HELP - My best friend has osteosarcoma

[caseygina]

Laurie,
I am so happy for you about Lucas. I am so happy that you will have some extra time with him. I miss Riley so much every day, I hope it gets better. Happy Mother's Day to all the rottie moms out there-today was the first one without Riley.

Ninasmom-I am happy Nina is doing well too!!

Gina

[lucasmom]

Gina-
My heart goes out to you. It is so very hard to lose a beloved dog. They become like your children and you would never want your babies to suffer. Riley is free now and enjoying her new life and body in Heaven. As soon as Lucas' pain cannot be controlled with medications, he will join Riley. Right now he is doing pretty good, but I know that his time is very limited. In the meantime, I will enjoy every day like it is his last.

I pray that things get better for you. Perhaps you will consider another puppy at some point. There are so many dogs out there that need good homes...and, you know what wonderful homes we have with lots of love. Our rotties get more love and affection than most children. Very sad, but true. I will keep you in my prayers, along with our friend, Mike...Xena's Dad. Hey, Mike...how are you? Laurie

[Xena's Daddy]

Hi Laurie,

I'm O.K, thanks for asking........I still think about Xena every day though, many times a day in fact. It does get a little tiny bit easier as each day goes by, but I would still give anything to have her back with me now.

I have spoken with several breeders over the last week however, and I feel like I'm making some headway on eventually getting another puppy........but not now. Right now I still feel like it is not the right time, both for me emotionally, as well as the fact that I feel it would be disrespectful to Xena. She was a really special girl and definately not easilly replacable......in fact, there will never be a 'replacement'. Just an entirely different human-dog relationship. I just hope it's at least 1/2 as good..............

But considering how long it takes to get a puppy from a reputable breeder, I think I started my search at a good time. Hopefully by the time I do feel ready, there will be a happy, smiling little black & tan monster waiting to chew up my valuable belongings!!

I'm really glad you & Lucas are still together for now. I would tell you to enjoy every moment with him, but I know that you're well aware of that already!

I'm leaving for Florida on Wednesday morning, so I won't be on for a week or so..........I hope I don't miss anything!

By best to Lucas,
MK

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Xena's Daddy

I'm making some headway on eventually getting another puppy........but not now. Right now I still feel like it is not the right time, both for me emotionally, as well as the fact that I feel it would be disrespectful to Xena.

I felt the opposite....that if I brought a puppy home before I had truly dealt with Luna's loss, it would be unfair to the puppy because I'd still be hoping for Luna. For the first 3 months, the only time I felt okay was when I was working on her photo album. I waited a year, and would have waited longer if Chili hadn't come along when she did.

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by moondog

I felt the opposite....that if I brought a puppy home before I had truly dealt with Luna's loss, it would be unfair to the puppy because I'd still be hoping for Luna.

Hi Moondog,

Actually, it's not really the opposite, it's more like the rest of the story that I failed to mention in that post. I totally agree with that........it would be unfair the to newby, as I know full well that I would not be able to put myself 100% into the new relationship. And any less is not enough!

It's funny, everybody I speak to says something different......with a lot of them saying things like, "So, did you get a new puppy yet?", or "When my dog died, I ran right out & got another one!". That one doesn't work for me, I mean it's not like my TV broke & I have to go out & get another one. Or a Goldfish. But to each his own, I suppose.

Then there's the other side of the spectrum; those who vow off dogs forever after a heartwrenching loss. That's another thing that doesn't work for me. I like to think I'm somewhere in the middle........as much as it hurts, and however difficult it was dealing with this situation, I know I will have another. But I need my time to mourn & cherish Xena's memories first before I get too wrapped up in another life-long experience............besides, I haven't made her shadowbox yet.....I'm still trying to find one big enough for her big, fat collar!!

Regards,
MK

P.S. I just received my Dog License Renewal (I knew it was coming soon) and this time I had to put a checkmark in the dreaded 'Dog is deceased' box......... For the last seven years, I've looked at that box with fear & dread.....wondering how hard it must be to fill that part out, knowing full well I'd have to do it one day. Well, now I know.

