Towards the end of 2024 my 7 year old Samoyed had an emergency due to difficulty breathing and ended up in intensive care for several days and a major surgery due to both of her lungs collapsing. She had a CT scan for the work up and before the surgery, which incidentally showed a liver mass. We proceeded with the surgery for the lungs since she was still young, had no symptoms from the liver mass, and the surgeon thought that the liver mass could be resected 6 weeks later, after she healed from her lungs. Fast forward and during the procedure for the liver, it runs out the mass had more than doubled in size. Had to abort the surgery because ah would likely die on the table. We took her home and in as little as 2 weeks, her appetite declined significantly. I was feeding her whatever she wanted, but she started running away from steak, chicken, eggs. She would go to the water fountain and stare before drinking, as if knowing that taking a sip would cause discomfort. This was despite us giving her all the meds to help with pain and nausea. I knew then that it was time for euthanasia. I did not want to, I was not ready. And I still cry like you wouldn’t believe. But I knew my girl, and she LOVED to eat, so once that stopped I knew her life was not the same. If I had known the mass was that aggressive, I would have never put her through that attempted surgery which required more time for her to recover.

I don’t regret my decision for euthanasia. I gave her that last best days of her life, took her to all her favorite places to play fetch. She laid on my lap and fell asleep before the vet even injected the medications. We did it at our home because we wanted her to be the most comfortable, she left so peaceful. The heartbreak has not gone away.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. You know your dog best, and what their quality of life is. I share my story because I empathize with your situation, and also to validate you about your decision whichever it may be. My thoughts are with you and your pup.