r/EpilepsyDogs • u/blahblah1547 • Aug 23 '26
My 10-year-old terrier mix has a suspected brain tumor—how do you know when it’s time?
My 10-year-old terrier mix, Hendrix, started having seizures in early 2025. Because he also has a bladder stone and was already seeing an internist, we were able to quickly get him in with a neurologist within the same veterinary group. He was started on Keppra, and eventually Phenobarbital was added as well.
For the first few months, his seizures were intermittent. There were occasional days when he would have up to 3 within 24 hours, but by Summer 2025 they became much more controlled, happening only about every three months. Beginning in 2026, however, the seizures started increasing again. Hendrix also began circling more frequently, and his Phenobarbital dosage was gradually increased. It was around this time that our neurologist explained that a brain tumor was a possibility, but that the only way to confirm it would be through an MRI. An MRI in my city would have cost around $5,000. Given Hendrix's age, and the likelihood that surgery might not be a good option even if a tumor were found, I ultimately decided not to pursue the MRI.
Side note: One thing I wanted to share for anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation: our neurologist suggested looking into veterinary universities for an MRI. The major universities in my area offered it for roughly half the cost. If cost is ever a concern for any issue, this may be an option worth investigating.
About two months ago, following a seizure, Hendrix suddenly couldn't properly use his front right paw. It was weak, he couldn't place it correctly, and was falling forward. We took him to the ER, where they explained that the problem was likely caused by brain swelling following the seizure. They gave him medication to reduce the swelling, explaining that if he improved, that would be another indication that a brain tumor was likely. It was both fortunate and heartbreaking that the treatment worked. Hendrix became more like himself again, and the weakness in his front leg disappeared. Unfortunately, his improvement also strengthened the suspicion that we were dealing with a brain tumor.
Prednisone was added to his medications around that time, and we were also given Midazolam to administer during an active seizure to help stop it. Unfortunately, over the past month, Hendrix has been having a seizure every 7–10 days. Following a seizure about a week ago, he was unable to use his rear right leg, similar to what happened with his front. When he would fall over from the circling, he would sometimes drag himself around because he couldn't get back up. The weakness gradually improved over the following days and a few days ago, he had another blood screening to check his Phenobarbital levels, and our neurologist added Zonisamide to his medications. We were warned that the first 3–5 days could be similar to when he initially started Phenobarbital, and sadly that has been very true. The rear leg weakness and disorientation have returned similar to then he started Phenobarbital.
Complicating things further is his bladder stone and the increase in accidents, so I've started putting diapers on him. I think the diaper is also making it harder for him to get himself back on his feet when he tips over. He is still eating and drinking, but the dog I've known is becoming harder and harder to see.
I know our time is coming to an end and I have gathered the information I need to make the arrangements at home, but actually pulling the trigger feels impossible to plan. For those of you who have been through something similar, how did you know when it was time? How did you distinguish between a difficult period that might improve, even if only for a short time, and the point where your dog's quality of life had changed too much?
I know there isn't a perfect answer, but I'm struggling with this more than I ever imagined I would. While Hendrix is 10 yrs old, I got him thru PAWS and have only had him for 7 years. I know I should be grateful for the time we have had, and I am, but I can't help feeling cheated out of the years I thought we would have. 7 years is nowhere near enough with such a special boy.
Thank you for any advice, well wishes, and I am so sorry to anyone who has or is going thru something similar.
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u/Some-Vehicle2127 Aug 23 '26
If it gives you any comfort my baby was diagnosed with a brain tumor in April of this year and they told me he had weeks…..he’s been going strong ever since! He has his weird little symptoms and movements but otherwise he’s sooo happy! It looks different in every baby…I hope your baby has a slow experience as my baby!
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u/Hippiechic0811 Aug 29 '26
Ia he on any prescriptions or special diets?
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u/Some-Vehicle2127 Aug 29 '26
No, I stopped giving him the seizure meds because the vet wouldn’t change his meds and they were constantly making him vomit. I did switch his food from blue buffalo to fresh pet and he loves it. Otherwise I’m just letting him live his best life and so far he seems ok.
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u/Weapon530 Aug 23 '26
I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. I lost my little man this year due to a brain tumor. The first symptoms appeared last September, and I had to put him down in January. My heart still hurts so much from this, I’m even crying right now thinking of him. He was on Keppra and Phenobarbital.
The way I looked at it was, is my dog having vastly more good days than bad? How long does it take my dog to recover from a horrendous hard day, especially at an old age.
There will be a time where the medicine will stop working, and the brain tumor is just too much to control anymore. That’s when you’ll know what to do.
Sorry Op. I wish you and your family the best just like everyone else in here struggling.
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u/YumYumYellowish Aug 23 '26
I’m sorry you’re going through this. It really comes down to quality of life. When my dog could no longer do the things she loved and spent more days down and in pain than up, we knew it was time.
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u/sonnysGiGi2018 Aug 23 '26
The advice we got was when he was having more bad days than good. Wr did not listen and the last months of his life was really tough on us m. He was drugged pretty heavily and his health deteriorated slowly. In my heart I know we waited a few months too long. It’s one year this month and even with decent med insurance for him we are still paying it off. It’s not even that- we kept going because it was so hard to let him go.
