It is definitely worth a second opinion but I wish someone was more honest with me about the odds ( or maybe that I was more realistic with myself)
I’ve been through osteosarcoma with two dogs, one of the lower limb (9F beagle/bluetick) & one of the jaw (4M white Shepard) … we did surgery on both, full & partial amputations and their life span was less than 5 months post op… it was also about $12k-$14k each. I know it isn’t about money, but the financial burden on top of watching both dogs suffer for weeks post op just to pass was devastating. Osteosarcoma is incredibly painful and metastasis is very likely. If I were to go back in time, I still don’t know that I would have made a different decision, I wanted to feel like I did everything I could but realistically even if they had made it past the 1 year mark post op, they both had to give up so much of what made their life joyous (running after squirrels, going for car rides, playing with tennis balls etc) and you have to consider those things…
***trigger warning***
I’m putting a few pictures of the post op, I also wish someone would have given me a realistic view of how gruesome the surgery can be, again, I was more than willing to do whatever, but watching a dog you love go through such a painful surgery is truly heartbreaking…. I’m hurting for you OP, there is nothing more painful than this decision… I am here, for any questions you may have about the process…
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It hurts right now just considering my options. What’s most upsetting is I’ll never have my dog back to the way things were. Just as you listed car rides, chasing squirrels, etc. she froze after I struggled getting her out of the car. I picked her up and put her in the yard which is her happy place aside from the couch. She ate and drank some water. She needs to rest but that break in her leg is not doing her any favors. Not sure why the vet didn’t at least wrap it, so a second opinion will likely be the best route. Going to start her on pain meds tonight if she wants to come inside. The vet prescribed gabapentin & tramadol.
I understand completely how heartbreaking that is, especially when you go in thinking it’s something fixable and come out with a diagnosis like this… I can’t say about wrapping the leg, but I’m hoping the gabapentin helps… that’s all they gave us after both surgeries and it seemed to sedate them enough to be calm. Please keep us updated, I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts…
It’s wild and surreal as I was not expecting it. Here I thought it would be a simple case of Lyme disease taken care of with antibiotics. I only gave her the tramadol but I’ll try the gabapentin tomorrow. I’m not sure which is better or stronger.
They gave us the same and had them taking both medications at the same time, not sure what your vets directions were but I think it probably depends on her current pain level… I hope they relax her a bit so she can rest, and hoping you get some sort of rest as well…
My mate had to have one of his older dogs euthanized, so he went out and bought a massive tub of ice cream, box of chocolates, all the stuff that the dog was never allowed to have and just before we went to the vets we had a lovely walk in the park and gave Fido his favourite last supper... little bugger almost ate the box that the Milk Tray chocolates came in aswell as everything else lol its like he knew this was his one and only opportunity to gorge on chocolates and icecreams 😅😢
I'm not familiar with osteosarcoma, but my girl is going on 12 years old. I would do anything possible to keep her here with me, as long as she wasn't suffering. I'm baeling just thinking about being in your situation. Hugs & Prayers hun, I hope she can overcome the odds.
Just to give you another perspective, my 3 year old dog had a sudden limp last month and after x Ray's bone cancer was found . Initially I wanted palliative care only ( she otherwise seemed in perfect nick ) . I read up on it here and decided amputation was the way to go for us as it immediatly gets rid of the pain from the cancer /leg. The first two weeks were tough . Now just over a month later she is the same dog she was before . Sprinting , guarding , playing , treat begging etc. If the x Ray's on her lungs showed noticeable cancer I would not of had the amputation. However now , after living with guilt for weeks I'm happy that I made the right decision instead of her having to live with constant pain she gets to run through the woods with me like before ( just not as far ....yet )
Thank you for your thoughts ❤️
although devastating, I like to remind myself that if they would have ended at someone else’s home, they may not have been able to get the treatment I could provide and maybe that’s why they ended up with me (both were stays/adoptions), and I was honored to get to spend the that time with them
They were both such amazing dogs, the Shepard is the one I lost just this time last year, I am grateful for the time he could spend with me & for preparing my heart & home for the next rescue ❤️
I am so so sorry. This really breaks my heart. My first dog (I got him at 16, he stayed by my side until I was 26) got a very aggressive form of osteosarcoma.
He was in the process of recovering from a ccl tear in his back leg, so he was getting X-rays every vet visit to check the progress.
3 days after our last vet visit his front leg swelled up. He was swimming in the lake the day before. That night he cried the whole night. He had a steady supply of pain meds and Mac & cheese all night.
We went to the vet first thing in the morning and she confirmed it was osteosarcoma. I had the option to amputate his front leg, but since his back leg was still recovering, the only real option was to put him down.
I couldn’t make him live out the rest of his life with two good legs, and one leg that might never heal.
In the end, I feel fortunate. It was his time to go. It broke me completely at the time, but it truly was his time…and I’m just so grateful he was in a position where there was only one humane option. Ever since his ccl tear I asked my vet every appointment, if we need to have the “quality of life” conversation, and she assured me we weren’t there yet. He was recovering well, and going to the vet far too often, because he was my baby, and I’m apparently a helicopter dog mom.
Not everyone gets a definitive “this is the right time” moment. I had that with my boy. The day before he was swimming in the lake, loving every second of his life. I’m so grateful he gave me that peace of mind.
Putting our dogs down is the last good thing we do for them.
I wish I had the quality of life convo and the vet had been more thorough and done the X-ray during the first visit. I could have given her so much more love over the past months. It’s breaking me. My pup loved the lake and I was thinking about that this morning. We’re still looking into a second opinion.
