Bone cancer

[my kids]

Hello everyone. I wrote on this group back in 2003 when my female rottie passed away with cancer. Now this past Monday we were told that my 10 year alpha my late females mate has bone cancer. It's in his right front leg. I am just so numb right now I just want to cry all the time. I am a pretty big guy and this has hit me so hard. I am not sure how long we have with Drake he is on lots of supplements and pain management low dose right now. I hope that we have a while with him with a good quality of life. So far he is acting like his old self except the swelling. he walks on his leg softley and holds it up slightly at times. I know that there is nothing I can do to stop it but, I just am so sad yet I am trying hard to be happy around him and the others we have. We have two labs and three other rotties two other males that are sons of Drakes from two different litters. Tasha my female the passed away in 2003 is their mother, My sister bought me another female two years ago for my birthday. She was taken care of as I did not want any puppies and both of Drakes sons are nutered. I saw the x-rays and just went to pieces. I wont let him suffer as everyone I have talked to said that very thing. I would never do that. It is just so heart breaking I can't imagine my life without him. sinve I forst got him we have had a bond like no other. Just writing this has made the tears roll down my face. he looks at me with those puppy eyes and seems to be saying "it's alright dad". It really isn't for me though. My partner and I will love him and spend quality time with him until I have to confront that very sad day to let him go. Our vet said have some quality life with him and don't let him or the others see your sad. That is hard but, I am trying my best. Thank you all for allowing me to vent my feelings and God bless all of you Rottie owners.

[Anne]

I'm so sorry about the diagnosis. There are a few of us on here going through the same thing with our dogs at the moment. I understand how heartbroken you are. My dog also has osteosarcoma she just turned 7yo last month. She has it in her jaw bone (mandible).

We are seeing an oncologist, it might be something to consider if you want to go down that path. Sophie, my girl, is on a metronomic protocol and I think it has really helped her. She is pain free and still happy and energetic in spite of her poor prognosis.

We are doing the same as you in making every minute count and every day we have is special.

[TrinaJ]

My heart breaks for you and your family and of course your beautiful boy Drake. My first rotty had osteosarcoma of the leg. A month after the diagnosis he was put down (broken leg after biopsy). I wish to God that i had gotten more time with him, he was only 8.

There are many of us here who know what you are going through and some are going through it now so if you ever need to talk, vent, yell or cry you know that there are people here who will listen and understand.

A good pain regime put in place by your vet or an Oncologist is the way to start. Hopefully this will give you more time with Drake.

[Tatum]

Sorry to hear about that. Cancer sucks. On the bright side, you have had 10 wonderful years with Drake. My male is almost 3, and if someone offered me a 10 year guarantee with him and not 1 day more, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Dogs are lucky. We carry the burden of knowing when their time is running out, not them. Continuing loving Drake as you have always done. He will live forever with you in your soul.

[felicityjay]

I am so sorry for your pain and the heartbreak you are going through. I actually cried reading your post as it is clear how deep a bond you have with Drake. He will know how loved he is and I am sure that with a good pain relief regime you will be able to spend some quality time with him and make the most out of the time you have left.

I will be thinking of you both x

[Ninasmom]

I'm living with an osteo dog right now, as my 9 1/2 year old female was diagnosed Dec. 20. It is tragic and horrible that our dogs have to go through this. We're taking it day by day, and I can only recommend that you do that as well. Love him and spoil him. Make some more memories and take alot of photos. Good luck and again, I am so sorry that another one of us must live through this.

[my kids]

Thank you Anne for your kind words. I really did not know that bone cancer was so bad until our vet said it was. Drake is having a more tired day today I hope it's not that it is already getting worse. He ate most of his food but then again, the immune powder I pot in it kinda sucks up the juices so it maked it like a paste. I even hand vet him some today. He ate most of it but, I think I need to put some gravy on it and maybe it would help. I am sorry to hear babout your baby. In the jaw that must be rough. I wish we could take drake to an oncologist but living where we do in the FL Keys we are limited.

[my kids]

Thank you everyone for the kind words and advise. I wont let Drake suffer and I sure feel like we are being tested. We lost his mate Tasha in 2003 then 204 we had tons of hurricane scares. 2005 was abad hurricane year as well and our house was damaged by hurricane Wilma. I am still fighting with the insurance co through a lawyer. Then Feb 2006 I had a heart attack. I was 44 then. We had several extended family problems in 2007 so for that whole year we did not talk to them. I sent out emails and and cleaned off my street just before New Years Eve of 2007, Now this with Drake. I know it;s life but I bet we could all use some good news for a change and maybe a miracle or two. Thank you all. And yess I still rant and rave and silently cry so Drake does not get wise to it. He always knows when I am upset.

[Anne]

Originally Posted by Tatum

Sorry to hear about that. Cancer sucks. On the bright side, you have had 10 wonderful years with Drake. My male is almost 3, and if someone offered me a 10 year guarantee with him and not 1 day more, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Dogs are lucky. We carry the burden of knowing when their time is running out, not them. Continuing loving Drake as you have always done. He will live forever with you in your soul.

Tatum I would not wish for a guarantee with any dog be it 10 months or 10 years old, knowing that my deal meant that my dog would lose it's life the end of the guarantee. We never have enough time with our dogs, we always need more. You are lucky you have a healthy young dog and I hope your good luck will continue.

