Readers Respond: Dealing With Osteosarcoma

After diagnosis, it is typical to have only days, weeks or months to make a decision. This space is for sharing your experiences with your pet's osteosarcoma.

NOTE: This is not a question/answer forum. Please see these articles for information:
Canine Osteosarcoma I
Canine Osteosarcoma II Share your experiences

Living the Best We Can 2-29-12

My 150lb Bullmastiff, Thor was diagnosed with Ostesarcoma in his right shoulder Sep 29, 2011, 3 days before his 9th birthday. . I am not pursuing Chemo/Radiation or amputation. I have been consistantly taking him to a Chiropractor over the past few years as he has had severe allergies, and it has eliminated them. The Vet put him on Previcox and it turned his life around. I am into natural treatments, and discussing with the Chiro she stated she has seen amputations and when the chemo or radiation stops the cancer normally comes back 10 times stronger. I have aways cooked organic food in addition to high quality dog food for him. I did some reading on how to starve out cancer. I changed him to a grain free diet, and have given him only Kangen water to drink (8.5PH). I also added [vitamins]. He is doing well. All things considered.

—Guest Donna

There is hope for more time

My 11 y.o. lab began limping Thanksgiving 2011. We confirmed on Dec 9th that it was osteosarcoma. Initially, I did not want to put my dog through an amputation surgery and chemotherapy. We did x-rays to check his lungs and the x-rays were clear. His blood work and organ function was great. The only issue was his age. I urge any of you out there facing this issue to consider fighting for your dog. Colby had his leg amputated on Dec 9, 2011. He has always been a stubborn dog and it paid off. His recovery has been amazing. The pain from surgery pales in comparison to living with osteosarcoma and putting a loved one down based on age alone is unfair, in my opinion. Colby ran, yes ran, across my yard faster than he did on 4 legs for the first time on Dec. 31st. He is undergoing chemotherapy and fortunately he has had minimal side effects. We are so pleased with our vet and staff at Premier Animal Hospital in Cedar Park, Texas. Dr. Daigle rocks! More time with Colby is precious!

—Guest Kim

Piper Cherokee

My beautiful 12 year old lab "Piper" started limping one week ago. I had x-rays taken and my Vet referred me to a specialist in Vancouver. Within 24 hrs I had a team advise me Piper has Osteosarcoma. I did not need to do the biopsy or the needle treatment to confirm. It is just in the initial stage. I am devastated. They wanted to amputate his front leg that evening. I made many phone calls to friends and family. To put a 12 year old dog through a major surgery loosing a limb, 3 weeks of recovery and then 4 follow-up chemo treatments, was not a decision I could make. The Vet took x-ray and radiology to see if the cancer had spread in his chest, but nothing showed. Although, the Vet said there could be microscopic pieces already there...tough. So I think I bawled for three days to get over the initial shock. He is on Tramadol 2 times a day and Metacam once a day. We just got back from the lake and although limping he was running on all fours chasing other dogs and acting puppy

—Guest Carmen

TOYAH

We have been told our dog has just over a week to live, she has osteosarcoma her right shoulder, we have the xrays, our dog is only limping, everything else is normal. She is taking tramadol 3 times a day plus Metacam.

—MarilynWoodland

Rizzo My Angel the Miracle

At the extremely young age of only 11mo, my dog Rizzo (female husky mix), started limping on her back leg. I worked for a veterinary clinic and so that day I went to work, i took her with me. I had my boss check out her. He took some xrays and we saw a very slight dark spot just around her knee joint. He told me that he thought it was cancer. By chance, his wife was the oncologist at ISU School of Vet. Med. He took a biopsy that day and had her review it. It was osteosarcoma. I was devastated. I decided to do the most I could for her, and that was a mid-femoral shaft amputation followed with chemo. She did very well during both procedures. Again, I was lucky because my boss knew of a new cancer treatment his vet. med classmate was working with, out of U of Missouri Colombia college. 13yrs later, she is still making me laugh! I know she is a VERY rare case, and I am glad I did all I could for her and I love her dearly! Thank you to Dr. Bill Willams! YOU ROCK!

—Guest My experience with Canine Osteosarcoma

Two weeks since diagnosis

apprehensive about how and when the very end will will come. We have never dealt with anything like this and want to do the best by Scrappy: not cheating him out of any possible days of life left, but not making him live too long in too much pain. It feels like walking off a cliff. We have both cried our eyes out and feel heartbroken. all we can do is be thankful we had such a wonderful dog and be grateful he has had a good life. To everyone going thru this: I'm so sorry, stay strong and may your prognosis be more hopeful and your dog older when the bad news came.

