I'm sorry you have received sad news. A reminder that GoFundMe solicitations are against forum rules.

The most recent dog I lost was diagnosed with cancer about three months before we brought him to the vet to be euthanized. First we had a discussion with his vet about whether chemotherapy made sense. While some forms of cancer respond well, he was a poor candidate. Therefore, no chemotherapy.

Next, we tried to keep his routine as normal and fun as possible. We took him for walks, played fetch, etc. We switched him to a more easily digested food when he started experiencing stomach problems.

Finally, when he started vomiting blood, we decided it was time to let him go. We could, perhaps, have dosed him with anti-nausea medication and antacids to settle his stomach. He still had a light in his eye. He still enjoyed walks and playing with our new puppy. We did not want that happiness to change. We did not force him to linger until suffering was the only thing on his mind.

 

I am very sorry that you are facing this, it is definitely a tough time. My main advice is to work closely with your vet to manage his pain, and to familiarize yourself with the Glasgow pain scale, so you can accurately recognize when he has reached a point that even the meds aren't helping. I believe in letting them go a day too soon rather than a day too late, so their last memories are happy ones. We don't always get to choose for it to happen that way, but something to keep in mind. When they no longer have interest in doing the things they love, or physically aren't capable, it's a good sign it is time to say goodbye.

Spoil him, enjoy your time with him, and pride yourself on giving him a wonderful life. He is a very good age, and all he will know is that he has been surrounded by love.

 

I don't see what the diagnosis is in your post but from what you say about a limp being the first sign am assuming osteosarcoma. If I'm wrong, ignore the rest of this paragraph. Osteosarcoma was what brought two of mine to the end, and I'll admit I didn't let it go on long after diagnosis. My fear was what I'd heard and read about how the disease can damage the bone to where one day the dog does some ordinary thing and the bone just breaks. Even after my dogs' cases, I knew someone whose undiagnosed dog had that happen over jumping off a couch. So maybe I let mine go too soon, but it was before the pain became too much for pretty ordinary meds.

You have all my sympathy it's always a heartbreak, no matter what we do. I consider it the price I pay for having them. Loving them till the last moment is all we can do.

 

Thank you so much for your kind words. 💔
You guessed right — it’s osteosarcoma, confirmed on his left hind leg.
It was such a shock because we truly believed the limp was orthopedic; he had surgery on that same leg about 8 years ago to repair torn ligaments.
My heart feels shattered into a thousand pieces right now. I’m trying to focus on keeping him comfortable and loved every single moment. ❤

 

I’m sorry you are going through this. I know it is heartbreaking. I had a 10 year old heart dog diagnosed with lymphoma. It was very aggressive.

I educated myself after the diagnosis and realized I would likely lose him in short period of time. I set aside other priorities and was intentional about spending time with him. It was the dead of a Midwest winter so that mostly meant hanging out on the couch with him. It helped me to “remind him” of the fun things we had done together over the years. I gave him lots of his favorite treats and made sure he knew he was loved. I promised him when it got to be too much that I’d be with him as I released him from the pain.

I lost him just 30 days after he was diagnosed following an unsuccessful at home chemo treatment. He couldn’t tolerate it so I kept my commitment to him. I am so thankful I spent that time with him. I still miss him terribly.

I wish you the best with your buddy. I’m sorry you’re both going through this.

 

I had a std poodle rescue that lived to be 14+ years. I watched the light go out of his eyes and body in my back yard. I was surprised by how deeply I was affected and I was not even his favorite person. I'm glad I was there to see him go thru this. It was quick. He had developed a whopping heart murmur 2 yrs earlier and was on 2 heart drugs. My 7 yr old doodle just walked away while my new puppy laid down and watched over him for a bit. My 7 yr old is now almost 12 and I appreciate her every day. Her life force is amazing. She's healthy and full of energy and I marvel at her, but we are both in those twilight years and I hug her every day and dread losing her. Me? Not so much.
I am so sorry for your loss.