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Avatar universal

Had to have dog euthanized and need some emotional support and answers please

I sadly had to have my dog euthanized last Monday of this week.HE was a Rottweiler/Pit Bull mix. It was one of the hardest and saddest decisions of my life and the fact that he was only 5 years old made it harder. He was our little boy and a important member of the family. I still can't believe it happened and so quickly within one week's time. He stopped walking using his back legs and we took him to the vet and she said it was either an spinal infection or bone cancer. She put him on human antibiotics so he got a stronger dosage and said if he responded well we should see a little movement in his legs in a couple days; unfortunately that never happened if anything his condition got worse he stopped eating dog food and only ate small amounts of human food here and there, he lost alot of weight he went from slim average to looking basically I hate to put it this way skin and bones, he lost all feeling in his legs and also lost function of his tail and was no longer able to wag it. He also developed a small black like wart on his eye overnight I believe. HE cried sometimes and the vet said he looked like he was in pain when we took him to the vet for his last time. She said it probably was most likely bone cancer and even if it was something else no matter how much money we spent on him he had a 1 % chance of making it and even if he made it he would probably always be in pain  and said the best and most humane thing to do was euthanize him. Personally I think it was bone cancer as well becuase of how quickly he deteriorated in one weeks time. Unfortunately we could not afford anymore medical testing to confirm a diagnosis so we had to trust the vet's judgement. Did I make the right decison? Also could have this been prevented? What causes bone cancer is it genetics or what? I have his sister Angelique so I worry. Thanks for any doctors' or person's opinion and God Bless.
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much for your sympathy. When I left the pet hospital where he was euthanized I was in total disbelief and could not believe I was  never going to hold him again in this life. He was a loved member of the family. Then it hit be like a ton of bricks I had all those if questions going through my head thinking maybe there was something I could have done to prevent this and getting a professional opinion from another vet  helps me feel better about my decision. He could no longer wag his tail, could not walk using his back legs basically paralyzed, and he lost so much weight in one week's time he looked like skin  and bones sorry to put it that way it's just the truth. He had always been a very energetic healthy dog with a great love for life and I knew that he would not be happy living that way and he was also in pain. I just did not want to see him suffer anymore. I just wish I could have afforded more medical testing to know for sure that it was bone cancer  but unfortunately I could not; the vet said no matter how much money we spent on him his condition indicated he had a 1% chance of getting better. WE just had to trust her professional opinion and hope it was the right and humane decison to euthanize him. Your pit bull is so cute. I will definitly check out your resources and appreciate them. Thanks again for your sympathies and God Bless you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks so much for getting back to me. I will definitly take your advice and try my best to keep her as healthy as possible. Thanks for your sympathies, yes it has been really hard for me emotionally to accept his passing on, but I"m praying for God to give me peace about it. The fact that he was only 5 yrs old makes it harder for me to accept. He was a great companion and I will never forget him.  Your  advice makes me feel alot better about my decision of having him euthanized. Thanks again and God Bless you.
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975364 tn?1283482643
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your pit-mix. I have an 11 year old pit, and pray every day he lives to 15! Please know that I have never had a pet owner regret euthanizing TOO early - they regret euthanizing too late. It's so hard to see our pets in pain, and I do believe you made the "right" decision. That said, there are some wonderful resources available for support at Argus Institute based out of Colorado State University. You can find their info at:

http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/

My heart goes out to you!

Dr. Justine Lee
Helpful - 0
945849 tn?1283482843
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There can be a genetic predisposition to bone cancer, so it is possible that your other dog could eventually get it, though it does occur more frequently in males. The best things you can do to help prevent it is to keep your dog as healthy as possible. Keep her at her ideal weight through a combination of exercise and providing a nutritious diet. There aren't any known supplements or medications that will specifically prevent bone cancer, and no one knows what specifically causes bone cancer at this time--just that large breed dogs are more susceptible and that genetics can play a role.

Again you have all my sympathies--it is so hard to lose a beloved companion.
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much for your opinion and yes he was a sweetheart put a smile on anyone's face especially when you needed it the most. I hope you don't mind me asking a few more questions. I have his sister and wonder if there is any way I can prevent her from ever getting bone cancer. Also what causes bone cancer is it genetics or something else? Thanks again so much for your opinion and advice and it really makes me feel better about the the final decision I had to make. I also prayed for God's guidance so I do feel I made the right decision. So it sounds like there was basically no hope for him either way. I'm just glad he is not suffering anymore. Thanks and God Bless you
Helpful - 0
945849 tn?1283482843
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a sweetheart. Large breed dogs, particularly Rottweilers are prone to bone cancer, so it is certainly a possibility that this is what your dog had. Without further diagnostics, there is no way to know for sure, but it would be a reasonable diagnosis. Unfortunately bone cancers do not typically have a good prognosis. Sometimes there are medicines that dogs can be put on to make them more comfortable and give them a few more months, but it is very difficult to get remission in these cases for any great length of time. If the tumor is further down on the leg, amputation is a possibility, but the long term survival is still not good. It sounds like you did the right thing for your dog. His quality of life was not good. Sometimes the best way we can show our love for our animals is to do the selfless thing and let them go in a humane and pain-free way instead of letting them suffer. You did that final act of love by saying goodbye to your dog and letting him go peacefully. All my sympathies to you and your family.
Helpful - 0

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