—Guest Two Weeks Since The Diagnosis

One year old pup, Bella.

My puppy Bella, who just turned 1 on March 30, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on May 3. The cancer is in her lateral distal and any treatment would end in pain and suffering. We are just taking care of her and we are going to put her to rest as soon as we can tell she will start to feel the pain. We expect it to be within two weeks. I just wish she could have had a longer life.

—Guest Melissa

Just Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma

On May 1st 2011 my beloved companion (Taz) chow/akita mix was diagnosed. Taz is an extremely healthy 12 y/o dog which most people dont believe that he is that old. He just started vocalizing pain so I took him to the emergency Vet and an x-ray revealed the sarcoma in his left leg. I dont think i'll be opting for any treatment at this point as both the cost (extremely expensive for amputation chemo/radiation) and the life expectancy after the fact are a big issue. At best he may have a year with the surgery and chemo. This just plain old sucks-I've never had any experience with dealing with something like this and knowing he may only have 4 weeks at this point is killing me. I have him on pain meds right now but I know within a week they will no longer work and I don't want to see him suffer. So I'm left with having to euthinize him when the time comes.

—Guest Joe

Lenny's diagnosis

I am currently doing my best to deal with this diagnosis, again. My 11 yr old greyhound was diagnosed this week. My last dog, Josey, a rott/ridgeback mix was 14 when diagnosed and lived to be 15. I fear that I will lose Lenny much faster. He has been an amazing companion and a true life-extender for our 12 year old GSD who has degenerative miolopathy. I will not allow Lenny to live a life with pain or suffer. For now he is his normal happy go lucky self. This we will remember always.

—Guest Rita

Zephyr

Our first Greyhound, Zephyr died a month before her 7th birthday because of osteosarcoma. It was only six weeks between our first suspicion and Zephyr's being so ill, she could scarcely move. We were grateful that before we adopted a Greyhound, we agreed that we would not attempt amputation if osteosarcoma appeared. But NOTHING prepares you for the experience of living through this awful disease with a creature that you love. My heart goes out to anyone who has ever faced it or is facing it now.

—Portiasmom

Katie a happy ending

I am so sorry for all these dogs. Osteosarcoma is a terrible disease. I felt compelled to let you know that there can be a happy outcome once in a while. When my Bouvier/Pyrenees mix was 4 yrs. she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her left front leg near her ankle. She had surgery to remove her leg. After she healed she had 3-4 chemo. treatments which did not slow her down at all. She survived for another 10 1/2 years. We lost her last Sept. to cancer of the spleen which had spread to her heart. She was an amazing dog with a huge spirit and love for life. We miss her. We are grateful for all the extra years we got to share with her.

—Guest Katie's people

maxwell

we have to put our wonderful dog down on Friday 5th June 2010, We only found out on Tuesday the vet offered surgery and chemo then the leg bone broke on Thrusday and he was in so much pain and no cure we do not want him through surgery and chemo... we miss him so much . We are so sad and crying and crying!

—Guest nat

CSU Animal Cancer Center stories

We have worked with several people who have had their dogs treated at Colorado State University's Animal Cancer Center. There are great stories on their site about success stories. Here is one we were involved in. www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/fs-riley

—Guest John-Henry Gross

Traditional osteo/chemo trmt vs holistic

My "osteo dog" was diagnosed in the late '90's when she just turned 7. I was set to do limb-sparing surgery (DC area already had it), but the biopsy (requested because I didn't believe the xray diagnosis) compromised the bone in her wrist. I was encouraged to amputate (which I did) and also agreed to an "experimental" chemo patch. I regret both actions. She wouldn't eat for 2 weeks and only survived 3 months. At that time, I also went to a holistic vet who cautioned me against the actions I took anyway. Lesson learned, even if I foolishly subjected two more dogs (different cancers) to chemo. I have given my cancer dogs far better quality of life through holistic treatments, locally and via phone consults with a national cancer expert (remedy drops). I've heard many stories of people being lulled into chemo because dogs can "tolerate" it. Yes, barely, if it doesn't kill them. While some cancer is unavoidable, at least stop vaccinating and feed real food to help the immune system.

—Guest MGINGERY

Canine Osteosaroma

I lost my sweet dog last year to this terrible disease. She had a tumor growing into her spinal column, and thus lost the capability of using her back legs. I held her legs up with a towel so that she could go to the bathroom outside. The vet offered chemo, however, it would only have given her 3 months, and I did not want to put her through that. I only had her about 3 months after diagnosis and it truly broke my heart. My sympathies to anyone going through this with their pet.

—patpeters14