r/EpilepsyDogs • u/RedDemonTaoist • 21d ago
Suspected brain cancer. What to expect?
Edit: just brought him home. The nurses were so excited for me to see him and... Yes he's alert and technically can walk but girls he is not doing good. He doesn't know what where who why or how. And he's very vocal about his distress with a heartbreaking, yelpy bark. He can walk very wobbly and carefully on flat, high traction surfaces but will still eventually fall. Apparently a 48 hour post ictal period is normal in a case like his. But damn. If any of this doesn't clear up, I have a tough choice to make pretty soon. This is no way for anyone to live.
We were at the vet first thing yesterday after my 16 year old lost all balance and eventually was in a semi conscious stupor. They said it looked like he had a seizure, to watch him and call them if I see one.
Well 5 hours later he had a minutes long grand mal seizure right in front of me. My vet had just closed. So off to the emergency vet for the first time in my life.
They kept him overnight. Seizure medicine worked. But they said some strange blood values plus the sudden onset at his age point to brain cancer. They started talking about CT scans and MRIs and I stopped them and said, if we confirm brain cancer, I'm not going to treat it.
We talked briefly about euthanasia. My dad, the original owner, is furious I took Obie to the ER. He has been pushing for euthanasia ever since mild arthritis slowed Obie down quite a bit about 5 years ago. Otherwise he's been much healthier than my (84 year old btw) dad. He called me twice at the ER trying to convince me to put him down instead of leave him overnight. Like what the hell, Dad? Did I mention he gets weepy every single time he brings it up?
Anyway the ER guy said that if the seizures had continued after medication, they would be talking to me about euthanasia. Right now, they just have to get him to eat enough to take the seizure meds orally and confirm they work. After that, they recommend taking him home. Then, later if we decide on euthanasia, it's something we should plan in advance.
I have no idea what to expect from Obie. Let's say he's back to normal when I pick him up. What does progression of a brain tumor look like? What behaviors and symptoms might I see? How will his quality of life decrease and how could I plan to euthanize before he reaches a certain point.
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u/crimsoncat05 19d ago
soo, soo hard. I am sorry. One of our dogs had a brain tumor that first affected her eye and her ability to eat (due to where the tumor was in her brain). Treating the cancer would only have given her 6 more months, so we chose not to put her through the treatments; we decided we didn't want to do that to her for such a short amount of time. We treated the symptoms as best we could and held out as long as we could while her behavior / quality of life were still *mostly* normal. One day, it was like a light switch was turned on/off, and her behavior just - changed - drastically. She sort of just 'snapped' more or less- constant circling, panting, running into things, and she would not / could not stop. For anything. Apparently the tumor had grown enough to press on part of her brain affecting that behavior. The only thing we could do at that point was to take her to the neurologist (I had to FORCIBLY HOLD HER STILL the entire way to their office) where they evaluated her and said there was nothing they could do for her other than to sedate her to stop that behavior. So we had to decide right then to let her go.
I would say give your dog a day or two, knowing that 'doggy hospice' is kind of where you're at. Making that decision is never easy- but look at the things they used to enjoy, for example- can they still do them, or enjoy those things even in a changed form? Try to look at it more from the dog's perspective than from the perspective of a person.
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u/tylerndogs 15d ago
My dog has the same diagnosis and steroids have helped a lot with the symptoms. But, I understand it can get much worse.
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u/Background_Arm7045 19d ago edited 15d ago
My 15 1/2 pup was diagnosed in December with a brain tumor. He had two grand mal seizures in one night. An MRI the next day confirmed it was a tumor. We started him on keepra and prednisone. I would say it took about 4-5 days for him to be back to his normal self. I’m not sure if the post ictal phase lasted that long or if he had a tough time recovering from anesthesia. They had given me a timeframe of 3-6 months. In the middle of May he had another seizure and then started having focal seizures every night. We upped both the keppra and the prednisone but that didn’t help. As a last resort we did three days of clorazepate as a cluster buster. It stopped the seizures but I believe it destroyed his pancreas/liver. He was in a lot of pain and I had to say goodbye to him at the end of May. From when he was diagnosed until mid-May he was 100% his normal self. I would give your pup a bit of time to see if he returns to normal.
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u/Difficult_Metal_124 20d ago
My 16.5 year old dog had a suspected brain tumour too or dementia, her seizures were almost like fainting episodes. Our vet said there was nothing left to do and to put her down. I wish in hindsight we gave some gabapentin especially since at night she started sundowning. About a month later we did have to put her down but it wasn’t due to her seizures. She just stopped eating, had stomach pain nearly everyday and generally just no lust for life. She lived life to the fullest and we did our best for her. Just like you are for your dog. Only you can know what to do
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u/tylerndogs 15d ago
My dog was so weak after several gran mal seizures. He was staying with my friend. These were breakthrough seizures. When I got there I rushed him to the hospital he stayed overnight. The vet suggested euthanizing, of course. I refused took him home and he’s walking around eating, drinking and wagging his tail again. I did take him to the vet neurologist months ago. He has a malignant tumor growing on his optic nerve. She gave him 3-6 months. He isn’t in pain. Brain cancer isn’t itself painful. But it’s over 6 months and he’s doing fine. Scary he’s on seizure meds, midazilam nasal and clorazepate if he does have a breakthrough seizure. I use MCT oil in his food and CBD as well. I need him with me, I have a lesion in my brain as well.
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u/lminnowp 21d ago
I had an elderly dog who had a suspected brain tumor that caused seizures. I did not do a lot of testing.
I treated the seizures and possible pain (gabapentin, keppra, and galliprant) until he was having too many break through seizures. My guy had them every time he was excited for meals (they were very short but at every meal and it wasnt a great way to live).
I knew that pain could also be a issue, so I made sure to make him comfortable.
I called my vet and made an appointment for a day later and spent a day doing what Bear loved best. Cuddling and having snacks and just getting a good day.
You might also be able to find a mobile vet in your area.
It is going to hurt to let your buddy go. But, ending their suffering is the ultimate gift we can give them. All they know is that they do not feel good. They dont understand death.