HELP - My best friend has osteosarcoma

[Sam's Mom]

Rottie40 It is up to each owner to make their own decisions, I agree. But how you could "be thankful" you waited till your dog's life ended with a broken OS leg...escapes me.

We are devoted to our breed on this forum and will always speak out in favor of our beloved life companions...some one has to speak for them.

Often...the truth like medicine is hard to take...but that does not mean it is not good for you.

[Sam's Mom]

Just read the other posts today in response to Rottie40...and wanted to comment

Beautifully put Moondog...I love your way of cutting to the chase. BTW...you were one of the people here who helped me with your words of wisdom when my Sam was diagnosed in 06.

Observer...you as well are a trusted source of advice for me. I agree with your thoughts and prayers for Lucas and Laurie...to figure this thing out.

Lucas's Mom please do not feel you have started a problem...no problem for us here...we KNOW we speak the truth from our hearts. I send you both a hug...I know how hard this all is...like I said...I have been in your shoes with my boy Sam.

I pray for merciful wisdom "for Lucas" and may his crossing be peaceful.

Added thought... I want everyone who thinks we are hard hearted about this to realize everyone of us here had our hearts ripped apart when we walked this road with our beloved Rottie...it was horrid. We "still" did what needed to be done out of love and respect for our dog. Those that mistakenly waited too long are sorry...just ask them...

[Anne]

Lucasmom: there are a number of us going through this emotionally painful time at the moment with our osteosarcoma dogs. From what I gather Rottie40does Not currently have dog suffering this disease but has done in the past and her dog did suffer a pathologic fracture.

I worded my post in reply to Rottie40 badly. I didn't mean she deliberately elected to have her dog suffer the pain of a pathologic fracture but that it did happen. I had the impression that Rottie40 is in favour of waiting for this event with Lucas. My point is that I strongly urge you not to wait too long. I have seen a fracture only once, with my friend's OSA dog and I never want to witness it again.

I hope that I am observant and aware enough that I will NOT wait too long and have my Sophie suffer such trauma. I will put her gently to sleep to spare her this. My dog, who I love beyond words need not suffer such pain and the decision to put her to sleep will be the most emotionally painful thing I'll ever have to do.

Thanks to the folk who understood my badly worded post and were astute enough to know what I was getting at. Moondog you are brilliant at reading between the lines, knowing the true meaning of what is written. Thank you.

This thread has been a valuable support to those of us going through this very difficult time. Hopefully we can get back on track and continue to help and understand eachother.

[BabyBrownz]

Thinking of each of you as to travel this most difficult road.

[ECAV]

I made that dreaded decision and Lexi went to her vet for the last time this past Saturday. I didn't know if I made the right choice and somehow felt as if I betrayed her.I want to tell you this. When the vet called and told me she had OS I have a cross that comforts me when I wear it. I went to put it on and couldn't find it. I looked everyday for weeks. The next morning after Lexi was gone I was still in bed at 12 noon. My daughter and grandson came over and encouraged me to get up. Before I went downstairs I looked again for the cross in my room. About 15 minutes later my grandson came running to me saying look what I found. It was my cross. No one knew that I was looking for it. I asked where he found it, he told me in the closet where all the coats are it was on the floor in Lexi's hair. Now, my grandson has never gone into that closet, there isn't anything in there for him. I go in there all day long and that closet gets swept and mopped all the time because her hair would get into it. I put that cross on and felt very comforted. Lexi was always there for me, her unconditional love and loyalty, and even after she was gone she still found a way to take care of me that day. My prayers for all of you, Eileen

[caseygina]

Eileen,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of lexi. i will keep you in our thoughts. by the way, you live very close to me. how ironic we both have rottweilers going through the same thing.

[caseygina]

laurie,
i hope lucas and you are having a good day. riley is slightly limping a bit more in the morning over the last few days but is okay as the day goes on. still eating and happy, she is at her "grandmom and grandpop's" for the day enjoying the beautiful weather. i am having a birthday party for my husband on saturday, and it makes me so upset that this will be the last one she shares with him. it's been a month exactly since the dx, it seems so much longer. i hope everyone is doing well today and hanging in there.