[Debbie Ervin]

I felt that I had to rescue not adopt a puppy myself. I had my 2 boys since 8 wks old and when they were both gone and I just had my lab/mix left we were all heartbroken. I felt as a tribute to the breed and to Thor and Ceasar I would rescue a rottweiler who certainly deseved a second chance at a great life which we could provide. I have every tribute to my boys who passed and there stories are on the Rottweiler Health Foundation for all to read and their memoral also I have done a book of pictures like moondog for Luna and they are sitting in our diningroom on a beautiful piece of cherrywood furniture watching over us. I miss them both terribly all always will but I do hope to be with them both again just to touch their beautiful faces and see the love in their eyes. Now of course I am crying. When I knew my time was limited with Thor and Ceasar, it was very well spent. I know you will do the same. May God shine on you and give you more time with Lucas. Debbie

[Ninasmom]

Nina saw her new vet today. He changed her meds (I need to go home and look at the bottle -- DH met the vet) and also suggested to DH that he thinks she does not have osteo, but that it is a benign bone tumor??? I've never heard of that. His main reason for thinking this is because she's lived so long and is still using the leg for weight bearing, demonstrating no pain. Again - other than the tumor, she's the picture of health for an almost 10 year old dog. DH didn't feel entirely confident in the vet, but at this point, this vet is willing to listen to us and do what we ask so he's a temporary solution to a permanent problem. I'll write more later when I get home from work.

[observer]

Interesting! Was her X-ray ever read by a specialist?

[aprillovesherdogs]

Wow Nina. That's some news. My vet had suggested sending off Ansel's xrays to an xray specialist. I chose to go to the ortho specialist who just happened to be a very experienced xray interpreter. If he would have agreed with my vet that he thought it was OS, I probably would have gone one step further and had them sent off.

[Ninasmom]

No - even I could tell by looking at the films that it's osteo; classic sunburst pattern. This vet hasn't seen her films; guess I should show him... he's just making his judgment on the fact that she's almost 5 months post-diagnosis, but as we all know, some dogs seem to last longer than others.

He's switching her over to previcox. Haven't done the search here yet, but I will after I take the boy to his martial arts class. The vet gave us a 3 day supply of torbutrol if she doesn't react well to the previcox and said to call him, so it will be interesting.

[warrior1]

Ninasmom, the same thing happened to my Warrior at just about the same age as Nina. His story was posted here, you can do a search. He was diagnosed with osteo (I too saw his films). Then months later, a bone tumor was a consideration because of his longevity. We did take him to a specialist for a second opinion and more x-rays. The bone cancer could not be confirmed by either Doctor without a bone biopsy which I declined. However, his chest x-rays always came back clean. We had 16 great months together from the original diagnosis. Was it really Osteo? I'll could never be 100%sure. If in fact it was, perhaps, some dogs do last longer than most. Whatever the case may be, he had a wonderful life. The day I saw my best friend in distress, I let him go. Him suffering for even 1 day was never even a consideration. It was the hardest thing I have EVER had to do and I still miss him each and every day. I wish you and everyone else dealing with this mess, the best of luck. Enjoy each day you have together.

[Anne]

With Sophie both the vet and I could see on xray an area of lucency in the bone of her mandible. We also sent off 3 biopsy samples of the tissue of the tumor on her gum to pathology. We did not biopsy the bone. The diagnosis was a highly anaplastic malignant tumor. The tumor is a manifestation of the OSA in her mandible.

There was no doubt about the diagnosis but I elected to have Sophie treated by an oncolgist. I declined both amputation of the mandible and chemotherapy and decided on palliative care only.

The oncologist suggested the metronomic protocol and Sophie is still doing well. She had an appointment yesterday and they are very pleased and surprised that she is doing so well at 5 months from her diagnosis.

Ninasmom have you considered having Nina seen by an oncolgist and having them look at Nina's xrays?