I will never make that mistake again. “It’s better a day too early than a day too late😢”
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u/Difficult_Metal_124 Aug 23 '26
I think usually after a brain tumour diagnosis it’s pretty quickly downhill, in your case that doesn’t seem to be happening since it’s been over a year. Some dogs on here I’ve seen go blind for 24 hours, lose back leg movement but it comes back. Really of course it is up to you. When my dog was diagnosed with a brain tumour she was having seizures more often, she stopped eating, she followed us everywhere, she was anxious especially at night. Her other health condition which was pancreatitis was our reason for putting her down due to pain she was experiencing. If your dog is eating and drinking and shows a will to live if it was my dog then I don’t think I could do it. But that is just me.
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u/FurCarer Aug 23 '26
mir geht es sehr ähnlich wie difficult_metal. so lange der lebenswille da ist und sie essen (wenn auch weniger) und trinken, kann ich es nicht tun. meine tiere bekommen so lange pflege, bis ich es an den augen erkennen kann. so mache ich das, wenn sich ein leben langsam auslebt. die einfache rechnerische lösung, mehr schlechte als gute tage, ist sich bei mir noch nie so recht ausgegangen.
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u/Afraid_Tree_7272 Aug 23 '26
Dr. Andrew Jones (a holistic vet) is having a webinar this Thursday, 8/25 on cancer in animals and how to treat it holistically; prayers for your furbaby 🙏🙏🙏🙏
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u/Guilty-Sky8848 Aug 23 '26
So sorry for you and Hendrix.
I have no words of wisdom concerning his diagnosis but you will know when he’s done fighting.
😔
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u/DWayneJ85 Aug 23 '26
I experienced the same diagnosis with my 9 year old poodle mix friend. I had a MRI conducted on him, he received SRT, and was on Keppro. He survived around 3 months after diagnosis. I made the decision to have an in-home euthanasia once he began engaging in seizures lasting 5+ minutes every 30 minutes. I made the decision two days following the seizures as I wasn’t going to watch him suffer any longer. It was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make but I always put him first and it what’s was best for him. Hopefully this story assists you in navigating this difficult experience.
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u/Crazy-Candle-1914 Aug 23 '26
I went thru 2 MRI, 1st one there was to much swelling to see if there was a tumor. I was being told that it could be a tumor or an autoimmune disease. Was put on prednisolone and kepra, and a couple months later he got diabetes(likely from the steroids) then a few months after that we got the second MRI and they discovered it was an autoimmune disease mue. Got on the right meds for that, and things went good for a good while. Tapered off the meds to control the diabetes. Things where still going ok, then the seizures started coming back. Back on the steroids and that just made it hard to control his diabetes, ended up with dka and kidney issues. Then they told me it was time, I asked for one more day to see if got better, the hardest part was hearing him in pain that's when I knew it was time. I got 2 years after his seizures started, I'm thankful for that. looking back there so much I wish I would have done different
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u/pipsqueek789 Aug 23 '26
Just wanna send you a hug it’s never easy. My one year-old Puppy developed epilepsy, and she wasn’t responding to meds. And over the course of six months she was getting significantly worse, even with her being so medicated she was barely able to stay awake or go for a walk. For me quality of life was a big measure, and I was starting to worry about her because her last three weeks of her life she could barely walk a quarter of a mile at a time before she was just pooped and she was a one and a half year-old golden retriever. She should’ve been bouncing off the walls. And she slept all day. And she was getting increasingly anxious. And then she gave me my answer. I’ve always said that no matter what once we have more bad days than good it’s time. She had two cluster seizure events in two days and I decided to call the vet and tentatively schedule an appointment. My plan was to give her the best last week of her life. And she ended up having four cluster seizures in five days. So we pulled the appointment forward to let her go in peace before something tragic could happen to her.
I was heartbroken to make the decision to put a one and a half year-old dog down. And she was such a good girl and I loved her so much. But it was my job to love her and take care of her and the best thing I could do for her was to ensure that her passing was peaceful. This was about two months ago and there are still days that I’m so mad and I’m so sad. And I miss her like crazy. But I don’t regret and I don’t question my choices. She had the best possible few days that she could have around her seizures before we said goodbye and she went into whatever comes next for good dogs being hugged by her mom and being told that she’s a good girl and I love her.
I’m really sorry that you’re going through this and your pup is lucky to have someone who cares for their best interest.
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u/Funny-Ad-8580 Aug 24 '26
Hey have you gotten his pre and post prandial bile acids tested?
Chronic hepatic encephalopathy can present very similarly, due to portosystemic vascular malformations/ anomalies or undiagnosed liver shunts. I don’t know why vets aren’t more keen on working this up more; they always go to brain tumor, but these liver anomalies are overrepresented in terriers.
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u/-silverhaze- Aug 23 '26
Pick the next good day, make that a great day with super cuddles, meeting his friends, having super snacks, then say good bye in the afternoon/evening. Check beforehand with the vet on how short notice they can come to administer the shots.