My 9 year old German shepherd had 2 mammary tumor a year ago January and we had them removed. Very quickly another developed. We were worried how well she would handle another surgery and if it would be to hard on her figuring the cancer most likely was already spread much further. Well that tumor has grown. When Igot home my wife said she had cut herself in her tumor and it was bleeding but they cleaned it and it stopped. I didn't think much about it. Tonight there was some blood in the carpet not much just a spot so I went to look her over and yes there is what looked like a puncher that was leaking/ draining slowly brown and darkish colored blood.

She still eats and gets around just came into the bed room and laid at her spot besides my wife's side of the bed. She is old stairs are harder for her but she still goes upstairs to my daughters room. At time you can tell she doesn't feel well but she loves eating and seems happy just a bit slow getting up at times and may jog but not run any more.

I'm afraid it may not be a cut but her tumor has ruptured. She seem ok other than the very slow drainage but I'm leaving for work tomorrow evening and don't want it to get worse while I'm not home to deal with it. On the other hand if she is eating and doing well other than a leaky wound that has not leaked in the 4 days I have been home I would har to put her down if she would be ok several more months.

I figured I would wait tell she was not getting around, not eating, in bad pain, ECT before taking her on her last walk. She is not meeting any of that to where I think she is in that kind of shape yet.

I will have to see how it looks tomorrow. This really stinks because I believe she will be ok fir a while yet I worry she may take a bad turn when I'm not home. But if that's the case I can get home in a Few hrs.

I have only had one dog put down when its back went out when I was a teen. Never had to put one down myself yet prefer that to having it done. Hopefully she looks better in the morning.

My stomach is sick for you. Sometimes knowing that the time is coming is worse than actually losing them. Pre-Grieving, if you will. Be strong for her as I know you will

It's never an easy day putting down a good ole dog ;(

Sorry to hear this.
It's so hard to let go.

Last year I lost four pets; Ivan, Sampson, Geisha and Bullet. When the first, the house went quiet, the second; cold, the third, dark, and the fourth…just despair. I thought I was going to have to go to a hospital. You can only do so much to keep life going even with the best care at your fingertips. It speaks volumes that we as trappers can still care and value animal lives. Anyone who challenges that will meet a fight with me. I’ve done more to create quality lives for my pets and other animals than any activist could.
I’m finally at peace again. For a while.
Sometimes it’s the lack of purpose that makes me feel empty. But we must keep doing. There are many lives that we can enhance; human and animal alike

As much as I love dogs, this is exactly the reason I won't have one again. I don't think I can ever go through that again.

I had to put my dog down after she slipped and most likely broke her hip. She was 1 years older than her mom, which I had taken to the vet because she was wasting away to nothing. It was terrible to watch. Well my best friend faded fast after that. And only a couple weeks after I lost all my possessions in a fire. It's been two years now and I still doubt my decision to take her in, despite how cut and dry the situation. It's tuff, no matter what the outcome or the decision you make. Take today to give her extra love

I’ve owned a LOT of dogs in my life. All hunting dogs. Beagles, coonhounds, and black labs.
Had a buddy put one down years ago. Couldn’t do that one myself. Never took one to a vet and had it done.
It sucks. The good ones never live long enough. I had some really good dogs of all the listed breeds that I just never clicked with, and had a few that became part of the family. And had a lot that didn’t make the cut. Good or bad I hate putting a dog down.

It sounds like the tumor had a blow out from infection build up from the body fighting the tumor. If you don't want to take her to a veterinarian, check to see if the wound is draining well. If it is, express any lightly stuck material and heavily swab inside the wound with iodine with a Q-tip or cotton ball. If the wound is not draining, cut where the skin is stretched thin by the infection, with a sterile razor blade and express as much of the puss as you can. Then swab with iodine. If you have penicillin or amoxycilin, inject her with it to the correct dosage based on her weight. Tony's Treasure Tablets work well for infections too. They are one of the few very effective antibaterials, coccidiastats, anti-parasiticals you can buy still

I've successfully treated 5 dogs this way.

Keith

The more the pain at the loss of a pet the higher the measure of goodness between you two.
Never shy from that, it makes the next one even better for you and gives another pet a great opportunity.

Osky

My last dog a 12 year old black lab got lung cancer. One night at 1:30 am he woke me up barking so let him out to take a leak He walked the entire yard poking his head into every shed and looking around then back to his kennel never took a leak. It was like he was saying goodbye. Next morning I let him out and threw him 2 treats, normally he never looked for more but that morning he wanted more so I got hand full and he just kept wolfing them down I noticed then he could barely breathe and that was morning I put him down. That was years ago and he was my last dog. I loved that dog , I spent 7 days a week with him as I worked from my shop on the property. I miss having a dog but I’m not going through that again. I’ve had to much death in my life I swear that dog knew it was his last day when he surveyed the property and every shed. He’d never done that before. It haunts me to this day.