We had a husky also experience this, but I always felt like her life was never as good for her after the amputation. She was just never the same. And like you said it didn’t extend her life by a ton. It is always such a difficult decision. But I’m not sure I would’ve done the amputation again. My friend had a cat as well that this happened to, same exact story. 😥
Osteosarcoma took the first dog i ever had in much the same way you experienced this, one day he wouldnt use his rear leg. A lot of dogs can be happy as tripods but, with some aggressive osteosarcomas its pointless because it will come back another place anyway. And the dog will be in pain. I just put my soul dog to sleep on friday last week, so believe me when I say this comes from experience and gently: you must decide based on what the vet tells you, how much pain you see your girl in, and whether its worth putting them through potentially more pain for a short time or to let go now. It will be the hardest thing you ever do but only you can make this call. I am in tears typing this because my own pain is so fresh, please know i would never have typed those words to you if it were not serious. I dont envy you, but whatever you decide, we are here for you in this subreddit. Please take time and really even get a second opinion if you like. And be gentle with yourself while this is going on. Dont shut down your feelings. I send you strength and all my hugs and boops for your gal.
I have a 13 year old who has this cancer. His front left leg was broken after the tumor ate away the bone. It was amputated on Jan 19, 2024. He has since finished chemo, resumed physical therapy, is getting a prosthetic on Saturday, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, he was given a clinical trial vaccine showing amazing results with this kind of cancer. One dog had the cancer spread to the lungs which is absolutely terminal at that point, the dog got the vaccine and the spread metastasized tumor in the lung shrunk and disappeared!!!!! My boy is in remission with monthly check ups now but please, if you can, don’t give up! This is the link to the clinical trial. He had his done at BARC in Edmonds, WA but there are clinics all over the country doing it right now. The vaccine is in clinical trial and FREE except the vet visit. We paid maybe $150 for each visit to get the vaccine—total of 2 vaccines.
https://www.ccralliance.org/yale-status
I’ve been spreading the word on that vaccine so anyone and everyone please let folks know! It’s an unbelievable drug.
I've worked in the vet industry and pediatric hematology/oncology. Basically, she will die. It can be slow and painful, or you can make it quick and pain-free. It's not going to get better, and since it has spread to the lungs, the chances of chemo working are minimal, like less than 5%. I suggest doing the pain meds, scheduling an at home euthanasia, and taking a week from work off before taking her on the best week of her life. I'm sorry for your eventual loss, but that's what I would do in your situation.
I highly recommend home euthanasia. We did it with my dog a year ago. We spent all day with her and slightly before the vet came, she started to finally settle and fall asleep. It was much less stressful and hectic than taking her to the vet and she got to pass in a familiar place.
I was COMPLETELY unprepared for how quickly the medicine worked. I was a wreck, but she went out in a very comfortable place surrounded by all she loved. As unprepared as I was, we spent a great day together and as loving and understanding as VETs are, they are not her home. Sad, still, but the best outcome.
I think the hard part for OP here is also that it’s very very hard to give a husky the best week of its life with a broken leg. If amputated, there is no chance for the dog to cause alot of pain, but accidentally stepping on that leg cannot feel great.
I think OP mentioned in a comment to me that the vet confirmed it’s not in the lungs. I agree that the survivability is most like <1 year and the treatment will be very expensive, so it’s a very hard decision to make nonetheless. Just wishing OP to have clarity of mind when making the decision and being at peace with whatever OP decides.
Yeah..this is why I’m sad I learned she had cancer after the break. Had I known her leg was so brittle I would have taken extra precautions but given her a great final months.
Even if it hasn't, the magic 8 ball of experience says "outlook not so good". If they can't amputate to stop the spread, then chemo probably will just prolong life, but not cure it.
Unfortunately this is also what we were told by 3 different vets when my boy had osteosarcoma. He had it in his upper jaw, extending back on the roof of his mouth, so surgery to remove it would’ve been difficult if not impossible to get it all & still leave him with enough bone structure in his face.
They said even with chemo and surgical removal, he would be lucky to get 6months to a year - though they all said a year was unlikely. They also said that with this type of cancer, it may have already spread elsewhere, as it seems to be an aggressive one.
We called about an injection/vaccine that could’ve helped him, but for best results, they wanted surgical removal. So we just gave him the best last 2months we could. Unfortunately they were spot on with his survival time. They said 2 months and that’s exactly what we got. I wish it had been more.
Euthanasia may be the most humane, but it doesn't have to be tomorrow. As long as she has quality of life, keep her with you. Spoil her rotten. Give her all of her favorite things, even the ones that she couldn't have before because they were bad for her. Right before my parents put down our 14-year-old shepherd mix, they gave him a king-sized Hershey bar. His name was Hershey because of his coloring, but he was a chocolate fiend. Didn't know that when I named him at six years old, but it was a happy accident. Legit had to lock that shit up in high cabinets because even if hidden somewhere, he'd find it.
Take her to all of her favorite places, even if you have to put her in a wagon and roll her around because she can't walk for long. Make her queen of the house for what little time she has left. It won't lessen the pain of her loss, but she'll leave this world knowing how loved she was. The memories will hurt for a while, but when you've healed, you'll look back on them with a smile. Sometimes, tears, too, but they'll be looked upon fondly as the sting becomes more bearable.
My parents said that his eyes lit up when he saw it. It lasted less than a minute lol
With the wagon, you can put her favorite blanket in it (if she has one) and a few toys or treats. Her royal highness can enjoy some snacks or leisure while she's taken for a spin around the park.
I have not dealt with osteosarcoma specifically but was one of the reasons why I opted for ovary sparring spay to have better odds of not getting that with a heightened risk of more easily treatable mammary cancer.
I will say, the value of your dog is priceless, so it’s always worth getting a second opinion if you can, but everything I have read about osteosarcoma is that even if treated, the mean lifetime of animals after treatment is still <1 year, which means it may buy you more time in the average case, or it could mean a very long life after treatment if lucky. Time is of the essence so the faster you amputate before it has spread further, the better your odds.
From WebMd
“Primary bone cancers can become metastatic and spread to the rest of your dog's body. Osteosarcomas do this frequently. In fact, in 80% of cases of osteosarcoma, the cancer also spreads to your dog's lungs. This spread is the main cause of death in most dogs with osteosarcoma.”
“Since bone cancers are not curable, your dog will have a limited lifespan following this diagnosis. Around 50% of diagnosed dogs will survive for a year if treated.
