Osteosarcoma

[Leslie Anderson]

Thank you Lucasmom~
Your messages are uplifting & the information that I have received makes this "dark time" more bearable. I will do everything to keep Gabby free of pain & still give her the dignity she so much deserves. This precious creature makes it all come together. She has always welcomed the strays & rescues I bring in & as we Rottweiler lovers all know, if she were not so welcoming that would not be possible.
Thank you again,
Leslie

[Xena's Daddy]

Leslie,

Sorry to hear about your girls diagnosis...........I know it's a really tough thing to hear. I just spent most of my winter with these same problems & concerns with my girl, Xena, so I feel for you. She was recently put to rest, but this whole thing is still so fresh in my mind that I feel like I'm still going through it myself. And in a sense, I guess I am......it's just different now.

I was also told that it could be a couple of weeks, to a couple of months. Devastating news........I spent the whole time wondering how long it would be & how would I know when it's 'time'.

I opted not to put her through the surgery & chemo that was suggested by the Vet specialist that made the Dx. Others on this forum have gone with the Vet's recommondations, and one in particular (Jlaak's dog, Harley) has made it two years from Dx!! (Congratulations Jlaak!!)
Of course, this a rare occurrence. But anything's possible...........

At the end of the day, Xena made it 2-1/2 months from when I first noticed the tumor to when her body was 'shutting down'. (2-months from the 'official' diagnosis) But my Vet told me that every dog's situation is different, and that he's seen dogs that last only a week from Dx, to 5-months out. These figures are for pain management treatment only. The numbers are better for the surgery/chemo option, usually being between 6-8 months, with some even going a year.
So, with the option I chose, Xena was right in the middle.

Anyway, I agree with Lucasmom, Anne, and all the others........just reading through the previous thread should answer many of the questions you have so far, and most likely, even a few you haven't thought of yet.

Good luck with your girl!
MK

[Leslie Anderson]

Hello MK~
Thank you so much for your letter. I am so sorry to hear about your loss of Xena. If I had another 40 years with Gabby it would still not be enough, however, at that point she would have out lived me I'm sure. Like you, I will not put her thru the tortures of a bone biopsy, amputation & chemo. She deserves so much more than to go thru those horrors. After reading your letter & the other threads, I think the best I can do for her is to supplement her diet with food for dogs with cancer & of course pain medication.
I have always made food at home for my dogs, chicken, tri tip, etc. to put over their dry food, now she gets more of it to encourage her to eat.
I know that not one of us going thru this horrible disease with our "best friends" will ever forget the joy they have brought into each day. I love all of my dogs & Gabby has always had a very special place in my heart and of the others who know her. What a wonderful breed.
Thank you for your kindness~
Leslie

[ECAV]

Leslie,
So sorry you have to go through this. When Lexi started to limp after a few days with no improvement we went to the vet and received the horrible new that she had OS. We decided to go with pain management since even with aggressive treatment it seems to buy you months. We had to let Lexi go only 3 weeks after her diagnosis. She had turned 9yrs old 4 days before her last day here. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since she is gone. I will pray that you have much more time. They said this cancer was fast but I was shocked. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Eileen

[Leslie Anderson]

Dear ECAV~
Thank you for your letter. I am so sorry about Lexi. I had never heard about OS & the diagnosis hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought I had perhaps hurt her toe while trimming her nails & that was the reason she had begun to limp. I have learned more from the messages people have written & felt more compassion from all of you than from the vet. This message board has been such a comfort. My prayers are with you also.
Leslie

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anderson

Dear ECAV~
I had never heard about OS & the diagnosis hit me like a ton of bricks.

Hi Leslie,

I know the feeling!! I definately felt like I was buried under a pile of bricks!! I also had not heard of it, at least not by name, but I HAD heard of cancer being prevelant among the breed, particularly 'bone cancer'. I just always thought that Xena would somehow not be affected by the popular health concerns that all Rottweilers seem to share. She was always so healthy, not a sick day in her life. Like she had a really strong immune system or something. I guess it was just wishful thinking...................

I Hope you have some good, quality time with your baby girl, that's the most important thing right now. As long as her pain is being managed effectively, she should have the best chance of being herself for a while.

Best of luck to you guys!!
MK

[ECAV]

Leslie,
If your vet is not compassionate find another. I can't imagine having to go through what I did and Lexi did with a vet who had no compassion. They would always call me back if I needed to speak with them. Spend as much time on the phone or in the office explaining and answering any questions or concerns I had. And I could always tell they wanted what was best for Lexi. You and Gabby deserve that during this time. God Bless. Eileen

[Leslie Anderson]

Thank you MK!

Leslie

[Leslie Anderson]

Hello Eileen~
It's not so much that the vet was not compassionate, almost too dramatic. She was throwing a lot of information at me regarding very invasive treatments, bone biopsys, amputation, chemo, etc. I was still reeling with the initial diagnosis & still thinking "but I thought it was a toenail". I really have learned more from all of you & will continue to take this threads advice until I must return to the vet.
Thank you for your thoughts & prayers,
Leslie

[Ninasmom]

Leslie - I was in the same boat with my vets. They wanted to do a biopsy. When we refused, they looked at us like we were nuts. They wanted to amputate, when we explained why we wouldn't, they looked at us like we were crazy. When we said that we knew alot of rottie people who's dogs had passed because of OS, they again looked at us like we were nuts. One of the vets acutally said, "Really? It's not very common in rotts at all." I should have known then.

Once Nina lived beyond their original prognosis of a few weeks, the vets became increasingly uncooperative, finally causing me to switch vets. The vet I have now is more more knowledgable and understanding. The goal is comfort, plain and simple.

If your vet does or says anything that makes you question whether you are doing the correct thing for Gaby, find a new vet. There are compassionate vets who understand the type of care we need for our dogs.

[Marley55]

I am fortunate to have a vet who is a strong advocate of the patient and their rights.
When I received the news that Jaxx has OS, I was so upset I could hardly comprehend what the DR was explaining to me. Prior to moving to Ohio I was a vet tech for years and years so I certainly knew what he said to me, but since it was always someone else's dog, it never hit me like a sledge hammer they way it did with Jaxx.

After I got home and had settled a bit the phone rang and it was the DR, calling to check on me and letting me know that he will be glad to talk though our action plan when I was ready. When we did talk over all the options, amputation, biopsy, drug therapy, chemo, I asked him "if Jaxx was your dog what would you do"? He never blinked an eye or paused, just answered straight out, love him, support him with drug therapy and a cancer diet and let him tell you when he is ready.

I admire and respect both him and his staff, which in my humble opinion is as it should be. Anything less then that, to me, is unacceptable and if you are not happy, find a new vet for Gaby. You both deserve all the caring and compassion available, not just now, but in all your vet needs.

[Leslie Anderson]

Thank you for your compassion & information. I have not heard from my vet once since the diagnosis. I am feeding Gabby homemade chicken soup for breakfast as well as dinner in hopes to encourage her to eat. She is on pain medication which will need to refilled in a couple of days. Perhaps then the vet will "talk" more in depth about Gabby & the other options available since I will not have her go thru such invasive surgeries.
I would not want it for myself. My main concern, like all of you, is to keep her eating & pain free.
Thank you all so very much for your compassion & suggestions. I would not have been able to do this alone.
Leslie

[Moosemom]

Re: osteosarcoma
I read your posting and am saddened with you. I think the worst part of having a dog in pain is not being able to explain to them the why's. They do understand your heart though and she will know you're doing everything you can to help her. I've been with many of my sick dogs and they seemed to understand that my heart hurt too. My prayers are with you and your precious friend.