Saying good bye?

We will be saying good bye to our male vizsla within two months time, likely. He's had stage 3 cancer now for 6 months or so. We adopted him as a c. 5 year old with heart worms, about 3 years ago.

Those of you that have had dogs with stage 3 cancer, what did you look for in order to know when "it was time"?

My wife and I are set on not making him suffer to appease our personal vanity. At the same time, we don't want to say good bye until it effects his well being.

Thanks

🙏

Condolences. I cry.

Tough call, never had one with Cancer to make that decision on but have made that decision for other reasons. The last one got to where she did not want anything do do with me and that was my cue. She was a 14 year old Spitz that was a lap dog our 12+ years together.

Sorry to hear about that. Dogs are one of life's best gifts.

Just get prepared to sit on the floor and hold them when the time comes to put them down. It hurts bad and grown men cry like babies.

Only you can know. Wobbly, starting to not look visibly happy to see you when you walk in. If you start seeing signs of pain like being defensive if petted or shaking. Crying a lot. Spending time or hiding in dark places. Basically when you start seeing a change in his behavior from normal don't wait to long, it means it's time. Better to be a day too soon than a day to late if you know what I mean. I'm sorry to hear it. I'm so sorry. We lost Blaze at over 16 years old recently. Like many here we know how much it sucks. It breaks your heart.

Give him a benadryl a day. It stops histamine release and can prolong his comfortable time.
My rule is won't eat for several days, Doesn't like to get up and walk around.

So sorry to hear that. It's never easy but you'll know when it's time.

You will not like my response ......I would have had it done right then!!!!! I have had birddogs all my life from the time i was 8 yrs. old. you can't let them go through with suffering one extra day! DO IT NOW!!!

Lost one last year to cancer. Doc told me he'd get to where he couldn't hold food down and that would be my sign, things would go badly after that. When he got to that point, I took him for his last ride. That one sucked because he perked up and jumped into the truck like he always had, but when we got to the office the vet said he was eat up with it.

I've had one that I waited too long, and regretted it. I had this one that I thought I did right by, but always wonder if I could have had a few more days.

Point is, that magical moment people talk about where "you just know" is a foreign concept to me. Sometimes you just don't, and all you can do is what you think is best for the dog.

I've got nothing but tears. Sorry

This. Please be there with your dog. You owe them that at least - the vet clinic doesn't care if you cry. You won't be the first grown man in there that day doing it and you won't be the last. One of the toughest things my wife does every day is see dogs there for their last visit - alone - in a foreign place - with people they don't know and scared to death. As tough as it is for you - your dog needs you at that time.

I hate what I have to tell you but, you'll know when it's time.
You'll just know.

It'll break your heart.

Thanks, all. We've had to say good bye to one before. That was a chaotic moment... waited too long. Don't want to do that again.

He's currently on 3 steroid pills a day to keep tumor in somewhat of a check. It's not perfect but has helped a little. He's also on 5 benadryl and 2 Omezparole/day.

He's still eating fine for now. He's a food monster; always has been and even more so now. Drinking like a fish and having to pee all the time, too, from the steroid.

The steroid (or illness) it starting to make his breathing a bit heavy at times. (Vet blamed the steroid, but who knows.)

you will know.. Trust me... they just have a way of looking at you..........

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Absolutely no doubt about this statement.

Prayers for you jdk and your family man. I've been there and it is not easy at all.

I feel for you cause I have a 7 yr old Lab (Maggie) in the same spot. The last thing I want is for her to suffer. She is showing no signs of slowing down but am regretting that day. Vet at A&M gave her 6 months to 1 year. My prayer go out to your family and your dog

Condolences. We just put our Jack Russell down after 15 years. its a hard thing to do but was the best for her. Missing that dog for sure!!!!

Condolences man.

🙏