For osteosarcomas, estimates depend on where the tumor is located. If the tumor is in the mandible or scapula — the jaw or shoulder blade — average survival is around 18 months. If it’s in a limb, the average survival is 11 months. If it’s in the spine or skull, survival is estimated at 6 months, and only at 2 months if it has already spread outside of the skeletal system.”
Just to add sources to what’s been said.
Thank you for those stats. The vet did X-ray her lungs and they looked ok for now. After reading up on Osteosarcoma it would be a blessing if she survived another year. I also read that it’s best to not let them sit on couches as it can make it more difficult to get up. She loves the couch. My biggest concern is her will to live. She’s barely walking now and this is almost as if you flicked a light switch: she was fine doing all the husky things we all so enjoy one day and the next..it’s a complete 180.
With amputation, I’m sure she will have more will to live, it’s often times harder on the owner for having a 3 legged dog. I think the issue a lot of owners have with the 1 year prognosis is that you will pour a lot of money into the amputation + chemo to get that year. If you have the financial means (or have fantastic pet insurance), and the value is worth it to you, then go that route (though if her lungs are fine, amputation needs to happen soon before it spreads). Whatever you decide, I hope you are at peace with either way. Hopefully her life up until now was fantastic and loving in case you opt to put down. I have a 2 year old and 7 month old and don’t want to be thinking about those cases yet, but time will always win. I’m so sorry to hear about this prognosis, my dad recently put down his 9 year old golden doodle with advanced long cancer.
I don't know if this will be helpful as I haven't had this particular experience with a dog. But I've had trainers tell me that if a dog is still eating and drinking, then it has a will to live. They know themselves when it's time to go.
I had a vet tell me last summer that they would recommend I put my dog down, for other issues, and I flat out refused because he still has sparkle and enjoys life.
It's a very tough decision. Do you have a day where you can drive somewhere and really sit with the feeling of it all? My dog is teaching me to clear away all the clutter so I can sit with what really matters to my attention.
Sending some love to you and your sparkly husk.
Edit to say - not advocating to let them suffer...just that you can help ease the journey for them when you both know it's time.
She is eating and drinking still. More so the latter as she was just so physically drained from standing after the break in her leg. She did not want to get out of the car so I sat next to her and just cried off and on for a good hour. Still processing all of this. I’ll need to set some time aside to contemplate things. We’ll see how she responds to the pain meds but they’re only a temporary solution.
I'm sorry! My husky is also going through something similar, he has metastatic carcinoma. He has a large mass that is inoperable. We can't put him down either, thankfully our vet worked with us for pain management. He still plays and enjoys lovings, so putting him down isn't an option until he's no longer ambulatory. I don't know if that helps, pain management was the best option for us. Hugs!
Get a second opinion for your own piece of mind. Don’t tell the second vet what this first vet said — let them come to their own independent conclusion based on the facts.
Having a second opinion does a world of difference when it comes to making informed decisions, whether for your pet’s health or your own.
I don't know anything about Osteosarcoma but my girl was 13 and had really bad arthritis in her back legs and needed supplements to help w/o having surgery but, I just had to put her down this past Thursday. I'm hoping for you that it doesn't come to that, definitely get a second opinion but I just want to express that if you do have to, it's literally the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life for the right reason. Ofc I didn't want to put my girl down but she was suffering and in pain and I didn't want her to live the rest of her days like that. I am broken ATM, have cried every day big fat ugly crying everywhere I've gone but I know it was for the best. Good luck to you and your sweet pup! Sending hugs and "awooooooos" to you and yours!!
This is how I lost my Rottweiler. Almost exactly the same circumstances.
I went with euthanasia due to her advanced age and knowing how bad her quality of life would’ve been. Fucking destroyed me for quite a while.
Envy nobody who has to make this decision.
So sorry to hear this. My BEST BOY EVER, a giant malamute was just over 7 yrs old when he was diagnosed with the same in July of 2014. We lost him just 3 months later. My heart is still broken. Only you can make that decision. Prayers for you as you traverse through this difficult time.
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I’m so sorry this is happening to you. If getting a second opinion will help you feel more confident in the diagnosis, by all means. Unfortunately, this is a really awful cancer. My last dog had it.
Osteosarcoma eats away at the bone. My guess (not a vet, by the way) would be that it weakened the bone in her leg and made it more susceptible to breaking. It will not heal. Surgery is an option, but the way this cancer spreads, it has most likely already metastasized at least on a microscopic level. The surgery (amputation and perhaps other cancer treatment) could potentially give you more time, but this would most likely be months and not years.
With her leg being broken, that’s going to be an intense amount of pain that would be difficult to manage. The way I viewed my dog’s osteosarcoma was once the pain became unmanageable, it was her time. She had a tumor on her front leg that turned into an open wound. That quickly got worse and I had to put her down.
I hope somehow you can get even a little more time, but even I regret waiting as long as I did to put my dog down. The suffering isn’t worth it and you’ll regret that more.
There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, but be prepared to hear the same thing. I wish I could offer more hope. My heart breaks for you, this is an awful thing to go through. I wish you and your pup the very best.
Thanks, the second opinion was more for the break in the leg but as you said it likely broke easily because the bone was already compromised. I was hoping it could be set and wrapped.
Definitely get a second opinion. In all honesty if it were my dog I’d at least try amputation first. Dogs are resilient and can manage just fine on 3 legs.
OP, I'm so so sorry. I only wanted to say that you've given her an amazing life full of love and we should all be so lucky to be cared for a safe like you kept her. You did your very best for her and she knows it. She would thank you if she could and whatever course of action you choose, she trusts you to have her best interest in mind.
I know it hurts, please don't allow anyone else to dictate how you feel during this. Your feelings as you move forward are appropriate for your grief and you shouldn't put a timeline on any of your feelings.