I think your wife and kids would rather deal with whatever could happen when you're at work than to have you put down a dog that's still acting healthy.

yes, it sucks but it's part of life

We are going through the same thing with ours right now. One of the things that the vet said is that the tumor will rupture at times and begin to bleed. If the dog becomes lethargic or not eating check the gums. if they are ghost white then the tumor is bleeding. She suggested Yunnan Baiyao herb. It helps with clotting. 2 pills twice a day and there is this really tiny red pill that we save. When the bleed comes you give that to the dog and it helps. We are fighting the same dilemma as you my friend, when is the right time. It's tough because you always want to do right by the dog. So far he is still moving along well and running around in little spirts. Haven't had a bleed yet. Good luck to you.

So sorry

Only way I could put down my own dog is if I had access to the drugs to euthanize

Yes I hate to lose any pet but have comfort in the good life I was able to give it for it’s time on earth the life of a king or queen in many cases just the shear comfort makes me accept when the time comes. My biggest fear is going before my pet and not knowing its fate then. Sorry for your loss but there are other dogs out there that need a good home take comfort in that.

I have the same fear which is why I did not replace our last dog after having at least one dog over a span of over 50 years.

Thoughts and a prayer for you

Sometimes you have to do what is best for the dog, not you.

I feel for you, we've had a bunch of dogs over the years and eventually their time comes, it's not an easy decision nor should it be.
I've put them down and have had the vet put them down, my biggest regret was not putting down my last Border Collie myself, she was my best friend and we did everything together, but my daughter intervened thinking it would be too hard on me, and it would have been tough, but I felt I owed her that last minute with me.
I'm not advocating that, everyone is different and it's hard on the person, not everyone can bring themselves to it....
but We always felt it was important not to let them suffer. My condolences for when it's time...

I once had a water spaniel who had the same problem with mammary tumors. We finally had to put her down when she was ten years old. Over the years, I have personally put down two of my dogs, both water spaniels due to sickness. It took me a long time to recover in both cases, even though it was the right thing to do. Since then, we take them to the vet who puts them down.

It’s your dog, do what you feel is best.

This morning she was up and moving well for her and her age. Looks to be feeling well eyes bright. I haven't noticed any more spots on the floor her wound seemed to be closing up. Her gums are pink and healthy looking. So it looks like I'm off the hook for a little while. It's been on my mode is coming pretty hard for the last few months since the tumor has gotten larger and she has lost some weight along her spine. I can feel her spine when petting where before it was all mussel. If you didn't know her you would not notice she still looks healthy just like an older dog.

Keith I sprayed her with wound spray and I did press on it and get what would come out out. No infection just old brown ish blood and not a lot maybe a half dollar size area of drips hit the floor. I hope when it's time it will obviously be time.

We do better by our pets than we do old and sick folks I have thought. Watching my wife's grandma suffering with congestive heart failure I felt bad for thinking it but I did think man if that was anything on my farm I wouldn't think twice to put it down, but she has to lay there and suffer. Thinking back at my grandfather wasting away and starving to death when dieing from cancer. He didn't want any feeding tube, basically he starved to death. He looked like the death camp Jews he liberated. You could see every rib, every heart beat in his neck from across the room. His watch slid all the way to his shoulder. I sure hope I don't go out like they did. I sure won't let my dog get into that bad of shape.

I sure glad it was not time yet, I better go clean some old meat out of the freezer and start thawing it out for her.

When you think it's time, it is. Not easy to do, but you took care of her, her whole life, and need to do so one last time.

I had to put my 12 year old black lab down last fall. He developed a tumor in his brain and he was doing really well for probably 6 months and one day I came home from work and he couldn’t stand or breathe real well so I put him down then. The only thing about that situation is I felt I was doing the right thing by him, one of the worst days of my life as I loved that dog. We did everything from fishing to trapping to picking rocks in the field. I haven’t got another as I’d hate to lose another.

Yep, pretty much my thoughts. As much as I like them I will NOT go through that again. I have 5 dogs buried here on the home place and I think that is enough. I would rather live without.

And that’s the hard truth, facts be known, if we’re going to own them then chances are we’re going to bury them. I’ve buried my share and it sucks each and every time and the more times it happens the less one wants to own them.

Truer words have never been spoken!

I have loved many dogs, have 2 now doxies 1 is 14 years and one is 7 years. I had terrible hurt everytime one leaves me.
I feel it's my duty and payback to my passing dogs, to give a great home and care to another dog.
I held every dog in their last moments, hurt very bad. Having staggered ages helps the new pup learn the ropes very fast, the remaining dog teaches, and also needs the pup to help sodten the pain.

It's better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all. My first dog was unreplaceable, my second dog and most recent, unreplaceable. She could hunt like nothing I've ever seen. Dozens of pheasants, hundreds of ducks, quail, she even tracked grey squirrels. She could find any bird I brought down. I can't think of a single time she couldn't find the bird. And she was a mutt. She hunted until she was 12. Passed at 15 1/2. I'll never have another dog like her, but I must have a dog, they are man's best friend after all.