My Dog has bone cancer

[tilda]

sorry to hear about your dog Max as you can tell there are quite alot of us out there that have gone through what you are experiencing ,,by all means try anything and everything to help but there comes a time when you have to put the dogs wellbeing before your own feelings its damn hard.
I wish you all the best
cheers

[rottie girl]

I'm very sorry, I've been in your situation and it's heartbreaking. They can fall downhill so fast, which perhaps is blessing, that they don't suffer long.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by invstbiker

Max has taken a turn for the worse. Yesterday he fell and now his right rear leg, the one with cancer, he can put no downward pressure on it. ....... We'll see what tomorrow brings...

I also lost my precious Luna to osteosarcoma in her spine. It is heartbreaking for us, no doubt about it, but the dog is in extremely excrutiating physical pain. Your boy may well have fractured the bone in the fall.

For your dog's sake, please don't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. I guarantee you that the point your boy is at right now, what tomorrow will bring is only excrutiatingly increased pain and suffering for him.

[observer]

moondog is unfortunately so right here...

If it has reached the point you describe, he is in great pain. Rotties have no peer in the "stoic" department... they will bear great discomfort in silence, and often with no pain behavior. I have seen this happen, with OS and other cancers.

I am so sorry that you have to be in this situation. But, Max is trusting you to help him now. As hard as it will be for you, it is the right thing to do, and he will love you forever.

[Nina&Bill]

I'm so sorry about your Max-a-Million . Unfortunately Luna is right. I lost my Smidgen to Osteosarcoma 4 years ago. We also chose not to amputate & had her for 4 more months after diagnosis. She stopped bearing weight on the affected leg and eventually fell & shattered her shoulder. We then sent her to the bridge because there was nothing that could be done. My only regret about that time is that I didn't put her down a day earlier in order to spare her the pain of the broken shoulder.

These are stoic, wonderful dogs. I love & miss my girl with all of my heart & soul. I wish you much strength in the days to come.

Nina

[Dugganmom]

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. My parents had to put there rott down 2 months ago due to cancer...my uncle has a rott who has bone cancer and he can hardly walk but he wont put him down because it is to hard for him I feel bad for there dog!!! please keep us posted as to what happens....you and your dog will be in my thoughts! Jenny

[twomanydogs]

Colorado State University is the bone cancer center for dogs. If you have time ,contact them! And listen to the advise given prior in this thread about diet. You vet will also have a special food just for dogs dealing with cancer.
Good luck to you and your freind

[missrock]

I just found this site and zeroed right in on this discussion. I am so sorry for what you're going through. You see, I have spent the past six weeks researching, asking questions and mourning the loss of my wonderful Rocketman, to bone cancer. He was fine that morning and in horrible pain by evening and unable walk without screaming. After many X-rays, my vet sent me to an orthopedic vetinary surgeon and he found bone cancer. Rocket would have been seven the following week. Besides missing him terribly, I feel that I can never have another Rott. You see, I lost the Rott. that I had before Rocketman, Tank, who had just turned seven ,to another form of cancer called hemangiosarcoma. I have had and trained many dogs. Those two Rotts. were the smartest, most trainable, lovable dogs I've ever encountered. I am doing lots of research on diet and vaccinations. I am now moving more and more toward raw feeding. I have already switched to a VERY PREMIUM low carb dog food. No longer will I vaccinate every year. I'll have titers drawn instead. I currently have two mixed breed large dogs. One is a Therapy Dog. I wanted to get a Rott puppy into our therapy program to teach folks that they really are great dogs if raised and trained properly. I even had my home owner's insurance cancelled just because I owned one. Except for breaking my heart when they died, my Rotts never hurt anyone. Sorry to go on so, but it's so good to find other Rott lovers who understand how this feels.

[spoiledbabies3]

Originally Posted by missrock

I I have spent the past six weeks researching, asking questions and mourning the loss of my wonderful Rocketman, to bone cancer. Rocket would have been seven the following week. Besides missing him terribly, I feel that I can never have another Rott. You see, I lost the Rott. that I had before Rocketman, Tank, who had just turned seven ,to another form of cancer called hemangiosarcoma.

I am so sorry that you have lost both Rocket and Tank to cancer. It is a horrible disease and many of our rotties suffer from it. I understand your feelings as I also have lost several to some type of cancer, Tuxedo on 12/3/01 to osteosarcoma, Sasha on 02/03/06 to lymphoma and Samson was diagnosed with cancer on 04/19/06...he is spending his final days in the laps of luxury surrounded by those that love him. It is very difficult to lose one of our rotties, but remember that you were very blessed to have known and loved them. You are right, rotties are extremely intelligent and provide us with unconditional love. I believe that each of mine will be waiting for me at the bridge and we will have the most wonderful reunion with lots of butt scritches and wiggly bums. Give yourself time to grieve and let that time help your heart to heal. I, too, thought that I couldn't open my heart to another rottie, but lo and behold, my Sasha brought a little girl to me that needed to be rescued like she had been. I picked her up from rescue on Memorial Day weekend, and I couldn't see my life without her now. It's not easy, I still have my moments that I shed tears. Life is always fair and we have to learn somehow to cope. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and I hope someday you too will again open your heart to one that needs your love so desperately. Godspeed Rocket and Tank. May you fly on wings of gold!

[missrock]

Thanks so much for that. And, yes, you're right. I was very blessed to have known them. My new husband had never been around a Rott and he cried as much as I did. He would get another one right now! He said that he had no idea of what great dogs that they are. I do wonder why the breed is so plagued by cancer. I know that many large breeds are, but they really seem to really have a problem with it. I am doing lots of reading and internet research. I am changing the way I feed and do vaccinations. Again, thanks so much for your words of kindness and encouragement.