My heart goes out to you if you have a dog with a brain tumor. As a veterinarian with 30 years of experience handling over 1,000 dogs, I know this is a heartbreaking experience. I want to help you the most by giving you the most critical information in a succinct manner.
A brain tumor is a form of neurological cancer. Canine brain cancer is not uncommon in older dogs. Some younger dogs certain breeds are more likely to develop a brain tumor, such as Boxers and Boston Terriers. A brain tumor is a mass in the brain. The most common brain tumors include meningioma and gliomas. Canine brain cancer can be caused from tumors that spread from cancers in other parts of your dog’s body. In these cases the brain cancer in your dog would be called a secondary cancer. A secondary cancer is a cancer that is caused by a primary cancer located somewhere else. In dogs, common types of primary cancer include hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and carcinoma.
Clinical signs of a brain tumor in your dog
Clinical signs of a brain tumor in your dog are caused by the tumor pressing on a region of the brain and disrupting the brain functioning. Brain tumors usually cause progressively worsening sign in older animals. The brain tumors symptoms can fluctuate so your dog can have better and then worse days. Often times when your dog feels better versus worse is unpredictable because there is no clear pattern the improvement or worsening follows.
These are common clinical signs of a brain tumor in your dog:
- seizures: which is one of the most common clinical signs of a brain tumor, especially in older dogs
- circling and head pressing: what this means is your dog might circle repetitively, normally occurring in one direction
- balance problems: your dog may become unsteady on their feet or even fall over
- neck, head or back pain: your dog may be more tender to your touch or avoid certain activities because they are in pain
- behavioral changes, including aggression, anxiety or withdrawal: your dog’s basic day-to-day personality might change where they become more irritable and or depressive looking
- loss of vision: some dogs experience impaired or loss of vision
- weakness: your dog may seem to be much less energetic and may struggle to do things that were previously easy for them
- deterioration of mental capabilities: your dog may begin to forget basic things such as evil are around them or where their food bowl is
- soiling: your dog may begin to urinate or defecate on themselves
If your dog is having any of these clinical signs you should take them to your veterinarian to get checked out. It is always better to be safe than sorry! They may refer you over to a veterinary neurologist, who is a specialist in neurological diseases. The veterinary neurologist can help definitively diagnose what is going on.
How long can your dog live with a brain tumor
Without treatment a dog with a brain tumor may be able to live for several months. Treatment options can include surgery and/or radiation. Surgery and/or radiation therapy may sometimes prolong your dog’s lifespan a year or longer. These treatment options would be performed by a veterinary neurologist or a veterinary oncologist. These are two different veterinary specialists who have undergone additional training.
When to euthanize a dog with a brain tumor
There is no singular formula you can use to choose the best time for a humane euthanasia. What is important is you methodically assess quality of factors affecting your dog’s well-being. From over two decades of experience euthanizing dogs, I have created a pet quality of life checklist. You can print this blog out or copy and paste it to notes you keep on your phone. through That is why you can click here to utilize my quality of life checklist which was the focus of a blog I have written. It is also important a daily journal to monitor the clinical sign. You can use the clinical signs I’ve mentioned in this article, and also consult your veterinarian who could add other clinical signs they think could be monitored.
From my 25 years of serving as an at-home euthanasia veterinarian, I can tell you that it is much better to let your dog go a week too early then a day too late. One way to think about it is you are not choosing to euthanize because the disease process has already done that for you. You are in a very difficult position, not because of anything you’ve done, but simply due to the progression of this disease.
Having euthanized my own animals, as well as hundreds of others animals I can tell you that when the time comes humane euthanasia is the most compassionate decision to make. But many people feel deep guilt, which is why you should reach out to people around you to talk about your thoughts and feelings about this process.
Finally, you will have to decide whether you wish to have your dog euthanized at the clinic or at your home. It is becoming increasingly common to have your dog euthanized at home because it is where you and your dog are the most comfortable. If you’re not sure how to find the best at home euthanasia veterinarian, you can click here to read my article about 7 questions you can ask to find the best at home euthanasia veterinarian in your area. I hope this article has been helpful!
If you do decide the most humane decision is to euthanize your dog, click here to see how you can make it the most special for your dog and your human loved ones.
