HELP - My best friend has osteosarcoma

[Anne]

I missed the support and encouragement from you guys when the forum was down. It's kind of those of you who have lost your dogs to continue offering your support to those of us who are still going. That you are thinking of us and understand is very caring of you. I appreciate your kindness.

Sophie is still doing quite well. Her mouth tumour is large now and bleeds frequently. We have her pain under control, she lets me clean her mouth. She knows what's coming when she sees me approach with a handful of tissues and sits patiently while I clean her. If it was painful for her she'd probably try to avoid it. Her energy level is not what it was but she's still enjoying life. She loves her walks but we won't go out today, it's so cold and very windy. I think the cold wind would be uncomfortable for her.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers each day.

[Airborne68]

I'm very sorry to hear of the bad news you're having to deal with, we've also had a similar experience with our female "Missy" and had to put her down 3 wks. ago. Just love him and above all keep him as pain free as possible. My wife and I will pray for you both.......God bless you...........Bill

[aprillovesherdogs]

None of my posts have been showing up. At least I don't see them.

[Vista]

Those who have something to contribute to the dogs that are still with us are welcome to do it in this thread. Those who wish to grieve for the loss of their dogs, please do it in the Rainbow Bridge forum.

[minnegren]

Im really sorry to hear about your news. I had a dog that was diagnosed with osteocarcoma last year and I was thinking just like you NO amputation or chemo, but then on the other hand I didnt want my dog to be in pain and suffer either so I went on with the amputation and Im very happy I did my dog recovered fast and she was back to normal in no time, she was happy just like before she got cancer and best of all she had no pain. I decided not to do the chemo which I regret now, one of my friends went thru the whole procedure as I did but she also did the chemo and its been 1.5 year for her now and her dog is still alive and happy and doing very good. My dog lived for another 6 months problem free. She was 9.5 years when she got diagnosed.

[lucasmom]

Minnegren-
I am sorry for your loss. We all have lost our rotties to OS or are dealing with it now. I think each of us struggle with what is the "best" course of treatment and we make the decision the feels right at the time. You can't really go back and have regrets.......I often think that I should have amputated my Lucas' leg, but then I realized that whatever treatment option I chose was only going to postpone the inevitable. This is a dreadful disease and it is claiming the lives of our dogs prematurely. Laurie

[Anne]

Originally Posted by minnegren

Im really sorry to hear about your news. I had a dog that was diagnosed with osteocarcoma last year and I was thinking just like you NO amputation or chemo, but then on the other hand I didnt want my dog to be in pain and suffer either so I went on with the amputation and Im very happy I did my dog recovered fast and she was back to normal in no time, she was happy just like before she got cancer and best of all she had no pain. I decided not to do the chemo which I regret now, one of my friends went thru the whole procedure as I did but she also did the chemo and its been 1.5 year for her now and her dog is still alive and happy and doing very good. My dog lived for another 6 months problem free. She was 9.5 years when she got diagnosed.

I think we make our decisions on what we think is best for our dogs and I'm sure we all share your priority not wanting our dogs to suffer pain. My dog showed the first sign of a problem late August last year. She had a biopsy taken on September 5th but unfortunately it came back as inconclusive. She healed well showing no further sign of a problem until December 07.

A second biopsy was done on December 24th and it came back as a high grade malignant osteosarcoma. Her cancer is in her mandible, not in a limb. I decided to consult with an oncologist for her ongoing care with my priority being that my dog is able to live pain free for whatever time she has left.

In most cases, by the time this disease is able to be positively diagnosed it has already metastasized to the lungs and/or other organs. For this reason I decided against amputation and chemo. I researched statistics and reached the conclusion that amputation and chemo probably would not prolong her life so I opted for palliative care. We consult with her oncologist at 3 week intervals.

Had we received a positive diagnosis in September I would probably have opted for chemo because it was I believe, the beginning of her cancer. She is on a metronomic trial of drugs, one of them being a chemo tablet and we are now 11 months on from the first sign of her osteosarcoma and almost 7 months on from her definite diagnosis. She is still doing well. She is happy and pain free though now her mouth tumor is now growing rapidly and bleeding.

I clean her mouth and she doesn't flinch so I figure it is not painful for her or she probably would not allow me to clean it and she shows no other sign of pain. We are seeing her oncologist today.