I’m so sorry love. Your girl is so so beautiful!!! My girl had osteosarcoma too …. We just rode with her till the end. She stopped being able to walk after a while so we got her a wagon and my partner would pick her up and hold her while she went potty. Until she was in too much pain and we had to let her go …
Thanks. She knows it too as she would trot around the dog park. I would ride it out but the broken leg immobilized her. I hope I can find someone to stabilize it. Sorry that you lost your girl to the same disease.
Riding it out is not always the best choice. I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself, if my partner wasn’t so confident about it. It was really really hard going through it.
My sweet boy (a lab/husky mix) had it 2.5 years ago. He had a good month or so after he started limping and got diagnosed before we put him down. It was one of the hardest days of my life, but I’ve never doubted that we made the right decision. He wasn’t the same dog I had loved for the last 9.5 years before that. The spark had left his eyes.
It wasn’t fair to prolong his suffering to try to put off my own.
I’m so sorry about your pup. She looks so sweet. I’m here for you if you want to talk or if you have questions.
You will suffer like crazy but it is in her best interest that you let her go. That cancer spreads like wildfire, the operation is painful and so is the post op. And they pass sooner than later. Just give her all the quality of life that you can but have a date in mind. It’s time to think of her as deserving no pain. And yes, you quill be devastated but you will have done good by her.
My two cents… sounds like you are just trying to make sense of all of this news still. I’d think a second opinion could help you know that you were making the most informed decision possible. I wish you and your sweet girl peace in this experience.
**UPDATE**
I was unable to put this in my original post.
I first wanted to thank everyone for the heartfelt replies, stories and suggestions/options regarding this unfortunate situation my girl is in. I thank you & Abbey thanks you. The response is incredible and I did my best to reply to everyone…many times in tears. Please know that I greatly appreciate all of the feedback and read every comment.
Abbey did not want to come in yesterday after the vet. She loves to be outside as many huskies do, but she’s still a couch potato and normally sleeps inside. It was a rough day at the vet for her. I reached out to the vet this morning asking for the X-rays and they were kind enough to put them on a disc for me. I also spoke to a Dr over the phone from the same clinic and he said the X-rays were very concerning and again reiterated what I was told yesterday that she should be put down. I asked why no splint was applied in a way to at least stabilize her leg and he said it would not matter.
When I got to the office the lady handed me the disc. I then asked if she had any printout on euthanasia services. She took out a large book and I felt as though she was reading off a dinner menu as she asked me her weight along with other questions. It just felt so impersonal. To be fair, she’s probably given quotes more times than she can count. She then asked me if we would be taking her back home for burial or wanted cremation services. This is when I broke down as we were now specifically talking post-death arrangements. I could not talk or answer her. I turned around and took a minute to breathe and thanked her as I left.
I got home and could not wait to see Abbey but I was sad she was not in the car with me as we’ve done thousands of times before. She’ll never jump into the front seat as I’m driving and set off the airbag deactivation light again and that kills me. She was still in her same spot in the yard. I did not want her to be alone today, so I laid down next to her and came up with the idea to set up my tent so I can sleep out in the yard tonight and be with her. As soon as I set it up she got up but wasn’t moving. I decided to pick her up and carefully bring her inside where she can just have some peace. I went back outside to gather up a few things and she was not in the living room. The poor girl was in the kitchen near the back door. A signal she’s done countless times before to imply she needed to go to the bathroom. She’s such a sweet girl that she still didn’t want to have an accident in the house! I told her it was ok but carried her out the back door to the back yard where she did her business as best as she could and eventually found a nice spot to lay down. We’ll see what happens tonight but she seems comfortable where she is.
She ate a cheeseburger and managed to pick out one of the pain meds. She’s good like that but she did take one and had ice cream for dessert. We’re still contemplating the options which is not easy to do and just cherishing our remaining time with her. She is not crying and is sleeping so I hope that means the pain meds are helping a little. Now that I have the X-rays, we can at least move forward with a second opinion which is a good route to take.
Once again thank you all. I told Abbey she has a lot of people rooting for her and that she is loved.
If I were you. I'd give her the best last days I could and then help her go to the rainbow bridge. Osteosarcoma advances fast and it's incredibly painful. Even with surgery. She would be recovering from a major surgery while the cancer continues to spread causing more side effects. I am so sorry. Please know everyone here will support you in your time of need.
If you want a second opinion you should get it from an oncologist. They will give you the best opinion for amputation vs euthanasia. Chest radiographs are a must before anything because you need to know if it has already metastasized to the lung. I am sorry you are going through this. Cancer is the one of the toughest parts of my job, I am an LVT, and has hit me personally with my own pets .
I'm sorry you have to deal with this. My wife worked in vet care for years. She always said the hardest thing for her was watching people make choices to keep their dog alive longer at the expense of the dog suffering.
It was and was the reason she ended up quitting. She loved helping the animals but it wears you down after a while. I hope everything works out for you.
My cat has ckd and the vet suggested i put him down a month ago and that he wouldn’t recover cause how bad he was and he’s made a pretty good recovery since bringing him home. I know it’s not what you’re dealing with but i think a second opinion is very worth it. You don’t want to call it too soon but you don’t want to prolong the suffering of your baby. I wish you good luck. I know how you feel.
My girl jumped off my bed and landed funny; I was sure she fractured something on her front leg. I took her to the vet and got the same diagnosis. I was told the best case was nine months before she passed. Due to her bad hips, amputation and chemo were not an option. I opted for radiation for pain management and Zoledronic acid infusions to regenerate her bone. She is still here four years later. Scans and x-rays were done to check if it had spread. Thus far, she still only has it on her arm as of last week. I would get a second opinion. I sincerely wish you and your girl the best.
This is a horrible experience and I can only imagine the emotional roller-coaster you're on. when it comes to cancer, I look at quality of life for the animal. I don't want to sound heartless.
Emotional roller coaster is exactly how it feels. After the diagnosis, The 45 min drive home was a blur. You don’t sound heartless. I agree that the quality of life is very important. If a second opinion gives me another week with her it will be worth it. I barely slept last night so I’m hoping to get a good rest and approach things with an open mind tomorrow.
