Knowing When a Dog With Oral Fibrosarcoma Is No Longer Comfortable
I am treating him with an anitbiotic and tramadol for pain. He has trouble eating and drinking but still goes for walks. He pain seems to be in control but he his licking his legs more often than normal.
How do you determine when is pain level is too high and he is no longer comfortable?
We’re so sorry your boy is facing this. It’s clear you’re watching him closely, and that is the best thing you can do for him now.
Dogs hide pain well, so look for changes rather than obvious crying. Signs that mouth pain is getting worse include eating less or dropping food, pawing at the mouth, drooling or bleeding, bad breath, not wanting his head touched, restlessness or panting at night, hiding, and losing interest in walks. New licking can be a sign of discomfort or stress, so mention it to your vet. Keeping a simple daily diary of good and bad days, or using a quality-of-life scale with your vet, can make the picture clearer.
Pain control can often be stepped up, for example by adding other medicines, and palliative radiation can shrink some tumors and ease pain for a while. Soft, soaked food and a wide water bowl may help him eat and drink. When bad days start to outnumber good ones, or he can no longer eat comfortably, it may be time to talk with your vet about saying goodbye. For more on comfort care and quality of life, see our guide to mouth cancer in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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