Bone Tumor! What to do?

[sagoxsago]

Our Rottweiler puppy - 14 Months has been diagnosed with a bone tumor on the left forearm. What options do we have other than euthanasia.

How successful is Chemo Therapy on dogs?
What is the process. Is it a one off treatment, continual treatment.

She is fed on Royal Canin, is not over weight, but is very very active.

Has anybody got through this successfully.

Please advise urgently.

[mmgy]

Wow, she's so very young! Is it osteosarcoma, or chondrosarcoma?

Is amputation not an option? I'm not sure that chemo works on these type tumors.

Please search the vet's corner here for cancer remedies, and pay particular attention to posts by user name "chivas". She has really studied osteosarcoma, and knows of nearly every protocol. Also, search under vet's corner and nutrition for cancer diet information.

Best of luck to you and your girl, and we'll do what we can to help.

[Judi W]

It is highly unusual for this in such a very young dog. If you go to http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/showthread.php?t=38898
you will find the experiences tabulated from an informal survey of forum members. It is not promising or optimistic.

[sagoxsago]

Hi

Will find out from Vet if it is osteosarcoma, or chondrosarcoma this afternoon.

When you say manage the pain, do you let the dog live it's days out on pain killers, is the growth removed? The vet says it has not spread, but does not recommend amputation for large breeds?

He said he would amputate a hind leg, but has reservations about the front.

[Judi W]

Yes, that is what pain management means. Keeping the dog comfortable as long as possible and then letting them go when they no longer have quality of life.

[panda]

Our Max had bone cancer and was PTS three weeks after diagnosis before the pain got too much. I dont believe in giving dogs chemo or radiotherapy, this really only gives the owner a little hope but the dog has to go through too much pain and discomfort, and does not understand what is happening to him. We all want the best for our dogs, but keeping them alive for our sake is IMO not right. I have seen some dogs really suffering because their owners thought they were giving them a chance of recovery.

Anne and JoJo

[mmgy]

Here's a easy-to-read website that might give you some more info. You should prepare yourself for the worst, but don't give up.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...eosarcoma.html

[chivas]

How did the vet DX a bone tumor?? Through xrays, bloodwork? what?
This is a very aggressive cancer but there are dogs that have survived it, not many but some have. If you choose to treat you must DO IT NOW. DO NOT WAIT!!!!
Get him on a low carb raw diet ASAP, treat his pain ( and he DOES have pain - this is a painful cancer) dont waste your time with Rimadyl, get your vet to prescribe piroxicam.
Most importantly, if the tumor can be seen in his lungs on xray, im afraid the news is very poor.
Dogs do good on front limb amputation, and he is young - a plus.
But first things first - find out what
kind of CA he has exactly. It is unusual for such a young dog to get bone cancer but not unheard of and some types of bone CA can be treated with more success then others.
Kim

[codglvr]

Our current female has Osteo in the hind leg. My husband's first female had osteo in the forelimb. Maggie, my husband's first girl, had amputation and one round of chemo, she was very overweight and not in top health. 10 days after amputation, they decided it was just too much and let her be in peace. They regretted their decision to do any treatment.
With a terrible amount of waffling back and forth, we decided to amputate our current female's leg, no chemo or radiation. She is in perfect health otherwise and is a great weight. 6 weeks post amputation, we do not regret the decision to amputate. I don't know how long I will have my girl, but her recovery was very very quick and the pain appeared much less than it was with the tumor. We are using an alternative cancer therapy, and it has not caused any decrease in quality of life for Saga. Saga has made it to her 7th birthday. She was in my estimation 1 week from me having her PTS for pain when we amputated, which was 2 weeks after diagnosis. Please feel free to PM me.
It is a very difficult decision, especially with a dog so young. I made very difficult decisions with a 6 month old pup, and again when he passed at 2 1/2. I feel for you!

[sagoxsago]

Thanks for all the replies.

We had a look at her Xrays last night and it has not spread to the lungs yet.

The Xray shows 2 bones. The 2nd(Smaller bone behind the main bone) has a greying area to it. The vet was suggesting removing this bone only? Before full amputation or Chemo therapy.

We do not know what kind of Cancer it is yet, but she is back at the vet today for further tests. The vet will send the results to the lab for testing.

He is also sending the xray to a orthopedic surgeon to see if they can remove that 2nd bone.

codglvr - I will try PM you, to discuss the amputation further.

[sagoxsago]

Hi codglvr

Sorry, cannot PM or Email you.
Please mail me at Please do not post email addresses , as we need advice on this whole amputation solution.

[alex221]

I'm so sorry your going through this with your girl. I just wanted to jump in to say that a friend of mine adopted a young Rottie girl who had her right front leg amputated due to frostbite 2 years ago. It was taken off right at the shoulder and she can get around faster than my 4-legged Alex. She centers her weight on her remaining front leg and adapted beautifully. Just something to consider.

You'll both be in my prayers.