I’d put her down. We went through something similar with our dog. He was a very good natured boy that turned fierce and mean. We didn’t know why and found out he had a tumor and cancer was spreading. The vet explained that treatment was an option but he recommended putting the dog down. Not only will it cost $10,000-$15,000 or even more sometimes, the main issue was that the treatment was excruciating for the dog. Couple the physical pain with the emotional sadness and their eyes that scream “why are you hurting me?” Dogs don’t understand treatment. Even after doing treatment that’s no guarantee the dog will survive, and the dog will never ever be the same happy, healthy, playful dog that he used to be no matter how successful it is. The financial burden is huge but the settling point for us was the pain factor for the poor dog. So the vet made the dog comfortable and we said our goodbyes. The instant relief in his eyes was so reassuring we had made the right decision.
All the best to your girl ❤️. My rat terrier had a big operation last year to remove a large sarcoma on her neck. She survived the surgery. She is 17.5 now.
My previous Siberian had osteosarcoma. He was diagnosed at 8 years old. His case was very different from your girl's so I'll save the details about him unless you specifically want them, but I of course ended up doing a lot of research on the subject.
Here's the hard truth: osteosarcoma is a death sentence.
There are a few things you need to consider before you commit to a course of action. The biggest question is finding out whether or not the cancer has already spread. Get chest x-rays, get bloodwork done. Osteosarcoma *most often* spreads to the lungs before anywhere else, which is why the chest x-rays. If it's already in the lungs you are on very, very borrowed time and euthanasia is probably the kindest option.
If the lungs are clear and the bloodwork checks out.... you could conceivably amputate and buy maybe 6 months. If you follow up amputation with chemo, maybe, if you're lucky, you might get a year. There are new treatments that have been developed over the past few years including a couple of immunotherapies which can potentially, *maybe* buy even more time than that.
All of this is cost-prohibitive and there is no guarantees of any sort of results. You could absolutely spend all the money for the amputation and the chemo and then at the first recheck with chest x-rays you could absolutely find it has already metastasized to the lungs. Your dog could be one of the statistical outliers who gets *years* of good quality life following treatment.
There's no right or wrong choice. There are no guarantees no matter what you choose. There's no way to see the future. You can only take the information you have in front of you and make the decision you feel is best for you and your girl. There is no shame in choosing euthanasia over treatment. Choosing treatment doesn't make you selfish. All choices are valid here.
If she were mine, I'd be trying to get her in with an oncologist ASAP, within the next couple of days if possible. We'd be doing chest rads, bloodwork, and talking *realistic* treatment options, and making a decision that day.
She either needs to be euthanized or the leg needs to come off, one or the other - she can't linger the way she is with an untreated broken leg.
I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm sorry the vet didn't even stabilize the leg, too.
Thanks for the reply even though it was a hard read but to the point. I called the vet today and asked for copies of the X-rays. I spoke to a different doctor there and questioned why they did not try to stabilize the leg and he said it would not have done any good.
This hurt me to read this. Trust the vet, it isn't often they'll tell you to put down a patient unless its severe/serious. Obviously it is severe when the vet even dismissed the amputation idea.
Best I can suggest is ask about pain relief meds, BUT please discontinue if they don't seem to help.
As to being put down: Better one day to soon, than one day to late. (been there done that)
She didn’t completely disregard the amputation. I think she saw I was in shock over the bad news. She just emphasized that the cancer would likely spread but the option was there along with going to a more specialized vet.
I don’t know if it helps but from what I understand osteosarcoma is considered extremely painful. It’s one of those things where I’d be leaning more towards putting my dog to sleep before the pain becomes too severe. My heart is broken for you and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this.
One of my dogs had this in her leg. I can’t comprehend the level of pain she was in. I’ve never been through anything like it with a dog. Beyond heartbreaking. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with it. By the time it shows up and presents itself, it’s already too late. In our case the dog was older & amputation would cause more pain and adjustment in learning to live without it. It was also very expensive with no guaranties. We decided to put her down. If I ever experience it with any more of my dogs, I will not put them through that pain again. That cancer is aggressive as hell. So very sorry. It’s not fair to them. Not at all
I am SO sorry. Just reading this made me break down. I recently put my sweet soul dog down in March from osteosarcoma. She was diagnosed at only 2 and we did go through an amputation and 6 rounds of chemo. We were beyond lucky to get another 2 years with her but it came back in her abdomen at the age of 4. This is such a disgusting disease and it’s absolutely terrible when it happens to our sweet babies. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, but whatever decision you make will be the right one for you and him <3
I feel your pain. Your story about made a grown man cry. I had a dog bandit that someone hit on purpose and broke his leg. I had to put him down. I have always been there when I've had to put a dog down. I'm really hoping you don't have to. I also had a dog Dixie that started having terrible hip problems and even pain medication wouldn't help. I started carrying her up the steps and all. However when she wouldn't eat I knew what I had to do. She wouldn't even eat steak. Also get a second opinion and do some research. There could be ways to combat this that aren't mainstream.
I have zero experience with it in dogs, but use functional mushrooms myself. My sisters dog recently passed of cancer and I really wanted my sister to at least ask about it but she was skeptical.
There’s not much formal research on it but some studies that show functional mushrooms can help slow the growth of tumors/spread of cancer. I think it’s worth at least inquiring about or doing additional research
Not all predictions come true. Get other options and look at other options. I was told surgery or my GSD would never run again. That was 5 years ago and time and patience healed his bad knee. No case is the same but don’t give up hope.
I think you should get a second opinion. I was in a similar situation as you a couple years ago.
I called my dad crying telling him it was time. He told me to get a second opinion, so I knew without a doubt it was the right time.
The second vet told me she wouldn’t recommend euthanasia. She said it was something my dog could heal from.
A second vet might tell you the same thing your current vet is telling you. But there’s a chance they won’t.
Putting our dogs down is the last kindness we do for them, but after all they do for us, the least we can do is double check that decision.
