Bone Cancer

[dogluvr]

I took my rottieto the vet and after looking at the x-ray, they are 95% sure it is bone cancer. The vet told me the only treatment is amputation. I had a chest x-ray done and it hasn't spread and they are still giving her antibiotics to treat a bone infection, in case that is what it is. she is also on anti-inflammatory drugs which seems to be helping alot. The vet says this is common in rottweilers...My poor dog is 11 years old and with the arthritis in her legs and back, I'm not sure she could live a quality life without her hind leg. Has anyone has experience with bone cancer before? What can I expect from this disease? Is it very painful for the dog? What can I do for my beloved dog to help her?

Any information or insight from a pet owner's perspective would sure be helpful for me to help me make my decision regarding her future. i have heard enough from a vet's perspective, but it would be helpful to hear from an owner's perspective.

Thanks in advance for any information!

Kati

[Anne]

I am so sorry to hear this. Our 8yo boy had bone cancer and we did not consider amputation. We kept him pain free for as long as possible and when the drugs started to lose their effectivness we had the vet come to the home to gently let him pass.

We loved him too much to ask him to continue in pain. I think that asking a dog to go through an amputation at his age and with arthritis would be too much for him.

Do a search on the forum here, there is a lot written about osteosarcoma.

[jeisele]

Osteosarcoma, or any cause of bone destruction, is very painful. Median survival time with or without amputation is about 4-6 months. Amputation alone would provide pain relief until the caner returns elsewhere. Canine osteosarcoma has a high metastatic rate and patients likely have micrometastasis not visible on radiographs at the time of initial tumor diagnosis. Amputation with chemotherapy has a median survival time of 10-12 months. Another option for pain relief is palliative radiation of the primary tumor. This will not extend her life but will control her pain for awhile. Other medical options to control pain consist of more potent analgesics like tramadol, fentanyl patch, oral morphine or tylenol with codeine. One other option, granted not cheap, is a limb sparing procedure done at certain universities. They remove the primary tumor without removing the limb. This also will not extend life without chemo or radiation.
Good Luck.

[tilerspop]

I am sorry to here of your dogs illness I am currently going through this with Tiler, we have a few more weeks to go. What treatment options to consider or not are a very personal decision and no one can tell you what to do. You will know in your heart what is the proper course the dog, the hard part is the courage to do it.

That being said, I see that you are in Denver. There are really only two options for the best treatment. UNC in Greeley and VRCC in Englewood. We chose VRCC after several recommendations from freinds who had also had their dogs go there for a variety of things. I do not hesitate to recommed them. In fact we were there a week ago, decided not to pursue further treatment, but they called yesterday just to see if all was OK and if there was anything more they could do. They are located at the SE corner of Santa Fe and Hampden behind the Burger King. Try this website http://www.vrcc.com/oncology

I hope all comes out well, if there's anything else, post here .

[BostonRott]

At 11, your dog has lived a full and wonderful life. Treat the pain, and when she's no longer comfortable, let her go with dignity. An amputation at this age would be a long and painful recovery on an already stressed body.

[chivas]

Do a search under my name "chivas" = i have posted alot on OS and have some holistic treatments posted that show some promise. Remember only you know your dog and how much she had handle and how well her life is going. OS is VERY invasive, until we get better treatments available, the survival rate is very low, less then 10% make it 2 yrs past diagnosis. But we are seeing better options every day, if i where you id at least try some holistic treatments in addition to any traditional route you decide to go and remember pain relief is PARAMOUNT. Piroxicam seems to work very well.

[BuckshotSableMolly]

I am once again so sorry to hear that another of our beloved friends has to go throught this.

BostonRott, once again, very well said.

I just had to let one of my furbabies go because of this horrid disease. It is not any easy thing to do, but after extensive research, we decided to ease her pain as much as possible until she was no longer able to enjoy life. Molly was on a daily dose of Deramaxx, we also tried Tramadol in conjunction with the Deramaxx, but I didn't like the way that Molly responded.

Unfortunately, we cannot predict how long the animal can survive with the disease. Also, there is no real was to say how long they survive because it varies with each animal and also varies with how advanced the cancer is when it is diagnosed.

Enjoy your time with her and let her go with dignity, trust your gut, you'll know when she's ready.

You'll are in our thought and prayers.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by dogluvr

I took my rottieto the vet and after looking at the x-ray, they are 95% sure it is bone cancer. The vet told me the only treatment is amputation. Has anyone has experience with bone cancer before? What can I expect from this disease? Is it very painful for the dog? What can I do for my beloved dog to help her?

