Trigger Warning: Pet Loss Topic. (Hospice choice rather than treatment.)
Sometimes time can walk up and hit you in the face. We've seen a paradigm shift with Zwi, progressive neuropathy and a constellation of subtle changes are pointing to cancer (most likely melanoma given the symptoms)...
He's thirteen and a large breed, realistically speaking it shouldn't be a shock, (26% of all greyhound cancers are skin related and nearly 45% of all greys end up with some type of cancer), but even as I was brushing him outside this morning I was looking at all the fur coming off thinking this isn't right. Something is going on and then I found the damn mass. It wasn't there three days ago.
He also struggled on the stairs in a way I'd never seen. This wasn't his lazy toe dragging fumble, this was loss of coordination in his front paws, toes rolled under, something he has never done before. And even on flat surfaces upstairs his back toes roll under at a much greater frequency. He doesn't have another winter left in him.
Right now it is about keeping him comfortable and safe. His quality of life is good, but time is not on our side.
Treatments like chemo, radiation, and surgery are off the table considering Zwi's age and his breed. And even with aggressive treatment dogs with melanoma have a life expectancy of about ten months at the most. This is also not a decision that is taken lightly. We want Zwi comfortable and as happy as we can make him, not sick and more neurologically impacted than he already is. Addressing the cancer would do far more harm than good, just for a couple extra months of time.
I hate these conversations. It is like a brick to the face, unfortunately it is one of those things that can't remain unspoken. And as much as it shreds the heart, you know it's the right decision. We're taking the route of hospice care, not treatment, with Zwi. We still have a bit of time with him, just not as much as we thought.