A brain tumor in a dog is an abnormal growth of cells that can put pressure on the brain and surrounding tissues. While some dogs can live for months or even years after diagnosis with proper treatment, brain tumors can progressively worsen and in worst case scenarios may be fatal.
Knowing the signs of decline can help you make thoughtful, compassionate decisions during this difficult time.
Potential Clinical Signs of Brain Tumors
Brain tumors can cause significant changes in your dog’s physical abilities, personality, and daily routines. Unlike the age-related decline, symptoms from a brain tumor may appear suddenly and progress quickly.
You may notice:
- Difficulty tracking moving objects or catching balls.
- Struggling with stairs or becoming disoriented in familiar spaces.
- Wobbling, circling, or unsteady walking.
- Behavioral changes, like accidents in the house
- Standing in one place for periods or time and/or facing a wall
Some days, your dog may seem relatively normal, eating and playing as usual. Other days, you may notice dramatic declines in energy, appetite, or mood. An increase in the number or severity of these signs indicate you should consider consulting your veterinarian for advice.
The Timeline of Brain Tumors in Dogs
Brain tumors often go unnoticed until neurological symptoms appear and prompt a veterinary visit. After diagnosis, the progression typically follows this timeline:
- Without Treatment: Depending on the stage of disease, prognosis may range from days to weeks.
- With Basic Care: Symptomatic treatments like steroids can increase quality of life, and extend life.
- With Advanced Treatment: Surgery and/or radiation therapy may extend survival to months or years.
- Final Stage: Severe neurological symptoms usually develop in the last 1-2 weeks, often leading to the recommendation of euthanasia.
While there’s no cure for brain tumors in dogs, treatment options like surgery and radiation therapy can help manage symptoms and extend quality time. Consultation with your regular veterinarian or a specialist can help to balance the multiple visits this would require with the impact on your dog.
Factors that improve survival include having a single tumor rather than multiple tumors, metastasis to other organs, and showing mild rather than severe neurological symptoms at diagnosis.
When to Consider Euthanasia
Deciding when to let go is one of the hardest decisions you’ll face. Watching for certain signs can help guide you.
Veterinarians often recommend using the HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale to assess a pet’s well-being. Developed by Dr. Alice Villalobos, this practical framework evaluates their condition across seven key areas to help pet owners and veterinarians make compassionate decisions (Villalobos, 2004).
Quality of Life Assessment:
The HHHHHMM Scale asks you to score each category from 0-10 (with 10 being the best quality):
- Hurt: Is your dog showing signs of discomfort, such as pressing their head against walls or reacting negatively to gentle touch?
- Hunger: Are they eating less or showing confusion at mealtime, even with familiar food?
- Hydration: Can they drink water independently, or do they need assistance to stay hydrated?
- Hygiene: Are they experiencing accidents or struggling with their usual bathroom routine?
- Happiness: Has their personality changed? Are once-enjoyable activities causing stress instead of happiness?
- Mobility: Are they having difficulty moving around, stumbling, or appearing disoriented in familiar spaces?
- More Good Days: Are moments of confusion and distress becoming more frequent than periods of comfort?
Add up the scores from all seven categories. A total score above 35 (out of a possible 70) suggests an acceptable quality of life, whereas a lower score often means it may be time to consider euthanasia.
At-Home Euthanasia: A Gentle Farewell
At-home euthanasia allows your dog to remain in a familiar setting, surrounded by loved ones during their final moments. Without the stress of a car ride or unfamiliar clinic, they can rest comfortably in their favorite spot.
Compassionate Care has been providing 24/7 in-home euthanasia services in Portland since 2009, ensuring peaceful, dignified farewells. Our veterinarians foster a calm and unrushed environment, guiding you through each step with compassion and respect.
Finding Comfort in Shared Experiences
Beyond checklists and observations, hearing from families who have walked this difficult path can provide guidance and support. Though each goodbye is unique, there’s comfort in shared experiences.
In their own homes, surrounded by familiar sights and sounds, pets can remain peaceful in their final moments. “There was no better way to honor the life of our dog than to make sure that his passing was gentle, kind, and without fear,” one family shares. Another tells us: “Being at home made everything easier – my pet was comfortable in his own space, with the people he loved.”
These quiet moments stay with families. “Although it was the hardest, saddest day,” one client remembers, “having her pass while asleep in her own bed made our grieving much easier.” The gentle pace helps too: “The vet was very sympathetic and kind… she took time to explain each step and allowed us to take it slowly, moment by moment.”
At home, pets can stay where they feel safest, in their favorite spots, with their closest family near.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my dog is suffering?
Watch for changes in activities that they typically enjoyed, confusion in familiar spaces, or disinterest in or difficulty with basic functions like eating and walking. Signs of distress can include head pressing, restless pacing, or withdrawing from family interaction.
Will treatment extend my dog’s life?
Treatment options like surgery and radiation therapy can extend life to potentially 6-16 months with good quality time. However, the success varies greatly depending on tumor type, location, and how early treatment begins.
When is the right time to let go?
Many families find clarity by tracking their dog’s “good days” versus difficult ones, noting when confusion, seizures, or personality changes become more frequent than moments of joy. One measure of severe decline is to let them go while they can still do some of the things they used to enjoy.
Saying Goodbye with Compassion
While making end-of-life decisions is never easy, it is a profound act of love to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Work closely with your vet to assess your dog’s condition, and trust your instincts when it comes to their comfort and well-being. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey—resources, support groups, and compassionate care providers are here to help you every step of the way.
Sources: Villalobos, A. (2008). The “HHHHHMM” Quality of Life Scale. OVMA Conference Proceedings, 97-101.