[webangel2b]

Marley - how beautiful.

I agree - all we're doing when we die is moving on. Who knows what's in store for us next. Dieing is the last stage of life - and life is not all "being around" is about.

Thank you for sharing.

[webangel2b]

I'm so sorry Eileen - RIP your beloved Lexi. Words cannot express how much I grive with you, for all these dogs. Just the thought that I may have to face this in the future scares me. However the bond and love that you give each other in these cases will carry me through as well.

Much love to you Eileen - I hope you concentrate on pleasing memories as much as possible.

[shelneese]

I am so sorry as well, Eileen. We are facing that situation today. The vet is coming to our house today at 5pm. to PTS our beautiful Chama. I don't even have the words to express how incredibly sad we are. The tumor is the size of a baseball and has grown larger very quickly and it is heavy. She has been in a very good mood, eating well etc since the diagnosis and on Monday things started to turn. She was diagnosed on Feb 25th - so she is in her third month.
She has clearly given us the sign that she is ready and we are going to honor her and let her pass with dignity. She is the best, most loving and happy dog that we have ever had - we rescued her six years ago and about a year after we got her, on Halloween - she and our other dog got out of the yard and she was dognapped by some teenagers thinking that she was a breeder. We did everything we could to find her and posted rewards etc. She was gone for 10 days and the phone rang and the teens that took her offered her back to us for a ransom(she was microchipped and had a collar and tags on - but that didn't help)
I gave them all the cash i had at the time and got her back. She was so happy to be home and it took her a while to get over it and now this.
We will miss her so much. I want another Rottie, eventually - but I read that 1-3 females get OS...could that be true???
Thanks again for the opportunity to post on this forum.
shelneese(Chama's mom)

[Sam's Mom]

Eileen...bless you for having the strength and wisdom to mercifully give your final unconditional act of love to your girl Lexi.

And yes she will be with you always...looking after you. And when it is time...maybe even bring a new black and tan bundle of love your way.

Thoughts for comfort and healing going your way.
RIP Lexi Girl.

[ECAV]

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. It is hard and the house feels so empty without Lexi. They, rottis are such a presence in the house. I am trying to focus on all the great memories, after all we had a wonderful 9 yrs together. This whole OS from the first start of her limping was only 3 1/2 weeks, and I don't want to concentrate on that. It helps that my daughters and grandkids come often and everyone has their own funny stories about Lexi. I am grateful for 9 yrs she was healthy. No surgeries or illnesses. She thought she was a pup up till that time.

Caseygina-We probably have passed in the park. I have been in Macungie for 2 yrs, lived in west allentown before that. OS seems so widespread in rottis.

All of you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Eileen

[Ninasmom]

I have stayed out of this specifically because I currently have an osteo-dog and reading this thread sometimes is too emotional for me. But I need to say something now, since Nina was diagnosed on 12/22 that I think some people reading this thread need to understand. Everyone living with an osteo-dog knows what I'm talking about.

People like me (and from what it sounds like, Laurie) watch our dogs everyday waiting for 'that sign'. We all know what it is... that sign that it is time. Every day, I look at Nina and wonder if this is her last day. And everyday, she tells me, "No, Mom, not yet." Yesterday, she was playing with the cat, ate half of Rogan's food and walked around with her ball in her mouth and her butt wiggling. The medications are working for her. We're lucky - right now. That can change on a dime.

None of us wants these dogs to die. None of us asked for osteo as the way to check out. If I could choose her death, it most certainly wouldn't be like this and most certainly wouldn't be soon. But I can't. So I sit and wait and watch. Because I don't want to be wrong; I don't want to wait too long. I don't want to be selfish. So I sit and wait and watch.

[ECAV]

Sam's Mom-When it is right I will have a new bundle of love. A few years ago I had to let my 21 yr old cat go. Boy was the house lively with him and Lexi. Now it is just too quite. My horse's name is Sam so I'm a Sam's Mom too. Eileen

[ECAV]

Abbie-Yes Lexi was a Regal Rottie (She kept looking at me as if to say " At least you didn't make me wear the reindeer antlers" ) What a wonderful memory....Eileen