Worst possible diagnosis... Cancer

[21hens-incharge]

A short back story...
My grown son has only his dog in his life. Well other then mom and pop.
The Malamute is his first dog, best friend and only 8 years old.
He went in for dental work and they found other issues last Wednesday.
Test results came back today. It is malignant cancer with best case being a few months left. Worst case..... Well I think worst case is watching him pass away and there being nothing that can be done.

I have had to say goodbye to dogs before. How do I help him get through this?

Dear God I will be the one taking care of the dog during this horrible time. What on Earth do I do if he dies while my son is at work 30 miles away?

 

[sourland]

Talk with him and try to resolve that the kindest thing is to opt for euthanasia when quality of life starts to slip away. We have lost two golden retrievers to cancer and just last year I lost one of my beagles to lymphoma. Watch the dog closely - he/she will indicate when it is time. Good luck.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wow, so sorry for your news.

My friends and I were just talking about all the dogs we've lost to cancer. And right around the 8 year old mark at that. Possibly a side effect of inbreeding (how all pure breeds are developed). Or who knows, maybe even from giving water out of rubber hoses. So many possible causes of cancer and most we aren't in control of.

I always thought of pets passing as a way of the kids learning how to deal other more important/painful deaths that will arrive sooner or later... like our own.

I recently decided not to have a biopsy done on one of my dogs because I can't afford to have the tumor removed or do treatment if it is cancer. And I have 2 other dogs that develop little lumps here or there. So when would it end for me. Plus I don't want to think about her dying for every day that we have left! I want to enjoy her life, right now. Even if I could do chemo, I would not. Seen too many suffer from it's side effect. I know my dogs are all going to die... most likely before me. I will do what I can to make their life the best until then. I am not looking forward to that day, as I am closer to my dogs than most family members.

My German Shepherd TJ, was a beautiful boy. He started loosing weight so I wormed him but he lost more weight. Took him to the vet and discovered lumps in his glands. They said it would be less than 3-4 months. And it was. He got very weak and wanted to chase the ball but his legs would spread out from under him. It was clear he had to be put down. I don't know if it will be the same for your son's best friend. I hope you don't have to make that decision and that his pet passes peacefully. It's so difficult to see our kids hurt.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you @sourland. Cool headed logic and compassion will go a long way I think.

It is gonna be rough on him. Right now he is reeling from the news.

He and I got to talk only a bit before it was just to much for him today. I think he knows he will have some really hard decisions to make. There is no treatment that will meaningfully extend Vinnie's life. Just pain management.

Sitting with him today I fear he could pass away sooner then the few weeks they gave.

We lost our Cinnamon to age after battling cancer in her for 5 years, our shepherd to heart failure and another old dog adopted as an 11 year old in her last days that made it to 19.

I know he would do anything to help his buddy. So hard not being able to do anything.

Thank you @EggSighted4Life your kind words help me to be strong.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry about your son's dog. We have had 2 golden retrievers, a bloodhound, a yorkie, with cancer, and our one daughter has had 2 Bernese mountain dogs with cancer, plus our vet daughter has lost their golden retriever recently to cancer. We try to let them live out their lives until they suffer, then get our large animal vet to make a housecall. He put our Golden Molly down in her favorite place--the front yard on our farm, and she was surrounded by us and calm.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I will talk with him about end of life quality.
I think the house call ending may be easier on the dog. He despises the vet, always has.

Thank you @Eggcessive for the kindness and the reminder that at home endings are an option.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Here for you 21. I have had many dogs leave me, everyone too soon, though it's always too soon. I'm lucky enough to have a vet who will come to the house too. Doesn't necessarily make it any easier on you, but for your dog it's definitely less stressful. Your dog will tell you when he's had enough. So sorry. I wish dogs lives weren't so short.

 

[pennyJo1960]

A short back story...
My grown son has only his dog in his life. Well other then mom and pop.
The Malamute is his first dog, best friend and only 8 years old.
He went in for dental work and they found other issues last Wednesday.
Test results came back today. It is malignant cancer with best case being a few months left. Worst case..... Well I think worst case is watching him pass away and there being nothing that can be done.

I have had to say goodbye to dogs before. How do I help him get through this?

Dear God I will be the one taking care of the dog during this horrible time. What on Earth do I do if he dies while my son is at work 30 miles away?

best thing is let him know the expected he is old enough to take from you each day take time to see how the dog is pick a day to say good bye talk to you vet he may come to your home for you

 

[CSAchook]

I am so so sorry for you and your family. My family has lost several dogs to cancer and other medical problems and it broke our hearts each time. For what it is worth, I agree with what others have said. With terminal illness the best and most caring option is putting the animal to sleep when the time seems right. I think a home visit, if possible, sounds least traumatic, and the your son could be there to say goodbye. Again, I am so so sorry. Your hurt and pain WILL get better though, and in time your son will be able to look back on his memories of his wonderful dog, and just think of him with fondness and joy. You will get through this. And we will be here if you need us.

 

[Fuzzy Torpedoes]

If it helps, remind him that one of them has to go first - him or the dog. It's better for the dog when the dog is the one to go first as opposed with the owner.

Also, in terms of the dog's welfare, depending on the situation - perhaps there is no sensible reason for the owner to be present for the euthanization. Dogs can smell and/or otherwise sense when the owner is upset. One could ask, why torture oneself with a situation like that for a human concept of "being there" for the dog when the dog doesn't necessarily know or understand any part of that, and all the while, you can be assured that the dog will pick up on any psychological distress that the owner may be experiencing.