my older female dog has breast cancer been about 4 years since found out now she is getting sores on her what could it be could the cancer spread and should I put her down don't want her to suffer she is 13

I'm sorry your dog is so sick! Yes, malignant cancer will spread, and the sores could be due to it spreading. I would have her checked out by a vet to be sure, but if she is in pain and suffering, it is time to let her go peacefully. I work with a home euthanasia service, and I face these decisions with owners every day. I'd be glad to consult with you further on this if you'd like, simply click the "consult online" button under my answer. Again, I'm sorry she's sick :-(

Getting sores means that the cancer is growing too big for the skin to contain it. This will make open wounds that get infected and may be painful. Listen to your dog. She will tell you when it is time to go. If you see that she is not happy all the time, slows down significantly, has infections, possibly breathing problems, then give her the gift of an easy passing.

This is always a tough decision. You must look at Sweetie's quality of life: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-assess-your-pets-quality-of-life/ Look for behavior like isolating or not being excited about things that she used to really like. If it is not time to put her down, I recommend to call your vet and ask about options for that tumor. It could be causing her pain and could be infected. Sometimes antibiotics and a bandage can help the skin to heal at least for a little while and gain some more time for Sweetie. In the USA, vets are considered an essential business so they are not all closed. I recommend to call around to find a vet who is open and can take care of Sweetie. I hope this helps.

Senior Dog Cancer & Sores: Is it Spreading? Should I Put Her Down?

Health & Wellbeing

My dog Sophie has a lump in her mouth and it’s cancer we do not have enough money to pay for biopsies or any treatment for her she is 11 years old and we do not know if we should put her down or not but she has been disturbed in the night previously

Hi and thanks for posting. Oh I'm sorry to hear about Sophie. I know this is a hard decision to make and is never easy. It can be hard to say without seeing Sophie first, but if you notice Sophie is having more bad nights/bad days than good restful nights/good days, then it may be time to consider end of life care. Decreased appetite or disinterest in food as well as usual activities are also signs to look out for as well. I am happy to discuss further with you in a text consult as well. It would be helpful to get a little more information on Sophie so I can best advise you further. If I don't hear from you further, I hope this has helped a bit and I wish you and Sophie the very best.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Struggling with having to put our dog down. He has a sarcoma in his mouth that has been growing steadily for months. He is on pain medication. He eats well but we feed him soft canned food now with a spoon, so he will bleed less. Lost all his front t

I'm so sorry Bradee isn't doing well! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face this question often with my clients. While he doesn't seem to be in pain, it's likely that he is in pain from the malignant growth. I would make a list of five things Bradee loves to do, and if he's isn't doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has declined to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. It can't be a comfortable quality of life for him to have to be spoon fed, bleed from a continually growing tumor in his mouth, and staying in his crate more. Dogs are often ready to go before we are ready to let them go, and it may be kindness to let him go now before he declines ever further. If you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Simply click the "consult online" button under my answer. Again, I'm sorry Bradee is so ill, and I hope I've helped you.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My dog is currently older and had been having a hard time lately. She has a large tumor on her chest area, about the size of a softball. I couldnt afford the surgery to remove it. I have been making her as comfortable as possible. I was hoping that I

Weight loss is certainly a sign of concern because the tumor may have spread systemically to different organs and could be affecting her metabolism. The prognosis would depend on the type of tumor, so this piece of information is essential to be able to provide a better answer. Please repost your question and specify the diagnosis establish by your local vet to receive a specific answer from us.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

my dog age 12 had a malignant melanoma on her toe removed, it then reapeared on her leg. It has recently started bleeding. The vet wants to put her to sleep, but she is still eating, walking. The tumour is bothering her as she is licking it, but h

I'm sorry that Millie has a malignant melanoma! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face your question all the time. I recommend making a list of five things Millie loved to do, and if she is no longer doing at least two of them, then her quality of life has declined to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. Her quality of life is most important to evaluate when making the decision as to whether or not to let a dog go peacefully. Dogs can be very stoic about pain, and they could be worse off than they are letting on. I would make that list of five things and look at Millie's quality of life to help you make that decision. If you'd like to talk further about this, I would be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope this helps you.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Our dog wasn't eatting. We took him to the vet had blood work done his belly Ruben was high. We took him to a specialist to have ultra sound and xray. Our dogs liver is small intestine are inflamed lungs clear. Specialist said looks like cancer. He c

Hi there! Thanks for letting us take care of you today! Sorry to hear about Ruger. I definitely know where you are coming from as I mostly see cancer patients. What I usually tell my clients is that the time to consider humane euthanasia is when they stop being themselves. For example, when they stop doing 3 out of their 5 favorite things (eating, playing, or whatever these are), it is time to let them go without suffering. Of course this is if not considering treating the cancer. There are always palliative medications you could consider like prednisone and anti-nausea medications (as cancer can cause nausea depending on the type) just from a palliative standpoint to try to make Ruger feel better in the meantime. Sorry you are going through a rough time.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

I'm confused my dog A 14 year old Labrador retriever has soft tissue sarcoma and its spread to the bone he had the lump mostly removed but as it was in the mouth by and artery they couldn't remove all of it they also said he has an infection in his m

