Quote:
Originally Posted by btrtevino  Hi, I am meeting with a specialist tomorrow, but from what i have been told my only option will be a hemimandiblectomy where they rewmove half of her lower jaw.
According to 3 different vets, she will be able to resume her normal life after recovery, but I am not sure if I believe this. |
I'm very sorry this is what has brought you here, but you are not alone. Many of us found this website when our dogs became very ill, me included (different disease).
I think you are VERY wise to be skeptical. From everything I've read about bone cancer (and yes my dog did succumb to it in the end
), the primary tumor sends tumor "seeds" throughout the body, along with a chemical to inhibit their growth. Once the primary tumor is removed, so is the chemical that inhibits growth, and they begin to grow in other parts of the body. Osteosarcoma is not survivable and not curable. I would not do this surgery on my dog.
We have another member who did have it done and the poor dog has gone through one thing after another, including needing to have one of her eyes removed. Here's a search on her (username "kimi") and you can decide for yourself if this is something you'd want to put your dog through (begin reading from bottom to top as the threads are in reverse order by date):
Rottweiler Discussion Forums - Search Results
Another good source of insight is this thread:
Ethical Issue: Cancer Treatment Decisions
Ultimately it's up to you, just keep in mind that a vet's job is to treat the sick, and so they will. Whether that is wise or not depends on what the dog has to go through to accomplish it, and is a question each owner faced with decisions regarding cancer treatment needs to take to heart prior to making those decisions. These dogs can't speak for themselves....it is our job to do that for them in the best way we know how.
I'm very sorry you and your dog are going through this.