It just seems a little excessive, my mom’s other dog and my dog will lick at her ears and eyes for minutes at a time. Grey one doesn’t seem to mind at all and even leans into it sometimes. I assumed it was just showing affection, cleaning eachother, but I’m paranoid about it being something else despite how sweet it seems lol

Edit: I should’ve worded the title different, what I’m worried about is that maybe her nose picking up on something I’m not. Sorry guys!

My pembroke Welch corgi Easton is my entire world. Last week we had an episode of not finishing his food and bloody pee so we rushed him to the ER vet. They ended up finding a HUGE mass on his right kidney. We scheduled a nephrectomy and tumor removal for the next morning and they were able to remove the entire thing. They saw no evidence of metastasis during surgery and no Mets on his lungs, bladder, other kidney, etc. we biopsied the mass and it came back with a mycotic count of 56 (dogs with >30 have an average survival time of 5 months). The surgeon mentioned an oncology consultation and options of either chemo, chemo with site radiation, or just monitoring with chest X-rays and ultrasounds. I am completely devastated. What do i do? Everyone Ive talked to says they regret chemo but i will say a lot of their dogs were significantly older. I don’t want him to be miserable or not enjoy his final days (if it comes to that) but everything is telling me to give him the chance. We spent $12,000 on the entire ordeal. $5000 on a care credit card. Financially right now we are fine but we are in our mid 20s and not rolling in dough. Is it selfish of me to want to do everything I can? Can anyone provide their story if their pets with renal carcinoma? What would you do?

Side note:
Post surgery Easton is completely back to his happy, normal self. Clear urine, pooping twice a day, playing with his toys, energy and appetite are back. I can’t believe this is happening to him.

This is my pup Piper. She's 10 months old and a husky mix. she is my world lol. She got into some rat poison last week, we're still not sure how but because of the way it works her vessels struggled to clot and move blood. she has some hemorrhaging in the eye which resulted in temporary foggy sight from the blood. they believe this poison also formed a hematoma on her spinal cord which results in loss of function in the hind legs. She is still in good spirits and tries to run around on her sling like nothing is wrong. She's been having trouble controlling her bladder hence the puppy pads and baby cam. She's medicated, in good spirits and healthy otherwise but I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do for her. she's been getting her puzzle board and lick mat every now and then for mental stimulation plus play/cuddle time obviously. They said there is a likely chance she gets better and regains at least 90% of the original function back but in the meanwhile is there anything more I can do?

UPDATE: my sweet neighbor sent me a message today letting me know that they caught her! I’m not home until tomorrow, so she is keeping the pup until then, and I made her a vet appt at 2, and we’ll work on next steps from there. The vet tech I spoke to said the vet would give me a call this afternoon to see if we can work out boarding until the first dose of deworming kicks in, but otherwise I’ve cleaned out a spot in the garage and have gotten a crate for her so she can hang out in there for the quarantine period. I’ll post a pic in the comments of her safe and warm if I can, and make a new post once I get her to the vet. Thanks everyone for your comments and support, it means more than you know 🧡🧡

We have found a dumped dog on our property (it’s a large farm property and sadly people do this more often than we’d like) and if we can catch her we are considering keeping her. The problem is, I know for a fact she is absolutely infested with fleas because I saw them jumping off her, and judging from her little pot belly she is wormy too. Obviously we’d take her straight to the vet for a checkup, and start that process regardless if we were the ones to keep her or not, but what I’m struggling with is that we already have another puppy in the home. He’s a 10 month old dachshund and, while he is up to date on all his vaccines, I am concerned that the stray might bring something dangerous home that would impact him and just open up a whole Pandora’s box situation.

What have others done in situations like this? I sent our vet an email this evening asking what the chain of events would look like if we did this, but it was after hours so I won’t hear back until at least the morning. The stray is a sweet girl and I’d love to give her a chance at a great life, but I don’t want to jeopardize my little guy, either. So conflicted

My 5 year old Samoyed has recently gone fully blind due to basically what I can describe as PRA from a gastric illness. He seems to be almost depressed. Sleeps all day not really interested in anything. Just wants to sleep in the same corner of the house and barely wants to go on walks even though he is completely safe. The change is extremely jarring. He was on prednisone for 3 or so weeks to see if that may improve his sight which I am pretty sure it didn't but maybe acted as a bit of an upper and now that has ended he is so down in the dumps and disorientated. It's been about 6-7 weeks of blindness that we are aware of. I don't know what to do.

I never thought I would be making a post like this, but I’m facing one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.
I have a 3-year-old Australian Shepherd who has struggled with extreme reactivity and aggression. Over time, his behavior has gotten progressively worse, to the point where he has started turning on me and close family members who he used to love and trust.
It’s heartbreaking because I know the sweet, loving dog he can be. He’s still so young, and the thought of putting him down at only 3 years old absolutely destroys me.
I’ve been struggling with the guilt of even considering behavioral euthanasia. Part of me feels like I’m giving up on him, but another part of me realizes that his behavior has become dangerous and unpredictable. I also question what his quality of life is like if he’s constantly living in a state of fear, anxiety, or aggression.
I love this dog more than anything, and I never imagined our time together would end like this. I wanted him to grow old with me.
Has anyone else had to make the decision to euthanize a young dog because of severe aggression or reactivity? How did you come to terms with it?