There is NO bright side to discovering your 10yo dog has osteosarcoma. There is NO bright side at all to discover your dog is dying of cancer whatever their age, be it 6 months or 14 years. Walk in the shoes of those of us who are living with dogs with osteosarcoma and tell us then where the bright side is.

Those of us with cancer dogs know we're lucky just to have this day with our dogs. Our bond with our dogs is due to the love we have for them. We cherish them for what they are, their age doesn't factor into it.

Dogs have amazing insight and intuition, more so than humans. They know very well when their time is up. They know better than we do which is why it's said that our dogs will tell us when they're ready to go.

Dogs are far more accepting of their demise than humans. We have a duty of love and care to heed their message when they tell us they need to go. I don't consider it to be a burden though it is one of the most distressing things I have ever done and will need to do again. The pain of the death of a dog we have formed a strong loving bond with is beyond description.

6 years ago I needed to have my 14yo Rottweiler put to sleep. It was not made easier because she was 14yo. Losing her was devastating. I miss her every day.

[Tatum]

"[quote=Anne;802236]Tatum I would not wish for a guarantee with any dog be it 10 months or 10 years old, knowing that my deal meant that my dog would lose it's life the end of the guarantee. We never have enough time with our dogs, we always need more. You are lucky you have a healthy young dog and I hope your good luck will continue."


There is NO bright side to discovering your 10yo dog has osteosarcoma. There is NO bright side at all to discover your dog is dying of cancer whatever their age, be it 6 months or 14 years. Walk in the shoes of those of us who are living with dogs with osteosarcoma and tell us then where the bright side is."


My point was this, "be thankful for what you have been blessed with". Our lives are 60% out of our control IMO. The other 40% is how we handle that 60%. I lost a Rottie before she was 2 years of age. I feel like she was cheated. I also had one almost make 11 before I had to put her down. I thank the Lord for giving me 10+ years with her. My 3 year old Rott just had a cruciate repair. Not life threatening, but stressful none the less. I think you missed my point in this thread. I hope the thread originator did not.

Tatum

[AngelBunny]

My heart if breaking for you and Drake, my kids. I am so very sorry you and your dear boy are walking the same, sad, heartbreaking path many of us have trod with our dogs before you.

I'm so sorry.

[shelneese]

First of all, i cannot begin to tell you how important it is to be able to share this awful experience within this forum. Thank you all.
I asked if the x-rays could be wrong and maybe it was only a fungal infection - so many of you helped me through this.
My girl, Chama(7yrs), has been having some great days, some good days and a few really bad days. She is on Tramadol and Rimadyl and a muscle relaxer - which i give her in cottage cheese & sardines. We have been icing her leg and wrapping it with an ace bandage and athletic tape for the day and it really seems to help with supporting her leg - especially when someone comes near our house and she jumps up. I don't know how much longer we will have with her....its been 3 weeks since her diagnosis. The vet thought she would have about a month or so. I just don't know, she does not put weight on the leg very much at all - but when its walk time she acts like a puppy.
She is still eating very well, the Wellness salmon and the Instinct Duck are her foods of choice with lots of omega 3's.
Do you think that wrapping and taping her leg is ok? I don't want to hurt her even more.
Thanks

[my kids]

I know we were wrapping and icing Drakes leg at first as we thought he just banged it. I know what you mean about not wanting to believe the x-rays. I am no vet but my vet did not say anything about wrapping it. I may have to call her and ask. He eats but I bought these supplements and he smells them in the can food. He is so smart. He is on the same pain pills one twice a day. Does anyone have a good way to hide the supplement taste. It's to boost his immune system so I really want him to take it. I even switched to capsule so I could take them apart but I guess I may be freaking out to much as he ate a can of food by the time I took the second can and tried to cover up what he would not eat. I love this group as it really helps to talk to people that are going through the same things. I just wish we were going through a happier thing.

[my kids]

The more I am ewading about Rimadyl. I am not happy about what it has started to do to Drake. He is not eating like he should. I am going to call my old fashioned Vet as he knows what Drake has. I am going to ask if there is anything he can have that will help him eat better. If you did not know it Drake acts normal except eating very little. That is not Drake. I have searched all over the Web and found nothing but bad on this drug. The more advanced vet we took Drake to is good but she never told me about the side effects of this drug. In fact it was given to me under another name. Carprofen. I had no way of knowing it was the same drug until I loked it up. I see on the fourm many of you have written several things about this drug and not good things.

[Anne]

my kids: There are far more effective drugs to relieve the pain of bone cancer than Rimadyl. It isn't effective with bone cancer in my experience.

My dog has osteosarcoma and she takes Piroxicam and Tramadol for pain. This keeps her pain free at this stage of her disease though I have no doubt pain relief will need to be increased at some point. When her pain is no longer under control I will with great sadness and heartache, put her to sleep.

Some dogs have an adverse reaction to Rimadyl. Not all do. None of my dogs have ever shown a bad reaction to Rimadyl and I've found it to be an excellent pain reliever and anti inflammatory. It doesn't do a thing to relieve the pain of bone cancer though.

You are giving the Rimadyl with food aren't you? It will cause gastric pain and probable GI bleeding given on an empty stomach. This would cause the dog to be very reluctant to eat.