Osteosarcoma help please

[Zeus's Mom]

My Zeus just turned 5 in May and in June he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in his right rear knee. It has since spread down his leg and now I am noticing lumps on his neck. He has also had several secondary infections that antibiotics are not helping.

He is on 454mg of Previcox per day for pain management. I was going to try Tramadol also, but he would need 7 per day. Some days he can't even mange to keep down the Previcox so I don't want to give him 7 Tramadol on top of it.

Does anyone have any experience with this and advice. I really need help please. He still seems so happy.......

[Shelby427]

I'm so sorry! This must be so difficult. I have not had to deal with anything like this - other members will chime in I'm sure. I read in your intro post that he weighs 171lbs! He's much too heavy! I'm sure all this weight is not good on his joints - especially that right rear knee. Try to slim him down some, it'll make him more comfortable. Have you brought him back to the vet to check out those neck lumps? Is the cancer spreading? Again, I'm so sorry to hear this...I hope it all works out.

[Zeus's Mom]

Originally Posted by Shelby427

He's much too heavy! I'm sure all this weight is not good on his joints - especially that right rear knee.

He is very oversized. He is a product of poor breeding and poor nutrition. We rescued Zeus at 11 months old. He was a BYB puppy who was fed crap in a bag large breed puppy food. Poor guy. He is fed raw now with supplements. He really has no interest in food anymore. He pretty much exists on raw marrow bones.

As far as the neck lumps go, no we have not brought him in for those. We decided to just medicate him and keep him happy. If the cancer is spreading or there is more cancer, there will be nothing to be done anyway.

He is not a candidate for amputation and frankly we wouldn't put him through that.

[bigdogweilerx2]

First, I am so sorry to hear about your Zeus. Our girl, Kahula was diagnosed with the same cancer in the same knee as your Zeus. We were able to keep her comfortable for a few months with pain medication. We chose not to do any surgery, as our vets felt she would have spent what time she had left recovering from the surgery. It is not an easy answer... we are thinking of you and Zeus.

[Zeus's Mom]

Thanks.
Zeus is way oversized. He was a rescue. He was very poorly bred and fed copious amounts of large breed puppy food. Crap in a bag IMO!! He is not fat, but he is not within standard.
He is almost 30" at the shoulder!

As far as the lumps in his neck, I have not brought him back to vet as there is nothing she could do for him anyway.

I just was wondering about the life expectancy I can look for here. I am completely torn up about this.

Zeus has been fed raw since I have had him. He basically only eats raw marrow bones and supplements any more.

He still seems happy and still loves to swim at the cabin. He is just really slowing down.

[Shelby427]

I'm so sorry again - and you're right, if the cancer is spreading, there's not much else you can do but keep him comfortable - which is what you're doing. Just be there for him and know when he's ready. I just had to put down my 17 year old poodle due to old age and dementia - and it was horrible, even when you know they are suffering it's still hard. You and Zeus are in my thoughts...

[Sharon Marples]

You are doing what you feel should be done. When our girl was diagnosed with osteo, our vet gave her 3 months. We kept her comfortable with Tramadol until she let us know it was time. That was at 5 months.

His quality of life is what is at stake here. If you can't keep him comfortable with the pain meds, if he won't eat, and if you can tell he is in pain, then you need to let him go to his peace. His weight is a huge factor in how he can manage his pain and it is definitely working against him.

Good luck, you are in our prayers as you struggle through this.

[Zeus's Mom]

Sharon-Thanks. My vet told me 1-4 months. It has been 2. I think he should probably be OK while the weather is warm. I am really hoping to get him through the summer.

I would like to try the Tramadol, but he vomits pretty much everything he eats anymore.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Zeus's Mom

I am really hoping to get him through the summer.