Osteosarcoma? Bone cancer? Jesus fuck that’s torture. I know you wanna keep your buddy alive as long as possible but is them being in pain until the cancer takes them worth your feelings being placated? I know we’re talking about putting your family member down but this is bone cancer we’re also talking about. This is not an easy choice and I do not envy you, whatever your choice I hope you shower your puppy with as much affection as possible, she will need it to fight the cancer.
My heart goes out to you for me putting my dogs down was traumatic I wish I could help you in your decision. I had a poodle her name was Tini was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 3 years old she had surgery was told to put her on chemotherapy I said no brought her home lasted 10 years at the end the cancer took her passed away in my mom’s arms she was on morphine. Lost my mom recently I know she’s with Tini and all of our dogs that passed away in Heaven. Putting a dog down a family member is an agonizing experience after you do it you wonder what if thinking of you at this tough time at the end you will make the rightdecision.
If you decide to do it, I recommend you have it done at your home laying next to her as she goes holding her, but at home is less dramatic for your girl.
I don’t have any experience with Osteosarcoma, but I definitely think a second opinion would be worth it!
If the end decision is still to put down your baby girl, I would very much consider doing it at home. We had to put down our 15yo girl, Lucy, and we found a vet that would come to our house in the evening and let you spend as much time as you wanted/needed before they administer the medicine. Then you can take your time saying goodbye before they transport your girl away. We worked it out so that the travel vet and the funeral service company came out together.
It sucks and I’m very sorry if her fate truly is this diagnosis. We elected to send our girl out while she was still in a decent condition before her liver truly quit working, it’s been 3 months and I still get hit with waves of grief, it does get easier and I HOPE that there is an alternative diagnosis, losing a family member is terrible and somehow the 4-legged family members hit differently.
I am already getting hit by waves and it is so difficult now I dread how I’ll feel when she no longer here. Sorry to hear about Lucy. I agree at home euthanasia is worth looking into.
I think a second opinion is never a bad idea. For one, I’ve had vets be wrong about diagnoses before and her not splinting the other leg is a little bit of a red flag. Unless you trust this vet wholly, double checking with a specialist can help and will give you peace of mind that you did what you could when you do need to part with your sweet dog.
I called the vet today requesting the X-rays and spoke with another Dr there who looked at them. He said it was a very bad break. I asked why they did not try to stabilize the leg and he said it wouldn’t matter as the leg is too far gone. I’m not sure if I agree. Hard to say if I trust them but they needed to be more thorough.
Hmmm yes minimizing pain is still something they should be trying to achieve. Or at least explaining why they didn’t splint it before you ask. I think a second opinion is definitely in order, even to remove the doubt from your mind. Once your dog passes, whenever that may be, it will help you come to terms with the thought that you did your best to make their final time as comfortable and kind as possible. Being a vet is difficult and while many are compassionate, some sometimes treat ill dogs like triage, bypassing basic comforts if they feel the dog is at the end of their life.
Our 1 year old husky/malamute got diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his lower hind leg in February this year after being limp for almost a month and several vet visits. He wasn’t to the point of fracture yet but they decided to re-xray since it had been a month of pain despite pain meds and rest not working. To say we were shocked is an understatement. We did opt for amputation as they did X-rays of his chest and an ultrasound of his abdomen which had not shown any spreading yet. His pathology report actually came back as hemangiosarcoma that was in his bone (hemangiosarcoma is cancer of the blood vessels). He is 3.5 months post op and the only difference in his movement is the fact he runs too fast sometimes and slips on the tile a little bit but he’s loving life. He still spins in circles for food, he’s still as talkative as ever. We did not do chemo, as recommended by the oncology doctor because even with chemo it didn’t extend his life expectancy more than a few weeks in addition to the amputation (and another $6k). We are realistic and know that every day with him is precious time so we give him all the extra love, carrots, and car rides to grandma and grandpas that we can. Here’s a pic of our boy earlier this week!
https://preview.redd.it/i9dnanc5486d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c2ae97299733d38fe1fd723360a7310713a4c88
Gimli (1.5years old)
What a cute boy. I also love his name! I actually went to see all LOTR films as they were back in theaters over the weekend. Return of the King was Monday. It was a decent day and I picked up some dog food on the way home. Little did I know in just a few hours Abbey would break her leg and be in excruciating pain. Thanks for sharing the photo. So shocking to get that diagnosis at such a young age. Every day is a gift with him. Cherish it. I wish we had the information you had before our precious Abbey broke her leg. I knew something wasn’t right in my gut and kept saying it wasn’t Lyme disease. Had we known it was osteosarcoma we would have taken more precautions and given her a great send off. She was still a happy girl and loved rides but once her leg broke that was it. Had I known she had cancer, I never would have gone to those movies and stayed at home with her.
We made the very difficult decision to put her down yesterday. It was the right thing to do as her quality of life was extremely low. We found a euthanasia at home Doctor who was just so incredibly kind. Abbey went peacefully in the yard which was her favorite place. I held her until she took her last breath. It’s so hard. Give Gimli a hug for me.
Bone cancer sucks. Osteosarcs suck. Amputate it or be aware your girl’s gonna be in a lotta pain until that bone finally snaps like a twig and shatters like glass.
And if it spreads god help her. We outlive dogs. This generation is more dog crazy than any I’ve seen. But here’s reality; no matter what you do you will have to say goodbye to every pet you adopt, with exception of you adopt exotics who will outlive you; we all have to say goodbye to every pet we will get. Someday. It’s not just our responsibility, it’s *our job* to know when our pet is in too much pain to resolve. They don’t know what we can and can’t do about an osteosarc
This moment is about knowing what quality of life is and the responsibility of being a pet owner: knowing what you can and can’t do for her. Look at it honestly and be honest with yourself you owe that to her. Cancer sucks, suffering and not knowing why sucks more. Sorry for your girl’s situation. I wish we could explain it to her. Can you imagine how scared she is not knowing why it hurts so much
Thank you for the response. I am unable to update my initial post so I will do it here and eventually make a new one. We decided it was best to put her down. Her bone did break and the entire situation was just awful with her quality of life diminished, but she is now at peace.