[lucasmom]

Ninasmom and Warrior-
I am intrigued by your posts. I have always really wondered if Lucas has OS or a bone tumor. My vet did send his films out to a specialist, but she never could "definitively" say it was OS. My vet just said the she was "inclined" to agree with him that it was OS. I never let Lucas have a biopsy. I guess without a biopsy, you can never be totally certain. I have his X rays and they do not look like OS sunburst pattern. But hey...what do I know.

The thing that inclines me to agree with the diagnosis of OS is that this tumor is growing at lightening speed. Strange thing though, he does weight bear on it sometimes. He still runs like the wind after the cats and squirrels. He really does not need his four legs at all. The only challenge with three legs for him is when he gets up from a laying down position.

So, my question to each of you is how big was/is your dogs' tumors? Did they keep growing at a very rapid pace?

Every time I considered taking Lucas to Cornell Vet University (the only oncologists in our area) I backed out because they insist on a biopsy. I believe that a biopsy would be certain death for him as the cancer tends to spread very quickly once it is disturbed. Lucas' chest X-rays have always been clear and there are no signs of mets.

Who knows...like you said, whether it is or is not, we need to enjoy each day we have and put them down when the pain cannot be controlled. I do not want Lucas to suffer. He has more GOOD days than BAD and he still has a quality of life. Deep in my heart, I know he has OS and I am sure that this is wishful thinking. This very cruel and nasty disease is robbing us of our best friends like a thief in the night. It has changed my life and the way I look at each day. Losing a loved one really puts things in perspective as to what is really important in life.

Rest well tonight my rottie friends. Laurie

P.S. Mike...I agree with you. Personally I could never go right out and get another dog. However, one side of me tells me that the altruistic thing to do would be to give another dog out there a good home asap. The other side tells me that there could never be another Lucas and I could never "replace" him. In fact, I feel I would dislike any other dog because I would tend to resent them because they are NOT my Lucas. I think that in time, I could love another dog. I have always had dogs in my life (never a rottie though), and while I loved each of them, I have never felt this way about a dog. There is something very, very special about rottweilers. As I am sure you all can agree........

[warrior1]

First, let me say it is not my intention to give anyone false hope on what is or is not. Whether or not my Warrior had Osteo is anyone's guess, without a bone biopsy nothing can be 100% definitive. I was not doing that to him, he was a senior. That being said, regardless of what anyone's thoughts were, I handled him as if he did ,in fact, have this dreaded disease. By that, I mean, there was no running, he was leashed walked even to go outside to potty; basically, he had a very cushy life. My biggest fear was that his leg would break so I took every precaution to lessen those chances. I would never presume to tell anyone what to do with their pets, but if I may offer some advise, I would limit the squirrel chasing. Though I am sure he enjoys it, it may not be in his best interest. With regard to the tumor size, yes, it did keep growing, very rapidly. By the time he was PTS, I would have estimated it to be the size of a small orange. It was rock solid but touching it or applying pressure to it, never bothered him.

Believe me, I know we all want that 1 in a million chance that the diagnosis we are given is a mistake. But, the fact of the matter still remains that our animals don't understand that they have this thing called "cancer". They live in the moment, and believe it or not, that was one of the great lessons he had taught me. There was absolutely nothing I could do for him but just live in "his" moment. You have to be able to read your dog and respect what it is he is showing you, good or bad, and when that "bad" moment comes, you have to find the strength within yourself to set him free. But, until that time comes, enjoy them, love them and spoil them rotten.

[Ninasmom]

Nina's tumor was about the size of a golf ball when it was diagnosed. It had appeared at lightening speed. Since then it has grown at an even pace. Now its about the size of a baseball.

We talked about it last night - the great debate over whether or not it's osteo, whether or not to take her to an oncologist, whether or not to amputate... and we came back to the same conclusions we did in December.

We're not going to amputate, we're not going to biopsy. We're going to treat for pain and ride it out. She's almost 10, she's living a good life. We refuse to do anything that could negatively affect her standard of living. Does it really matter if she's got osteo if we're treating her like this? I think not. The goal is, was and will always be pain management, comfort and standard of living.