Knowing When to Euthanize a Pet with Cancer

Discovering that your pet has been diagnosed with cancer can be devastating. As a loving pet parent, you want hold on to that special relationship as long as possible. However, it’s also important to consider the comfort level and quality of life of your pet with cancer when wrestling with such a difficult decision.Cancer in pets comes in many different forms and impacts different systems of the body in different ways. Some can metastasize in the body quickly, while other forms may remain local. If you are considering whether or not euthanasia is the right choice for your pet with cancer, you will want to answer the following questions:

• Where is the cancer located?
• Has the cancer spread?
• What are the available treatment options for this type of cancer?
• What is the cost of treatment?
• What’s the long-term prognosis for my pet?
• What is the quality of life associated with the disease?

Answering these questions will help you make a better-informed decision on what is the best option for your pet. If your pet is older, expensive surgeries or invasive treatments may be less appealing, especially if the long-term prognosis is not good. Whatever the facts, deciding whether or not to euthanize a pet is a highly personal decision so you want to be sure you are at peace with whatever you decide.While euthanasia is a decision many pet parents face, pet hospice is an option that is has become popular among those caring for a pet with cancer. These palliative treatments aim to make a suffering pet as comfortable as possible. Dr. Christina and Gentle Journey have compassionately been helping manage pain for pets with cancer in the Greater Phoenix area for years. If you would like to learn more about this service, please give us a call at 602-332-7757.

3 Stages of Pet Hospice Care: Update on Mikey

In September, I explained the various Stages of Pet Hospice in a 2 Part Blog Series referencing a personal experience with my sick cat, Mikey. I wanted to provide readers a vivid narrative of my experience so they could better understand the process. When we left off, we were actively working to manage Mikey’s quality of life. Since then, his health has taken a turn for the worse. Last week we discovered a mass in his small intestine, which we’re actively working to treat. Here is an update on the series of events that have followed since:Thursday, October 1st: We discovered the lump in Mikey’s small intestine and decided to treat with chemotherapy.Friday, October 2nd:Mikey began his first round of chemo.Saturday, October 3rd:Mikey battled a rough bout of nausea for most of the day as a result of chemotherapy. It was really tough to watch him suffer, but later that evening he seemed to respond to the treatment. He appeared to have taken a positive turn, acting like his old self.Tuesday, October 6th:Another bout of severe nausea overtook Mikey.Wednesday, October 7th:Mikey received a second round of chemotherapy. Beforehand, we ran tests, which revealed an elevated white blood cell count. This is typically occurs when an infection is being fought. He was in rough shape, but I gave him some pain medication so he could get some much-deserved rest.As of today Mikey is continuing to battle while we keep close watch on his condition. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, but we’re doing everything we can to help his fight. You may think that dealing with this type of situation everyday would make it easier for me, but it doesn’t. What does provide comfort is being able to share Mikey’s story with you. My sincerest hope is that my story can be a benefit to anyone caring an ill pet.