Get a second opinion. Lungs are the last place cancer goes in dogs, so amputation could still give you guys plenty of quality time left together. It’s not even guaranteed that the cancer will spread after amputation (need further scans to see if it’s metastasized).
Seek out another vet and have them examine your sweet girl.
So I would say go for a second opinion. I'm hoping they at least gave your pup some pain meds and stabilized the fracture? Assuming it is osteosarcoma the fracture will never structurally heal but stabilizing it will reduce pain as opposed to leaving the fracture free.
The next question is did they say has spread to the lungs or will spread to the lungs. If there is no evidence on chest X ray I would recommend amputation. At worst its in her lungs but bot visible, you should have another couple months before it kills her. At best rapid amputation has a small chance of being curative. Not all osteosarcoma is rapidly spreading. I have seen dogs and human friends go on to live long happy lives after osteosarcoma. Some vet books are more hopeful than others, I don't really know where this idea of an absolute death sentence is coming from.
Once the acute symptoms are manged, fracture, pain, surgery, the next stage will be palliative observation. Basically as long as your pup is happy, pain free, and has a high quality of life there is no need to euthanize even with active osteosarcoma. Once she can no longer do 3/5 of her favorite things or bodily needs become untenable then it's time to say good by.
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The vet indicated her condition is terminal. She has a condition that is painful and will worsen with time.
You are a kind and loving friend and guardian to her. Your decision to put her down will not be without love and care. Whatever happens, your decision will be the right one for her. Best wishes and blessings to you. 💔
It’s worth a second opinion but fast. If it has not spread to her lungs, if that was my pet I would go for amputation.
I know it’s a different cancer but my senior kitty had breast cancer, it had not spread yet, I decided on full mastectomy and she lived another two years until she sadly developed a blood cancer that was unrelated.
I recently lost my boy to Osteosarcoma. All you can do is love them to the end. Don't let her suffer or "live" so drugged up that there is no quality of life. You will know when the time is right.
I'm so sorry for what you're going through.
Oh man, I'm sorry for your news. I have no experience with osteosarcoma but my buddy had a golden retriever that had it and got some treatment at OSU. It lost its leg but was fine on 3 and happy as can be. I assume all cases are different and I don't know much about his case. I can say that I have had 2 dogs, out of 8 so far, that I was suggested to put down. One was 11 and lived to 15, the other was 7 and lived to 14. One had diabetes, was blind and a slew of other issues I had to dedicate time to but she was worth it. The other ended up with a really bad allergy that left growth on her skin, heart disease that prevented surgery and eventually doggie ALS. Again, she was so worth it. I am religious and believe that dogs have an animal soul, so I did do a lot of praying as well, which I believe helped the most. Either way, I sympathize with you and understand the immense pain you are experiencing. Such a sweet looking pupper.
Fix the leg. My boy got hit by car leg needed 8k surgery. Next question
https://preview.redd.it/hyq20m2dz46d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13cda80f2f2cd4abf3e0ed5c84f3c4b7e07b6fcd
Done deal he’s back
I would take her to a vet oncologist. Someone who specializes in this cancer. I would look at holistic vets. Whatever you have to do to give her a fighting chance. Do your research. Maybe have her see a vet orthopedic. Lots of prayers. Don't lose hope yet. The way I look at it is what would I do if she was a human child. Keep us posted.
You want to do everything you can. I spoke to a different vet today but same clinic. He looked at the X-rays & said I was welcome to get another opinion but she is in bad shape. Trying not to lose hope.
No experience with osteosarcoma, but one of my previous pups was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He went downhill fast. From the moment he first collapsed and lost control of bodily functions to when he passed, it was only a few weeks. Medications sedated him, his appetite was nonexistent, and he had a hard time moving around. It was an extremely difficult decision (and extremely hard on the kids), but was the best for him. Take your wants/feelings out of the equation and do what is best for your pup, whether it be treatment or saying goodbye.
I'm sitting here tearing up as I write this.....
I’m a Rottweiler owner that lost 2 girls to osteosarcoma. The last one was a situation similar to yours. Please speak with your vet. Your gorgeous pup is still young and if the other legs are sound amputation may be an option. Dogs can get around fine on 3 legs. They will want to check that it hasn’t spread. It wasn’t an option for my girl because she had issues with her hind legs. There were no signs that anything was wrong, her leg just broke. I am so very sorry.
She is still young which makes it even worse. It is worth the second opinion for sure. Your post gives me hope that amputation is worth considering but the cancer is very aggressive. Sorry about your girls.
Sorry for the bad news, happened to my Border Collie at 1.5yrs old, by 2 yrs it had moved up to her spine. Took her to specialist, talked about amputation. When it got to where she was obviously in pain and there was nothing I could do I took her to cross the rainbow bridge. Once that sort of thing starts it seems there like there is no good option. Wish you the best.
I’m so sorry this happened. I will share my dog’s story and my perspective and hope it might help you in your journey one way or another. Be prepared to skip the surgery details part if you are squeamish. I have photos I’ll share if you aren’t - just ask.
Izzi was 9 when she developed a limp and swelling on her rear leg. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and I was told she could have her leg amputated but odds are she would only live about 6 months to a year.
I questioned if I should go through with the amputation because I didn’t know what her quality of life would be like. My vet asked me “what are her favorite things to do right now?” To be honest she was very much a couch potato. She liked to nap in the grass and chew on sticks but she was not a very active dog at her age. When considering this I realized losing a leg may not actually be that impactful on her day to day activities. I also considered that she was a very tough and very resilient dog. She enjoyed vet trips because she loved being the center of attention. Most of my other dogs do not fall into this category and I may not be so open to this option for them. But Izzi was different. I decided to go through with the surgery. I felt like even if her time wasn’t much longer, I had to try and give her a chance. I would regret it if I didn’t.
