Hugs - cause this is hard.

I would not do the biopsy. In my opinion, treatment for cancer is usually horrible on the dog, and they never recover emotionally from it. There are exceptions of dogs who come out the other side and live a wonderful life.... but I did it once and I will never do it again.

My dog was 10 or so when she developed cancer. She had a lump under her shoulder blade that grew to the size of a plate (she was an 80 lbs dog). My options were surgery and treatment or euthanasia as it prevented her from walking. In spite of the vet provided pain meds, I had to give her morphine tabs (for my broken back) for more than a week to just slow down her screaming and crying. When she finally came out the other side, she was a different dog. She no longer played or snuggled. She attacked the other dogs.

Two years later the cancer was back, paralyzing her back end. The vet wanted another round of surgeries and therapies. We let her rest instead...

I would love on your dog like crazy and enjoy the time with him - it might be months or years. But a good life that is set to rest when the quality goes away, is worth so much more than the agony of cancer therapy.

Sorry to hear this its so hard.

We once had a 12 year Shepard, Ajax. In July he went for his yearly checkup and we were told he was in perfect health. In November he developed bowel problems so we took him in to find the cause. We were told that he had colon cancer that was to the point where there was nothing that anyone could do. The tumor grew so quickly it was blocking his colon. The vet suggested pain medications and to have him live at the vet's office so they could offer him comfort measures so that we could enjoy his company for probably 2-3 more weeks.

We were dumb-founded at the suggestion. You're going to give us 2-3 more weeks with our dog if we leave him with you so you can over-medicate him for the pain he's in and then we're supposed to just visit him every day at your office? How ludicrous is that??????????????

What some vets fail to tell the owners is that unless the cancer is a tumor and it's self contained, surgery can rid the immediate threat but the tumors always come back somewhere else in the body. The chemo therapies are only to put the dog in remission for a short time so that the owners can enjoy more quality time with the dogs. When the dogs comes out of remission, the cancer usually grows so quickly that there's not much anyone can do at that point. It's pain meds for comfort. A dog can not tell you how much pain it's in. That's left up to the owners to make the judgement on what's in the best interest of the dog.

If your dog is diagnosed with cancer. Take the dog home and give yourself time to come to terms with the illness and then make decisions on next steps. It's a personal choice and not an easy one..

I'm hoping the tests come back with good news!!!!!!!! Cancer free...

thanx for your reply, I'm not giving her no biopsy, when she tells me she is no longer enjoying life, I will put her to sleep, until then, I will enjoy my baby, as long as possible.

I perfectly understand Peppe on your decision. There's NO cure for cancer in animals, only remission which usually doesn't last that long. It's such a painful time for you.

Could you please post the results of the tests? You probably have them by now as they usually make a diagnosis pretty quick.

I really think she did not have those tests done...that is what she said...no biopsy....which is ok...just be sure when it is your doggies time that you care enough to do the best for them and let them wait for you at the rainbow bridge....and there is a pet bereavement group here at DS that is support for when that decision is needed to be made....hugs

oh gosh, I didn't realize that Bill. My mind apparently is somewhere else!

I hope she doesn't have to visit that bereavement site for a very long time.