Hi again all. So Winston has been happily chowing down all week on his soft kibble, but I noticed a bump on his mouth yesterday and was able to get him in today to a new vet, since mine is on holidays. He's got a big red bump on his lower gum line. The vet said he'll test it, but he's thinking it's cancer. He also said (if results come back that it is) that he could operate, but it would involve removing most of his lower jaw, which leads him to question quality of life after that. He's given me 2 weeks of oral pain killer, and I've got some Hills AD wet food that Winston will get for the next little while, to make it even easier for him to eat.
Anyway, I'll keep giving him wet kibble, but I think this hog is also getting wet food from now on to keep it easier to eat. One question I have though, is when do you decide to put him down or not?? Obviously, surgery doesn't seem like a viable option at this point, though I will consider it, but at the moment I can't tell if he's in pain or not, other than having trouble eating hard kibble. He let me touch the area last night and didn't seem to mind. I don't want to put him down if he's still happy, but don't want to leave it too long if it's better for him overall/if he's starting to suffer. Any advice?? He'll be 5 this Sept, and the vet said everything else looked/sounded good.
Anyway, I'll keep giving him wet kibble, but I think this hog is also getting wet food from now on to keep it easier to eat. One question I have though, is when do you decide to put him down or not?? Obviously, surgery doesn't seem like a viable option at this point, though I will consider it, but at the moment I can't tell if he's in pain or not, other than having trouble eating hard kibble. He let me touch the area last night and didn't seem to mind. I don't want to put him down if he's still happy, but don't want to leave it too long if it's better for him overall/if he's starting to suffer. Any advice?? He'll be 5 this Sept, and the vet said everything else looked/sounded good.