Animal centre shines light on putting suffering pets to sleep
Cancer has always been seen as a human illness, but animals are also diagnosed and can die of cancer.
It’s important to know when it is time to euthanise a suffering pet, the Wetnose animal rescue centre based in the north of Pretoria said.
This was after a malnourished 15-year-old dog that was diagnosed with cancer was brought to the animal rescue centre recently.
Mona the labrador cross was malnourished with horrible teeth, had kidney failure and due to old age was half blind and half deaf.
The dog was going through such excruciating pain, it couldn’t even eat anymore and went day in and day out through this pain.
Through a post on social media, the centre explained that they had to decide to “send her off to heaven”.
“We all know how difficult it can be to let go of the ones you love, how difficult it is to say goodbye.
“Every person eventually comes to a point in their lives where they have to decide to send their fur babies to heaven, whether it is due to old age or any other circumstance. The important part is knowing when to do so,” said Wetnose MD Debbie Buys.
Buys noted that when your dog can’t walk, eat or relieve themselves – when these signs appear, it is already long past the threshold.
“The answer is simply that, cancer and disease that is left to fester is a death sentence to any creature.
“The right choice is often the most difficult one to make because we selfishly want to hold on to the last vestiges of life that is left in our pets, without empathising with their pain.
“Our pets have the privilege that so many humans don’t, to pass on quietly and with dignity, and not have to suffer the ravages of disease any longer.”
Buys emphasised that Mona could have passed on next to her mother, to whom she stayed loyal for more than a decade. Instead, she had to pass in the arms of strangers to her.
“After many years of love and devotion, it is our duty as pet owners to make the right decision, at the right time, and for the right reason.”
Munnik Marais CEO of the Southern African cancer association (Saaca) added that in one study, 45% of the dogs that reached 10 years of age or older died of cancer.
“Cancer has always been seen as a human illness, but little does everybody know that animals are also diagnosed and die of cancer.
“Saaca was established as a need for animals with cancer.”
Marais shared the following things pet owners can look for in their dogs for possible cancer:
– Lumps and bumps underneath your pet’s skin.
– Abnormal odours from the mouth, ears, or other parts of your dog’s body.
– Non-healing wounds or sores.
– Loss of appetite or weight loss.
– Coughing or difficulty breathing.
– Increased drinking or frequency of urinating.
– Difficulty in swallowing.
– Changes in bathroom habits.
– Evidence of pain.
– Lower energy levels.
“If you detect any of the above please take your dog to the vet to ensure what it is,” he concluded.
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