Be very careful not to put your hopes ahead of his actual condition. When you love a dog, that is very easy to do without realizing it. A dog that has stopped eating is not a "happy" dog. I hoped my dog would be okay from November diagnosis through Christmas.....I quickly put what I hoped aside when it became clear to me she had nowhere to go but down and into further pain and suffering....she was euthanized on December 11th. The most painful day of my life, and my only regret is that I think I should have done it one day sooner.

Don't wait too long. I'm so sorry.

[Hannamia]

Have you seen an oncologist? If not I would suggest finding one in your area. They are more experienced than a regular vet about this. There is radiation and the IV drips (bisphosphonate) that can be given to help relieve the pain, but mind you, they are a tad expensive. My Mia was diognosed in December 06 and passed on 23 March 07. She had a tumor in her left hind then it was discovered her right shoulder in Feb had an aggressive tumor. I made the decision on 23 March when the pain meds and radiation did not work anymore and I saw it in her eyes that it was time to let her run pain free over the bridge. It is a nasty diesease and amputation was not an option for me either. It will be a difficult few months and a lot of crying. Do what is best for dog and his quality of life. I am so sorry and hate to see others go thru this. There is a site on yahoo called bone cancer dog that is a great support group and has lots of information about Osteo. Try and cut his weight down, what is reason amputation is not an option for you? If he is five and in good health then it may not be too bad. But the flip side amputation does not garauntee cancer free either. For me it was her age and she had hip displaysia and then the other tumor came about.

[Zeus's Mom]

moondog-He is still happy. He loves swimming and playing with Bugsy (our Boxer). He just seems to have no apetite and I think it is probably from the Previcox.
I know I have alot of wishful thinking, but after everything this poor guy has already been through so much.......

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Hannamia

Try and cut his weight down, what is reason amputation is not an option for you?

Since he's already not eating, I think weight loss will come without any assistance from his owner.

By the time osteosarcoma is diagnosed, it has microscopically "seeded" throughout the body and it's just a matter of time before the cancer will rear its ugly head somewhere else (usually in the lungs). Many dogs can do well on three legs, but I personally would never even consider amputation as a treatment for bone cancer for this reason. If an amputation was needed due to traumatic injury, only then would I consider it.

Originally Posted by Hannamia

If he is five and in good health then it may not be too bad.

I'm sorry, but you're dreaming here. A dog with osteosarcoma is not in good health.

[Nina&Bill]

Originally Posted by Zeus's Mom

I would like to try the Tramadol, but he vomits pretty much everything he eats anymore.

I'm wondering if you've tried giving him Pepcid along with his pills? Check with your vet on the dose. I can't remember what medications Smidgen was taking at the time but the vet told us to give her Pepcid along with them in order to prevent stomach upset.

She was diagnosed in January and she died that May. She had a great appetite but that could have been the prednisone.

I am very sorry about Zeus. Spoil him while you can. I'm glad to hear that he still wants to play. Hopefully the pepcid will help control the nausea so that he can enjoy his food again.

Nina

[Zeus's Mom]

Nina-We have tried Pepcid and Pepto to no avail. Thanks for the suggestion however. He likes to eat raw marrow bones and chicken stock (no salt) frozen into ice cubes.
He has also started having a rought time swallowing. My hubby, kids, and I all agreed that we to no more x-rays, tests, pokes, or prods. We want him to be happy for as long as possible and manage his pain. We are not going to do anything unnecessary to him.
Obviously the term "unnecessary" is subjective. My personal feeling is to just leave him alone and make him happy as possible.

[Hannamia]

I'm sorry, but you're dreaming here. A dog with osteosarcoma is not in good health.[/quote]

No I am not dreaming.......I have had a dog with OS thank you and lost her rather quickly so reality hit me pretty hard with my options.
Maybe I should of been more clear in my message....if the dog was "healthy" before the cancer and it was caught early, amputation and meds can work for a limited time. Amputation is not the answer..there is no answer besides making him as comfortable as the owner can. But I do know of cases where the dog has over come the cancer by amputation and survived longer than expected. Amputation should be left up to the desicion of the owner.