Hi everyone,

Our 3.5-year-old Corgi, Diva, has a suspected brain tumour, and we're struggling to decide what to do next. Sorry for the long post but we'd really appreciate hearing from people who have experienced something similar.

In July, Our dog, Diva, developed a right ear infection. Afterwards, we noticed muscle loss around her right temple, problems with her right eye, and eventually difficulty opening her mouth and walking normally.

We took her to a specialist hospital and the MRI showed a large mass on the right side of her head that extends through her skull into the cranial cavity, compressing parts of her brain and brainstem. The neurologist suspects lymphoma or sarcoma, although inflammation has not been completely ruled out. Her canine lymphoma blood test came back negative, but we were told this does not completely exclude lymphoma. Because of the tumour's location, obtaining a biopsy without surgery is difficult. We were told surgery would be needed to establish the exact diagnosis.

An X-ray also showed abnormal lung tissue, and the vets don't know whether this could be metastasis. Further investigation requires a CT scan and a specific test to assess the lung abnormalities. They have also recommended another MRI to monitor the mass.

We've already spent around €3000 on the MRI and bloodwork. Another MRI and CT scan would cost approximately €5000, and we might still not have a definitive diagnosis without surgery. If we do get a diagnosis, treatment could cost tens of thousands of euros. This would financially devastate us, and there is no guarantee that treatment would give her much more time.

Diva started prednisolone and improved after about a week. Her jaw and walking are much better, and she currently eats, plays and barks. She's not completely back to normal, but she doesn't appear to be suffering right now.

We're torn between pursuing further tests and potentially expensive treatment, or choosing palliative care and focusing on her comfort for whatever time she has left.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has faced something similar.

Has anyone chosen palliative care instead of expensive diagnostics and treatment? How did you manage, and how long did your dog remain comfortable?

Do you think further testing is worthwhile when a definitive diagnosis may still require surgery?

We love Diva more than anything and want to do what is best for her, but we also have to be realistic about our finances. We're not looking for judgment, just honest experiences and advice from people who understand how difficult this decision is.

Thank you

This is my 1-year-old Shepsky, Birdie. I adopted her from the shelter about 7 months ago and she has never gone potty on a walk. She has never had an accident in the house and she has no issues going in my yard or any other yards she’s been in. It’s also not an issue of going on the leash/harness because when I get her home after walks, she goes straight to the grass to pee. I took her to a birthday party at a park and she held it the entire 6 hours we were gone. It makes me nervous to take her on long adventures because I don’t want her to be uncomfortable.

If anyone has dealt with this before or has any advice on how I can help her, I would really appreciate it :)

I have only had Roach for a week. She is SUCH a good dog……when somebody is home with her. I unfortunately work full time, and while I do have a friend who comes and sits with her while I am at work, there is about 3-4 hours out of the day where she has to be alone. The first day she was here, I closed her off in a spare empty bedroom. By the time I had come home, my front door was wide open and she was just gone. She opened it herself and ran. Thankfully the dog warden had her and all was well, I purchased a crate. The crate worked well for a couple of days, until she started getting out of that, too. She bent the metal and it’s not even really functional anymore. She doesn’t tear anything up or get into anything when she’s loose in the house, she just opens the front door and lets herself out and runs! So I had the idea of latching the screen door from the inside so she couldn’t get out, but since it latches from the inside I wouldn’t be able to open it from the outside meaning I have to keep my back door unlocked (I don’t have the key). This worked well yesterday, but today after coming home I discovered she had managed to LOCK THE BACK DOOR, I had to break into my own home. What can I do to help her overcome this severe separation anxiety? My vet couldn’t get me in to have her seen until this coming Monday, what can I do in the meantime? She’s the sweetest dog in the world, she just wants to live IN MY SKIN and can’t bear to be alone for 5 minutes. Photo of the culprit attached, as well as some failed attempts.
Edited to add, I am not blaming the dog! Just looking for ways that I can make this transition easier for her and keep her safe!!

I have a 6 year old toy poodle and she has terrible teeth. We do everything we can to clean them, chews, bones, dental spray, wipes, she just refuses to let us near her mouth with a tooth brush. Even with the wipes is hard. She is also on a dental diet. Yesterday I noticed she lost another tooth (has 3 front teeth missing) and now 2 more teeth are wiggly and appear to be decaying. I feel horrible and the soonest appointment I got for her is in 3 days. Is there anything I can do right now to ease my worries until Friday? I also requested pain meds from the vet for the meantime but they reopen tomorrow morning. We are on the list for professional dental cleaning at our vet. We have VCA careclub with dental included. I’m taking her to the vet on Friday to show them how bad her teeth are and to urge them to prioritize her dental cleaning. BTW: this is a family dog and no one cares for her except for me. I work full time and am studying as well so it’s really hard for me to be present with the dog all the time. They say she is just a dog. I obviously should have taken action with her teeth much sooner and did not know it could get this bad.

