Bone Cancer

[JuneyB]

I am sorry to hear about this....cancer is a horrible disease which affects too many of our dogs.

Second everything Kim says...spend the time left with her together...and when its time, please let her go to the bridge with dignity.

[nikki15236]

Daisy is doing well. She is jumping up on the bed (again), scratching her back in the grass and even went fishing with my husband and step-son.
I have an appointment scheduled with a Holistic Vet this week.
Call me crazy, but since I switched her diet her tumors on her belly have diminished. I only feel two, as apposed to the 4-5 that were previously there.
I am going to have the Holistic Vet take a look at the X-Ray's that were taken at my other Vet and then I will have her take another set to compare.
She is also using both of her back legs and putting pressure on her back right leg, which she was not doing before. I truly do understand how short life is; therefore I am enjoying every minute with her.

I wanted to ask about the ARTEMISININ (sorry if I spelled it incorrectly).
My Vet as well as my Apothecary are having difficulty obtaining it.
Where do I purchase such a product and what is the cost?

[chivas]

I know you are happy she is using the cancer riddled leg again but I hope you realize that her using it puts her at GREAT risk for breaking it and then there is NOTHING you can do to heal a OS eaten bone. You need to limit her activities. NO jumping, no running, she can break the leg and may not show it since you have her on pain meds. You need to be aware of this. Are the tumors on her tummy fatty tumors? If they are , they are not cancerous and not OS.

[hcelsa]

Originally Posted by nikki15236

I wanted to ask about the ARTEMISININ (sorry if I spelled it incorrectly).
My Vet as well as my Apothecary are having difficulty obtaining it.
Where do I purchase such a product and what is the cost?

You can buy it online through I-herb (papanature), or your local health food store should carry it (but it will probably cost twice as much). There is also a yahoogroup titled Artemisinin and cancer with an extensive files section with lots of good information, and some amazing success stories too.

[Miss Greta]

I am so very sorry to hear about Daisy. And I wish both of you a peaceful trip over the bridge. I'm also sorry your vet is not responding to you, as this is when you need them the most.
While the pain med patches are very good, they can take 16-20 hours to kick in. Also, if you have anyone in the house who may take them off and possibly chew on them, they could be fatal. It can be hard to find a good dose as well, as they only come in limited strengths.
Morphine (Roxanol liquid) is great, can be adjusted to treat the pain, but not sedate too much. And you can just drop it in their cheek, and it will work. Be aware bone pain is very hard to treat, and Rotts are soooo stoic. There are other pain meds as well, so hopefully you can find a vet that will help you. Sometimes a little antiinflamatory may help (Rimadyl, etc).

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Miss Greta

While the pain med patches are very good, they can take 16-20 hours to kick in.

That was not the case for my dog. She experienced an almost instant relief (within 1/2 hour) from a Fentanyl patch, but it appeared to me that the pain slowly increased again over the few days time the patch lasts.

[chivas]

Rimadyl is worthless for OS pain, dont even waste your time. But like i posted earlier, total pain relief will let the dog think she can use her leg normally, you MUST limit her activities. She can very easily break the bone and not show any symptoms.

[Miss Greta]

Sorry, I meant an NSAID in conjuction with a narcotic can bring about better pain relief, not just an NSAID alone. The narcotic attacks the pain, and the NSAID (or sometimes cortisone) decreases the inflammation in the bone that contributes to the pain.
Bone cancer is just...., well I can't type that here. Again, good luck, and keep us posted.

[winniecnm]

Fentanyl is the strongest medication available for at home pain relief. Morphine does not even compare.

Yes, the patches are toxic (especially to children) and they should not be extensively handled without gloves and quite frankly I would be hesitant to use them around small children - there would have to be some means in place to advert a poisoning if there are kids around the household...

They do now come in a plethera of doseages, if the dog is not getting relief then it is a miscalculation of the vet prescribing the med..

Is Daisy still doing well?? Any luck getting the drug??

[kdz2299]

Hi Nikki --

My imput may be very different from the others. My baby "Tresor" was dx with osteosarcoma in July, 2005. She had it in 2 places, her front shoulder, and her back knee. We took very aggressive measures with her, combining holistic and modern medicine, and sent her into total remission for 5 months. Around Thanksgiving, the tumor in her shoulder came back, and thanks to a holistic vet, we amputated and put her on a cancer regimine. She was so great about it -- it's almost as though she has thanked us for taking that diseased part off of her. The vet said that she needed no pain medication following the amputation -- as the pain from the cancer was far worse. He was RIGHT!! The cancer in the back knee never returned, and the cancer did not spread to her lungs. My second rottie, Aspen, was diagnosed via xrays with the same osteosarcoma in her jaw. After much deliberation, I went ahead and took her in for a biopsy, and guess what? It was a BONE INFECTION, not bone cancer. Quite a difference! I looked at the x-rays myself, and it looked just like Tresor's did! So, as much as I hated putting either through it, it was well worth it. BTW -- Tresor was 9 at the time, and Aspen was 11.

If you'd like to hear more about what we did for her, I'd love to share that with you. You can email me directly at Please do not post email addresses
I wish you the best with your baby -- I know how tough this can be -- and I know we want the absolute best for them.

[nikki15236]

Thank you EVERYONE for your kind words, advice and recommendations.
Unfortunately, my husband and I made the decision to let Daisy pass (7/24/2006).
While I was away in New York (visiting family), my husband informed me (checked in on Daisy several times each day) that Daisy was having difficulty having a bowel movement (did not go in two days). We tried a laxative pill and liquid, but to no avail (per vet's advice). I instructed him to take her to the E.R., where they performed two high power enemas (also to no avail). They took new x-rays, which had showed that the tumors almost tripled in size. The vet did an internal examination and found that the tumor had took over her colon, where she only had an opening to pass stool that was the size of a pen. We decided, that it was time for her. She was not in any pain, but I am sure she was uncomfortable not going to the bathroom for two days.
Daisy went peacefully in my arms.
I had her cremated and I will pick her up remains tomorrow night.

Again, thank you everyone.
The information you provided was most helpful.

[observer]

I'm so sorry to hear this, but happy to know that she crossed the Bridge in your arms. She will love and watch over you forever.

[spoiledbabies3]

You and Daisy are fortunate to have shared so many precious memories, the ones that will help you through this difficult time. She will be your "rottie angel" and watch over you. I am so sorry for your loss and I am so glad to know that you and she were together when she left the pain of this world behind to frolick in the beautiful gardens at the bridge. She will forever hold a very special piece of your heart. Let time help it to mend. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care, let the members of this forum help you to heal.

[Jager1007]

Hi Nikki15236,

I am sorry to hear of Daisy's diagnosis. I too, am in the same boat as you with my Jager, at 9 years old, I know exactly what you are going through. This is the second time around for me battling OS. Jager was disgnosed with OS beginning of June. Feel free to Email me at Please do not post email addresses on the forums, I will share with you what information I have learned. I have a very caring, open minded, experienced vetinarian to lean on. Be strong, put your game face on, spoil her.

Your family and Daisy are in my prayers.

Patti & Jager

[winniecnm]

I am so sorry for your loss.