Ninasmom, how is Nina doing? I hope all is well with her.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Anne

My dog showed the first sign of a problem late August last year. She had a biopsy taken on September 5th but unfortunately it came back as inconclusive. She healed well showing no further sign of a problem until December 07....A second biopsy was done on December 24th and it came back as a high grade malignant osteosarcoma.

In most cases, by the time this disease is able to be positively diagnosed it has already metastasized to the lungs and/or other organs....Had we received a positive diagnosis in September I would probably have opted for chemo because it was I believe, the beginning of her cancer.

This concurs with my experience with Luna.....she was definitively diagnosed in November 2004 and when I asked the vet how long ago this would have started, they said about 4 months. Fours months earlier, in July 2004, I noticed Luna slowing down quite a bit (I bought a ramp for the car because it seemed like quite an effort for her to jump in) and she developed generalized demodex. I knew there was "something" wrong from July on, and really thought her age (9-1/2) might be catching up with her, except for that demodex which doesn't usually develop in adult dogs unless there's some underlying condition taxing their immune system. It didn't show up clear enough on any of the diagnostics until 4 months later, and by then it had metastasized to her lungs.

[Ninasmom]

My story really isn't much different. Nina's tumor was initially fast-growing; our initial diagnosis told us that both chemo & amputation was simply not worth it because of the speed of growth. I doubt we would have opted for that anyway, since we've been down this road before with Jake. It was simply not worth the pain for her.She was also coughing - a tell-tale sign that the disease had metasticized to the lungs. Thankfully, with the advise here, Nina's tumor has slowed it's progression. We are still fighting the battle.

Nina is doing relatively well right now. My father-in-law, his wife and their dog (a cairn terrier) are visiting and she's enjoying the company.

[Anne]

I think if we knew how to prevent osteosarcoma then it would already be in practise with humans. Unfortunately we don't know. We do the best we can by our dogs and hope they live a long, healthy life. I think it's the roll of the dice.

Ninasmom, glad to hear Nina is still doing ok. So is Sophie. Here liver and kidney ezymes all came in at the normal levels in her testing yesterday.

[Ninasmom]

Originally Posted by Anne

So is Sophie. Here liver and kidney ezymes all came in at the normal levels in her testing yesterday.

Excellent news Anne! I know you were very worried about the vet visit.

[Debbie Ervin]

I am glad to hear that all who are still with us are doing the best they can. When it is time they will let you know. Until then as we all know Rotties will keep their high spirit and keep going until they get to tired to go on. Then we step in. I do know aside from this site, I am also a member of the rottweiler health foundation and they do a tremendious job for research into these cancers and other deseases that plague our breed. Alot of money and finances from donations go into this research. Well to all of us who have lost our babies, I send my thoughts and to all who still have their babies but are battleing disease I send my prayers. Happy 4th everyone. Sincerely, Debbie

[jlaack]

I think if we knew how to prevent osteosarcoma then it would already be in practise with humans. Unfortunately we don't know. We do the best we can by our dogs and hope they live a long, healthy life. I think it's the roll of the dice.

Ulitmately I agree with this. Osteosarcoma also affects humans, usually teenagers. If the prevention was concrete it would be present at least for humans.

[daiseymae]

I'm so sorry, to feel your pain. I don't have a diagnosis as you do. I just don't know what is wrong with her, yet. Maybe I will know more tomorrow, we go for xrays. You are def. in my prayers. Hang in there, and love him to pieces while you can.

[Anne]

We seem to have gone a little off track in this thread and I respectfully ask if we can keep this thread as a supportive place for those of us who are still dealing with the stark reality of osteosarcoma in our dogs.

Daiseymae, I read in your other post that your dog has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma. I'm so very sorry. Please keep us updated on your girl.

Both Nina and Sophie were diagnosed with osteo last December. Sophie is still doing well and the last we heard from Ninasmom, Nina was going ok too. I hope Ninasmom will come in and update us.

Sophie is on Tramdaol and Piroxicam for pain relief and she is still pain free and enjoying life. She is on a drug to inhibit the growth of her tumour and another to build and strengthen bone as well as strong antibiotics daily. I have her on a cancer starving diet and a number of supplements. The poor girl takes so many tablets every day but she willingly accepts her meds without fuss.

Sophie's osteosarcoma is in her mandible and she has a rapidly growing tumor on her gum. The tumor is now at the stage where it bleeds daily but doesn't appear to be painful as she allows me to clean her mouth. She is still able to have a run in the park and is happy and playful.

Thinking of those who have recently lost their dogs to this horrible disease and I hope you are all doing as well as possible.