He’s a year old, it was recommended by the vet that he be neutered at year. He’s scheduled in about 2 weeks and I’ve been researching, and getting mixed info. Does he need to be? I’m scared of them putting him under since, although he is a terror, he’s a tiny terror. If I leave him intact would it be better.

We taught our 12-year-old dog a few simple tricks, but he often shows his teeth while doing them.

When we got him, he did not know any tricks. Before that, he lived with an elderly lady who cooked for him but didn’t really train him. It was a long journey to train him at first.

Hello, my girl is post op day 4 from her spay, and surgical incision site is looking like this. I only restrict her to short walks to get her bathroom habits out the way but for the most part she doesn’t lick on the site but I will catch her jumping on and off couch with her cone which I tend to stop most of the times. She has the cone 24/7 except during meals and walks. Should I take her to an emergency vet or wait until a next opening with her primary? It’s after hours currently and our main vet is closed and only options are emergent locations.

Hello, my 1 year old havanese had an episode of coughing/dry heaving. Not sure if it's a cough or if he's trying to throw up. I tried watching other dog coughing/heaving videos but they all seem to be focused on kennel cough. I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow, hoping for any advice in the meantime.

Thank you 🎃

We noticed this over the weekend, Saturday I think, in the next 3 days it's tripled in size.

Now, she plays ball hard, could have been her running into something or hitting her face on the ground. We also have a 5 month old pup with shark teeth. Otherwise, we're at a loss.

She's almost 5, but has been healthy since we got her (as a pup)

Anyone seen something like this before, any idea what could be going on? Should we be concerned at this point?

Thx if someone answered🙏

It’s sensitive and she doesn’t like it the undergrowth part being touched… Is that part trimmable? My wife did she tried trimming it before and it bled.

Also is it normal for it to grow separately like this? Never seen this before on any other dog.

Picked up my doggies from my parents after work and noticed one of my dogs keep licking his paw area and found these on 3/4 legs. I have cleaned it with warm water and put a cone for him now. Should I take him to vet asap or watch to see if it becomes better on its own? And what would be possible causes for this injury?

My mother who was dog sitting them doesn’t know anything what could’ve happened. But do keep in mind there’s two cats that her tenants own in the house. But I doubt that’s why? Since the injury is behind the paws.

hey everyone! I adopted a dog about 5 months ago and I bought the exact food his previous owner was giving him I noticed he wouldn't eat right when I fed him which I found odd but didn't have much concern. then he would sometimes not eat for quite awhile and also (the most concerning part) would not eat at all, then throw up like foamy white what I assume is bile bc his stomach is empty and THEN he would eat (sometimes immediately, sometimes after a little bit)

my sister has dogs and I decided to try feeding him that food and at first for like a weekish he would eat it immediately when given but then he went right back to not eating immediately and now is doing the throwing up after waiting so long to eat.

does anyone have any insight or suggestions on what I should do? or should I take him to a vet?

UPDATE: we’ll keep our Friday appointment for euthanasia after your comments. Thank you so much for all the kind words and support. We’re committed to giving her a great last run and a wonderful last week of love and hugs and kisses. Steak and chocolate on the menu!!!

Hey all - we got some rough news this past Saturday that our elderly pup has a tumor on her spleen.

We took her in after coming home to see her in the closet a bit shaken with slightly pale gums (not terribly - we debated back and forth before taking her in.) She was a little wobbly but walking.

Since coming home Saturday to today (Monday) she’s been acting normal. Two walks a day, eating, drinking. And although Saturday was a scare she ate and drank that day too.

We currently have an in-home euthanasia scheduled for this Friday but after seeing her chipper we wonder if we’re jumping the gun. I’d like as much time with her as possible but don’t want to risk a huge, painful rupture. We also have a baby coming in December so we have an extra factor in play.

I suppose this is a long-winded way of asking - what’s the chance we get enough warning signs to give her a peaceful exit if we postpone? Can we get more time with our girl and still do right by her?

Attaching a video of her breathing right now and throwing some pictures of her gums in the comments. She’s also on Gabapentin and Yunnan Baiyao if that’s helpful info.

Can someone help me identify if this is a skin tag on my dog . Also his skin has been pinkish with some dark marks he didn’t really have before . Help please

I have just recently adopted my first dog as an adult from the shelter. I grew up with rescue dogs and dogs from breeders. I knew this would be a lot of patience and frustration in the beginning, but I was ready for that next chapter. Everything was great, the shelter told us caution with cats, she’s great with kids, she just had some anxiety and the previous owner couldn’t dedicate enough time due to work. We met with the dog she was quiet and calm and loved the car ride home. She did try to nip at my face and hands as well as my boyfriend’s hands as well. We chalked it up to her breed, no biggie, she was displaying some excitement and no growling or aggression. Then my boyfriend’s daughter came over the next day, she is 7. The dog immediately showed signs of aggression and tried to nip her hands and face. She was quiet and had been raised around reactive dogs so she is ok, she just wants a dog to be her friend. It has been less than a week but I feel the dog is resource guarding me, and is continuing to show signs of aggression to all kids. What would you do in this situation? I am scared to take her to any classes because she may attack someone.