I lost my beautiful girl last December to osteosarcoma in her spine. Luna was almost ten years old. She was euthanized in my arms 2 days after receiving her diagnosis. Bone pain is excrutiating, and you need to keep in mind that Rottweilers are not complainers by nature and will not readily reveal their pain. But...you can see it if you pay close enough attention. Pain management is paramount.

Originally Posted by dogluvr

Any information or insight from a pet owner's perspective would sure be helpful for me to help me make my decision regarding her future. i have heard enough from a vet's perspective, but it would be helpful to hear from an owner's perspective.

I loved my dog to the depths of my soul. If she lived to be 100, it would not have been long enough for me. But osteosarcoma is very painful, and osteosarcoma is not survivable. So I'll tell you what I believe. Our dogs are such a gift and they are so true to us every day of their lives...you know, there comes a time when we owe them one. I owed it to my dog not to let her suffer, and I didn't. I am still recovering from the gravity of that decision myself, but there's not a doubt in my mind that holding her in my arms and releasing her from her pain was the only right choice.

Losing a friend hurts...a lot. I'm very sorry you are facing this.

[chivas]

osteosarcoma is not survivable.


Actually I know of a lab who survived OS (5 yrs past diagnosis , treatment was amputation). And I know a rottie who has gone 17 months so far past diagnosis with NO chemo or amputation using artemisnin and other vitamins/herbs/diet combination. As a $25,000 fund raiser ( i did this alone over 2 yrs!!) for Relay for Life (benefitting the American Cancer Society), I know that NO cancer is 100% terminal but ANY cancer can be terminal in different people/animals. All you can do is arm yourself with knowledge and go from there, even if your dog cannot survive this cancer, nothing is impossible. One day we WILL beat cancer!!!!!!!!!

[moondog]

chivas, I sincerely appreciate your efforts in helping to fight osteosarcoma, I really do, because your efforts are admirable. I hope a cure IS found, but we don't have one yet.

Let me ask you a question...would you amputate the leg of an eleven year old dog with osteosarcoma who is already suffering from arthritis in her legs and back?

[chivas]

Nope, I wouldnt amputate at all really. It doesnt cure the cancer. I would focus on killing the cancer. And I do know that most dogs who get OS WILL die from OS, we dont have a firm treatment plan as yet but I also know that if we dont at least TRY (when its feasible too) with different treatments - we will never know what works and what doesnt. Because of what I did with Chivas, my traditional vet is now prescribing her diet and vitamin regiment for dogs with CA in his practice, he has actually seen an increase of quality of life for a good amount of dogs diagnosed with any cancer using it. Maybe we are on the right track!

[pattik]

I just found out yesterday that my boy does not have bone cancer. But while discussing what I would do if he did with the groomer at my vet's office, she said she got six months without treatment and her friend got seven months with treatment. And at what cost to the dog.
Mine is also 10yrs old and I wouldn't even I'd consider putting him throught that. I love him too much to ask him to do that for me. I think we should let them go with their dignity.

[StephanieandToby]

I lost my Toby at the age of 11 from Osteosarcoma.
I let him go right after I found out. There is no cure and your dog is in a great amount of pain. I know you will do what is right.I'm so sorry for this diagnosis. Best wishes to you and your dear friend.

[dogluvr]

I would like to thank all of you for your input and support. Even though her cancer has not spread (according to the x-rays), we have decided not to pursue amputation. She is the best friend we've ever had - a beautiful, proud and dignified girl. We will keep her as comfortable as possible until the time comes when we can let her go with her dignity intact. She is currently on Amforal for pain and she's acting like 3 years younger.

We are spoiling her rotten...giving her people food and feeding her liver to help prevent anemia that may come with her medication. She's also getting lots of extra love. We wll probably look into some holistic methods to see if we can prolong her life, but since she has been such a loyal friend, we are certainly not going to amputate her leg or let her go through any other unnecessary pain.

It seems like just yesterday we lost her older brother to cancer (stomach and liver). I wish there was a cure..

Again, thanks for your support and I will keep you posted on her progress.

Kati

[moondog]

Please do keep us updated on how all of you are doing. And do a search on this forum using "chivas" as your search term - she has posted a LOT on holistic treatments for osteosarcoma.

Give your girl a smooch for me - I'm sure she is simple priceless!