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I am sorry to hear about his diagnosis. The antibiotics will likely help provide him some comfort for a period of time. Pain medications will help as well. However, the cancer is a terminal diagnosis. When discussing quality of life, I want the patient to still be having more good days than bad days. The patient needs to be able to eat and drink adequately as well as having enough mobility to get around comfortably. Finally, I want the dog to still have some joy in his life. When these needs are no longer able to be met, then it is time to consider euthanasia. I hope this information provide you some objective criteria. Again, I am sorry for your situation.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

hi i have a 14 year old Labrador dog female she cannot stand up on her back legs she is eating as normal i found her is my garden this afternoon where she must of been all night she waddled for 2 minutes on her own but was very out of breath so i br

Oh no, poor Lucky! You did exactly the right thing by bringing her into the vet, but she sounds very ill at the moment. If she is suffering from cancer, it may have spread to her spine and lungs prevent her from being able to stand and cause her to be very out of breath. This may not be something you want to hear, but Lucky may have reached a point where her quality of life has declined to where euthanasia should be considered. I work for a home euthanasia company, so I face these kinds of issues with my clients at all times. Even though she is eating, it's not a good life for her if she can't move, and letting her go peacefully may be the best option. If you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I would seriously examine her quality of life at this point in time. I'm sorry you are going through this :-(

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

I'm not sure if my dog's life is worth living. He sometimes pees to bed when he is sleeping. He has always had problems with his mouth (I mean "good kind of tumors", bad teeth and he has some kind of genetic disease in his gums. We have been treatin

Oh no, I'm so sorry that Santeri is so sick! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face this question all the time with my clients. I suggest making a list of five things Santeri loved to do. If he's not doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has decreased to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. It's always a hard decision to make, but if he has a poor quality of life, letting him go peacefully would be a great kindness. If you'd like to discuss this further, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope my answer helps and I'm sorry you are facing this issue :-(

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My dog has a humongous cancer tumor bulging out of her breast the size of a large grapefruit? Any suggestions? I'm desperate.My dog is 14 yrs. Old human years.She is Chow, lab& pitbull.Thank you, Kindly.

I am so sorry, but there is nothing you can do at home for this, other than try to keep it clean if it breaks open and bleeds (which it looks like it could do at any time). Short of taking her in, there really just aren’t any options... this would require surgical removal. If she’s comfortable, eating, and happy, it’s not wrong to just love on her for the time she has left and not pursue treating the tumor. Again, I’m sorry I don’t have more options to offer you. Thank you for asking Boop by Petco.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

I have a nearly 15 year old female mini dachshund. Has never had puppies. Weighs about 9 pounds, blind, and hard of hearing. Her teeth are in bad shape, with an odor that is bad. She has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart, about 10 years ago. Over

Oh no, your poor dog! It sounds like she is in really bad shape physically. I would have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning to see if there are any treatments possible for her symptoms. If there aren't, it would be time to discuss letting her go peacefully. I know that's not something you want to hear, but it may be best for her given her symptoms. I recommend making a list of five things she loved to do, and if she's no longer doing at least two of them, then her quality of life has declined to a point where humane euthanasia should be considered. I work for a home euthanasia service, so if you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I hope this helps and you should take her into the vet in the morning.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

My senior dog has breast cancer and sores. Is it spreading? Should I put her down?

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My senior dog has breast cancer and sores. Is it spreading? Should I put her down?

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My dog Sophie has a lump in her mouth and it’s cancer we do not have enough money to pay for biopsies or any treatment for her she is 11 years old and we do not know if we should put her down or not but she has been disturbed in the night previously

Struggling with having to put our dog down. He has a sarcoma in his mouth that has been growing steadily for months. He is on pain medication. He eats well but we feed him soft canned food now with a spoon, so he will bleed less. Lost all his front t

My dog is currently older and had been having a hard time lately. She has a large tumor on her chest area, about the size of a softball. I couldnt afford the surgery to remove it. I have been making her as comfortable as possible. I was hoping that I

my dog age 12 had a malignant melanoma on her toe removed, it then reapeared on her leg. It has recently started bleeding. The vet wants to put her to sleep, but she is still eating, walking. The tumour is bothering her as she is licking it, but h

Our dog wasn't eatting. We took him to the vet had blood work done his belly Ruben was high. We took him to a specialist to have ultra sound and xray. Our dogs liver is small intestine are inflamed lungs clear. Specialist said looks like cancer. He c

I'm confused my dog A 14 year old Labrador retriever has soft tissue sarcoma and its spread to the bone he had the lump mostly removed but as it was in the mouth by and artery they couldn't remove all of it they also said he has an infection in his m

hi i have a 14 year old Labrador dog female she cannot stand up on her back legs she is eating as normal i found her is my garden this afternoon where she must of been all night she waddled for 2 minutes on her own but was very out of breath so i br

I'm not sure if my dog's life is worth living. He sometimes pees to bed when he is sleeping. He has always had problems with his mouth (I mean "good kind of tumors", bad teeth and he has some kind of genetic disease in his gums. We have been treatin

My dog has a humongous cancer tumor bulging out of her breast the size of a large grapefruit? Any suggestions? I'm desperate.My dog is 14 yrs. Old human years.She is Chow, lab& pitbull.Thank you, Kindly.

I have a nearly 15 year old female mini dachshund. Has never had puppies. Weighs about 9 pounds, blind, and hard of hearing. Her teeth are in bad shape, with an odor that is bad. She has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart, about 10 years ago. Over

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