My senior dog has anal tumors but good spirit. When to put her down?

Question

Our 15 year old Bassett has had re occurring tumors in and around her anus. The last surgery showed it was cancer. It has since grown back and she has one external tumor red and it bleeds. And now she has two lumps under her skin o either side of her rectum. She seems good in spirit for 15 and still eats, follows me around with ears up, and wants treats. Questioning putting her down if her spirit is good. I don’t want her to be in pain. She’s had a great life what do I do?

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

If your dog is happy and you feel that she has a good quality of life and can poop fairly easily, there is no reason to put her down. Listen to your dog. She will tell you when it is time to go. Your dog knows. Apart from that there are quite a few ways to control pain. 1) arthritis pain is probably the worst and worse than tumor pain at this stage. So if she is stiff and wobbly you may want to ask your vet about giving her an NSAIDs for arthritis (she needs to have normal kidney and liver parameters, though, but since you had surgery done recently, your vet may be able to use those blood work results). 2) if she cannot take NSAIDs, then there are other pain medicines available. The lumps under the skin either side of her anus could be filled anal sacs which could be expressed. They may not be tumors. Your vet may be able to stop the bleeding of the tumor by cauterising it, or you can get some Yunnan Baiyao powder or capsules and put the powder on the bleeding wound. It should stop the bleeding for a while.

My senior dog has anal tumors but good spirit. When to put her down?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

What's the best way to feed my hamster when I'm going on a trip?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

My newly adopted pet won't eat hay. What can I do to encourage it?

My pet is breathing hard, not eating, and lethargic. What's wrong?

Share