opinions wanted please

[linnie]

Chloe has a brother who also has bad heart and collapsing trachea...
Very loved little dog and just last week he has been diagnosed with a tumor in his front leg. it has grown rapidly.

Only chance for survival is to amputate

I personally dont think this is an option to put on the table as he could still die and it will probably grow back plus the fact that it would put extra strain on his breathing and his heart.

He is ten... I also cant bear to think of him in more pain with an operation that is only a makeshift move to give him a few more months.

I have quietly voiced my opinion to my friend but wondered if any of you had differing thoughts?

[Carrie]

Oh, that is such a sad thing. I'll tell you. If it were my dog, I'd part with him and spare him all that. As hard as it is to let them go when they've been such an integral part of our lives and families, it isn't doing the dog any good to keep him going any longer, under those conditions....IMO. It would be very hard and sad, but that would be what I'd feel I had to do to prevent further suffering. Tell your friend how sorry I am. And that, of course, she has to do what she feels right about. It is her dog and she knows him the best.

[Pugdawg1]

Well.... although I've not met the dog and seen how the little guy is... my first leaning is since it sounds like he doesn't have a whole lot of time left in this world.... why not let him die with all 4 legs intact, and not put him through the pain & stress of an amputation, and no doubt a rough recovery. It's one thing if its a young dog that can bounce back, learn to adjust to three legs... it's another when it's an elderly one, who sounds frail anyways. Poor guy.

[TribalRats]

I agree with eveyone else.....and I am so sorry for the heartache.

[Shadowkins]

Aww! that's so sad, poor little thing. I agree with the other posts, it would seem to me that just the fact he has a bad heart would be a consideration. Amputation is very stressful in itself, never mind a poor pup that has other health issues. If they could just give him something for the pain and let him live the rest of his life with dignity. Just a thought.

[Cassiepeia]

I agree. I would be devastated, but I would rather end his suffering than make him go through all of that just so I can be a little bit happier for the few months left. In the end, it has to be about him....not human selfishness.

Cass.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Thats a somewhat difficult recovery for a healthy dog and I can't imagine putting this poor guy through that. A very difficult decision for anyone to make and my heart goes out to them.

Personally, I couldn't do it....I'd let him have whatever time he has left, love him every day like it was his last and let him decide when he was ready for the bridge.

[calgal]

Sound like the bad outweighs the good and for reasons you have mentioned, I would have him humainly put to sleep.

[Mellie]

Sometimes the best decision for the dog is not going that extra mile. Sounds like you have this figured out already. I'm sure he'll be much more content to live out his remaining days without the stress of recovery from an orthopedic surgery.
If you remember my Waldo.... He had terminal cancer. When surgery was thought to be an option (turns out it wasn't), it would have only extended his life another couple months at best. And that time would have been spent on meds and recovery stress, and so on.
I just let him live as he was. And he did just that.... lived. Not struggled.

My thoughts are with the little guy.
Take care.

[tessa_s212]

Oh! I am so sorry! Hate to be an echo, but I agree with everyone else. I would rather have teh last few months to play and have fun, rather than the dog having to suffer

[sammy]

yup. I agree with everyone else. very sad but you have to always consider what's the kindest thing to do for the dog and put your own felings aside Dogs maske pain so well too- I'd always air on the side of preventing suffering-- esp in anelderly dog. My condolences to your friend.

[doberkim]

its a personal decision - however, the problem with the "tumor" (i am assuming you mean osteosarcoma) in the leg is that its VERY painful and pain medications CANNOT control this bone pain.

ive seen many older animals with other health conditions have a leg amputated and do WONDERFULLY. animals have no problems with losing legs and are up moving around the next day - its people who have the stigma attached to disabilities. just today i did a 6 month recheck on a 100 lb rottie that had her leg amputated ( i assisted in the surgery). she had it amputated, is currently even abl eto JUMP UP on people with only three legs, and she had 4 doses of chemotherapy (no side effects). her chest rads today are clear and we will recheck her in three more months unless a problem happens.

its up to the owners -- yes, surgery is a big thing - however, it assures the animal pretty much PAIN FREE 6-9 months on average, as opposed to without surgery, you are looking at a painful end in only a few weeks. once the cancer comes back (and it almost always does), its a very quick end after amputation, because it metastasizes to the lungs, not typically to other bone.

ive known many people that choose to do the surgery, and personally, it depends on each animal, their other conditions, how well they can physically handle amputation (ie do they have neuro problems or something that prevents them from being able to walk on three legs).

me? if it were bowie, right now? id do it in a heart beat. the time they get is GOOD QUALITY time.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

I can agree with that in an otherwise healthy dog but would this be something that you personally would do to a ten year old dog with heart issues and collapsing trachea? Just curious. Granted, if it is what your thinking I can't imagine letting him suffer through that kind of pain either.

[doberkim]

bowies an 8 year old dog that already had cancer, disk disease and has a heart condition. but if amputating a leg would give me 6-9 months of good quality life, and i had the resources to do the surgery - yup, i probably would.

[poodlesmom]

That's a tough one Linnie & one that I hope to never have to face myself one day.

If he didn't have the other medical conditions I would probably go with the surgery. But with the heart condition & collapsing trachea I would think surgery would be extremely difficult and if he survived the surgery the trauma from the surgery would put additional stress on his heart.

However, having said all of that, not being a vet, I am sure the vet has given his owner all the pros & cons. I just hope if his owner decides to go with the surgery that the vet has told her his chances are good and could give him many more years painfree and that she is doing it based on that and not strictly her desire to keep her well loved furpal with her.