comfortable again. If you call your vet, request a quality of life exam, they will treat you with compassion and be able to discuss all the options available. Making that final decision can be the kindest choice you can make for Frosty.

My old dog with cancer is struggling. When is it time to let go?

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