Tumor front leg

[Paul Bond]

Hi all

Can any one help me.. my 6 year old rottie will has just been diagnosed with a tumor on his front wrist (about an hour ago.).. The vet said that it hasnt spread to his lungs yet, but there is nothing we can do. she said just take him home and make him comfortable. I struggling to believe that that is all we can do. if it is confined to leg only, what about amputation..he limps but he is still using the leg

Many thanks

Paul

[caseygina]

Hi Paul,
I am so sorry-we just went through a similar situation with our 8 year old Riley-she was dx with osteosarcoma on March 17th and we had to let her go on May 5. We made her as comfortable as possible until the end. we chose not to go the route of amputation, too many risks, we felt. is it OS?

[spen]

Paul,
Really sorry to hear your news.
We had the same dilemma with our bitch who was also 6 at the time.
I opted for the amputation, front left leg, and she lasted a further 2 years. I would not make the same decision again. They are heavy dogs and it puts a great strain on them. It was the hardest thing i have ever done. The hard part is putting the dog first. I sometimes wonder, was my decision for the good of the dog or because i was not strong enough to let her go..
Whatever you decide i wish you the best of luck, you have a hard decision to make.

[Ninasmom]

Paul -- I am so sorry you have received that diagnosis. If you do a search for osteosarcoma, unfortunately, you will find alot of information. There's a thread a few down that will be of some help as well. It is in there that all of us who have recent osteo dogs support each other. Please join us.

I have a couple of questions, if you don't mind. Tell us your boy's name, please! What meds have they given him? On what grounds have they given you this diagnosis? Did they just x-ray or did they biopsy? Did they x-ray his lungs as well?

While the prognosis is never good (it is always terminal), you can give him significant comfort for a while. My Nina was dx on 12/21 and she is still with us. But her tumor is on her back leg, and frankly, I think that has made all the difference.

[rottcrazed]

Personally, what we went through with Justice last year taught me a REALLY big lesson about lumps and movable limbs on dogs.

He had a tumor on his elbow, golf ball sized, biopsied as a fibrosarcoma.

The ortho doc said it can be removed, they would do a flap of his own skin to cover the hole from the removal of the lump and we would carry on from there.

Well, one surgery removed the lump, completely as it had clean margins, it was a grade 3 lump so it MAY have spread, BUT, the flap of skin opened up after a week on crate rest. He was in a complete arm/chest 'cast', but it opened up.

So, we did another surgery, more skin this time on the flap, 150 sutures. Within a week, it was open again. $6000 later we were told we could amputate or .....

Justice had spinal problems, so there was NO WAY I would even think to amputate and have him learn to use 3 legs with his back already having issues.

The placement of the tumor on such a mobile part of the dog, no matter how you bandaged it, it was going to move, so it was going to open. This was of course, something l learned AFTER having put my poor guy through 2 painful surgeries and ultimately, put him to sleep less than a month later.

I wish with all of my heart I had let him be and take whatever time I had with him. He was fine with the lump there, normal, active, he ate, he didn't limp, nothing.

I may have had a few months before the cancer spread and he wouldn't have spent his final month in a crate in a cast not being allowed to walk or play. I still have guilt almost one year later.

I think your best bet, either get a second opinion on surgical options, if you do choose to amputate, you need to make sure he is sound everywhere else (rear, spine) to make sure physically he can handle that, or just let him be and enjoy him while you have him with you.

Kristi

[Xena's Daddy]

Hey Paul,

I'm sorry to hear about your dogs Dx. I know how I felt a couple of months ago when I found out about my girl........devastating!! (To say the least!!)
You'll do well to read the other thread that is still active on here titled 'Help-My Best Friend Has Osteosarcoma'

My best to you,
MK

[Moosemom]

Hi Paul, all of our thoughts are with you at this time. A neighbor's dog (Samoyed) recently had a front leg amputated for osteosarcoma. They live on the 2nd floor so they literally carry him up and down several times a day for potty stuff. He doesn't seem to be in pain at present so they are willing to keep this up for a while anyway. Each person has to evaluate where their dog is and make decisions accordingly. Nobody ever said dog-ownership is easy! Especially this part-search your heart and look into his eyes and you'll know when it's time to make a decision. God bless and give you strength and wisdom for the journey ahead!