Will He Feel Pain?

[Khandro]

It looks like the end of the road is near for my dear little friend Piero, a much loved black miniature poodle, who was yesterday diagnosed to have a tumour behind his eye. He is of uncertain age being rescued from death-row in a dog pound in the south of France 6 years ago, but is probably about 14, becoming incontinent and with other signs of age.
The vet said it wouldn't be a good idea to operate and when we decide, she will put him to sleep. I can see that he has lost the sight of that eye, but does anyone know if he will be feeling pain please?

[Islay]

Oh I am so sorry for your sad news.

No he won't feel any pain other than a slight scratch when they pop the needle in.

He will drift off into a deep sleep where he will be pain free.

Make your time with him memorable, give him hugs and treats and once again I am so sorry.

[RATTER15]

Sorry to hear that sad news, your vet will be the best to advise you on your dogs specifically, we can only take a guess that could be wrong.

[Peter Pedant]

well I had a retroorbital tumour
and al tho there was protrusion - it wasnt painful

bit gritty

the operation required is a lateral orbitectomy
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/405714_3

which in my case has been an absolute disaster
at present my eyelids are sewn together (one eye only )
as a result of corneal ulceration

[Mosaic]

Khandro, he will feel reassurance if you can give it to him. If he hates going to the vets, can you have the vet come to you? That way apprehension doesn't happen. Rest assured he has no fear of the future or even much concept of 'future'. So he won't fear the process. If he's had injections before, he may remember the tweak but he will have had many worse hurts in his time, and if you think back you'll recall he forgets about vet treatments pretty quickly. So given that Piero isn't in fear, and he has his god (ie you) with him giving him reassurance, he will simply drift off into sleep and 'cease upon the midnight with no pain'. It is by far kinder than allowing him to suffer and it will be very sad, but he wouldn't want to suffer. Big hug and look to the time after his passing.

[murraymints]

sorry to read your sad news..you know you will do what's best for poor wee Piero ..sending cyber hugs at this difficult time xx

[Sqad]

Impossible to say and depends upon the nature of the tumour.

However I would doubt very much that he is suffering much pain.......at the moment. However, as it grows pain may well develop due to an increase in the pressure in the skull.

It would seem that now is the time to have him "put to sleep" out of kindness.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah, I ddidnt opt to be put to sleep

[catswhiskas]

Sorry for your bad news poor Piero, I think if he was in pain now your vet would have told you.

[RATTER15]

PP, you just opted to be put half asleep by having one eye sewn shut, not quite the same though.

[Khandro]

Thank you for your replies, what I was meaning as sqad deduced, is will he be feeling pain from the tumour?

[murraymints]

as Sqad said..perhaps not now..but as it grows the pressure on optic nerve/ brain will heighten and this will most likely be painful for the wee sausage !

[Peter Pedant]

No mine wqs 20 mls two eyeballs worth ( along with the normal eyeball ) and it wasnt that painful

[woofgang]

It depends I think. If the eyeball can be pushed outwards then its likely to be pain free at present although there will come a point when it becomes painful. If the tumour is pushing inward and putting pressure on the brain and increasing pressure in the skull then there is likely to be pain. There might also be stress and unhappiness as his sight deteriorates. I would say (and I am sure your vet will agree) don’t leave it too long. Putting it off is for the benefit of the humans and not the dog. Having said that the pain for the owners is horrible and it never gets easier. We bear that pain and sorrow so our pets don’t have to.

[Mosaic]

Khandro, depending on how the tumour grows it may as others have said put pressure on Piero's brain, which may or may not cause pain, but could well cause behavioural changes. eg As a child I was bitten by a friendly dog I'd known for years, for this very reason.
The tumour may also spread causing yet more illness, disability and potentially pain.

[jourdain2]

I'm also sorry to hear your news. Sending a hug to you and a stroke to Piero.
I can't help with the issue of whether or not he will feel pain at the moment, all I can say that my dear Labrador, many years ago now, developed uterine cancer. With the vet's help we had one last, glorious summer, but one day I looked at her and she had changed somehow so I knew it was time. Should I have taken her to be put down a little earlier? I don't know, she was certainly not suffering badly, more a bit uncomfortable.

[rsvp]

If you are able to have the vet out to your house it will be less stressful for the dog....I've been present when hundreds of dogs have gone to the great kennel in the sky - the actual proceedure is very incidental, however, if the dog is at all stressed with going in the car or to the vet, it's better to do it at home. As far as physical pain - the dog shouldn't feel a thing,particularly if you are able to be there and comfort it, however, if you are likely to be (understandably) very anxious then it's best for someone known and trusted by the dog to be there. The more relaxed the dog is the better things go - I have quite heavily sedated dogs I knew would be stressed by a visit to the vet and each one has simply 'gone to sleep'.A very mch loved dog of mine went out munching on a piece of cheese whilst I stroked her and brought up the vein for the vet to inject her in her basket at home.

[jourdain2]

What I was trying to say is, 'You'll know'.

[rsvp]

I may have misunderstood the question - Khandro if you are asking if Piero's condition is causing him pain then I can't answer that - your vet should be able to give you an answer.
However if the question was related to saving him from a possible painful demise then my previous post stands.
And I sympathise with you if you have to take the decision (have done it myself on countless occasions) but seriously, better a week too early than a day too late.I've seen countless dogs 'hung onto' by their owners and these dogs have suffered.

[Khandro]

To anyone remembering this thread, we got him through Christmas and into the new year but life had become too much for him this morning when we found him spread-eagled in his own poop unable to move. We agreed this was it, and my wife, who is hardier than I, made the phone call and the vet came to us after lunch and gently put him to sleep. I dug a deep hole in the garden and he is now at rest. Daft I know, but it breaks your heart.
Thanks for the kind support.

[jim360]

Not daft at all. Sorry for your loss.