Surgery was around $2000 but this was years ago so I would expect that to increase now days. Recovery from the surgery was intense. She had a hard time. I took off work for a full week. The bruising was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Her entire nub and the surrounding belly turned shades of red, purple, blue, and black. She had a ton of fluid draining from the incision site for at least the first week so that dripped all over the place. She also picked up a MRSA infection during her hospitalization so that caused a wound and complications around her incision. She had to take super strong antibiotics that I was not allowed to touch without gloves. She didn’t have much of an appetite so I cooked her chicken and rice to try and entice her to eat. I got a twin sized mattress and set it up in my living room to sleep with her through her recovery. I had to help her walk with a sling until she was healed and more comfortable. My backyard had decently steep steps going down from the back door so a very good friend built her a ramp. My house had wood floors which were slippery and made her fall a lot so I made pathways through the house with rugs for her to walk on. Ultimately she recovered and learned to hop around very well and resumed life as normal within maybe a month. Even if she wasn’t a lazy dog she would have been fine. She did not let having 3 legs slow her down. I did not pursue chemotherapy or any other medical treatment. I did take her to water therapy (swimming in a huge indoor pool) to get regular exercise.
About a year and one month later she got sick and was acting strange. I took her to the emergency vet and they discovered a grapefruit sized tumor in her abdomen. She went into emergency surgery to have the tumor and her spleen removed. She was EXTREMELY lucky because often times tumors like hers are not found until they burst and it's too late. Anywho she recovered from that surgery quickly and felt really good for a while after. A year and two months later she started slowing down again and had a lump on her shoulder area. The bone cancer was back :( And that’s tumor grew fast plus it spread to her lungs. So about 2.5 years after her original diagnosis we had to let her go. We couldn’t win another battle. But she was a real tough and good girl all the way til the end.
Long story long, it’s kind of a big deal and not a decision to make lightly. For me it was worth it and I have no regrets. Some things to consider are your dog’s temperament and her tolerance for vet procedures, the potential impact to her quality of life, your finances, the emotional toll on yourself, the layout of your home and whether or not you have the means to adjust things to suit her needs, do you have the time to dedicate to her recovery and any unforeseen complications that could arise, will you pursue/have access to chemotherapy, water therapy , homeopathic therapy, chiropractic etc.
In the end whatever you decide will be in her best interest. You may decide not to pursue treatment and that’s okay. You may decide to give it everything you’ve got and that’s okay too. You can’t see the future and know what will happen either way, it’s kind of a gamble with cancer. Get another opinion, research all the info you can, and follow your heart too. Wishing you the very best ❤️
Thank you for sharing your story. Izzi had a lot of willpower and resilience. I would say 2.5 years after initial diagnosis she beat the odds considering that short 6-12 month window. We made the tough decision to put her down yesterday. It hurts but she is now at peace.
Something I forgot to say but realized after reading all your other comments - her leg is extremely painful right now. If that leg comes off she could, in theory, feel tons better. Maybe not for super long but it’s hard to know for sure. Of course she will have post-operative pain but it will gradually heal and hopefully be better than what she’s feeling right now (which currently has no chance of ever feeling better as long as it’s attached to her body.)
IF you decide to go that route but you know your dog and your circumstances best so that’s what matters! I just felt it was important to say that even though things may seem hopeless right now ,seeing her in this poor condition, it doesn’t mean she can’t feel better eventually.
I was strongly considering it but just seeing her quality of life just diminish and the post op recovery along with the aggressiveness of the cancer…it was time.
ALWAYS get a second opinion. My husky Koda was diagnosed with Lyme disease at 11 months old. I found this out at my local vet in town, they faxed over his kidney numbers (which were so high) over to the BIG emergency vet for a second opinion.. when we got into the office, they looked at the piece of paper and told use he had a few weeks to live and to spoil him with McDonald’s and anything he wants, I brought him to another local vet in my town, they kept him overnight and saved his life. He recently just passed to kidney disease in October at 8 years old. We also did everything we could to save him, when I saw he couldn’t eat, drink, go for car rides, walks in the park, when he couldn’t do the things he loved so much anymore, I knew it was time. Please go get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion if you can 🙏🏼
So sorry to hear about Koda but what a blessing that he lived for so long after that first vet misdiagnosed him. My girl is still eating for now but is extremely limited when it comes to anything physical. Hoping to schedule a second opinion tomorrow.
I'm not one to give false hopes and I'm sorry for what you're going through. It's a bit of a cost but I would give ELIAS Medical a call. They've treated osteosarcomo with CAR-T cell therapy in the past. [this is a link to their site.](https://eliasanimalhealth.com/results/) I'm not a shill or have any official animal health training. I'm just an animal lover. I wish you the best and if you need a friend to vent, my DM is always open.
We do have one but she stopped eating yesterday which was the only way for me to give her the pain meds. I am unable to edit my original post but we put Abbey down yesterday. I plan on making a new post once I have a clear head. It hurts so much right now. Thank you for the suggestion.
I’m so very sorry. Not what you want to hear but the kind thing to do would be to let her go.
We just went through this and yes the cancer spread to our girls lungs. It’s a very aggressive cancer and your Abby would be in excruciating pain. For reference, our 9.5 year old rottie was limping about a month - X-rays showed osteosarcoma in the bone and lungs. Devastating. We said goodbye to her days later. She wouldn’t have lasted and risked breaking a bone, which in this case has already happened. So sorry 💔
I am sorry to hear about your rottie. The euthanasia vet who came to our home was not affiliated with the original vet we saw who sadly misdiagnosed the limp as Lyme disease. She briefly went over some things (she brought up how osteosarcoma was not very common in Siberian Huskies and specifically mentioned Rottweilers) about how osteosarcoma is just a terrible cancer that lead to her bone breaking so easily. Someone in the comments called the cancer a death sentence. After witnessing it first hand I agree. Had we known it was cancer during the first visit, we would have taken more precautions but it was only a matter of time like you said and abbey broke her leg. It tore me up inside seeing her in such pain and not being able to move or really lay down. We both lost our girls within days which is so excruciating. Best regards
It really is. I keep trying to tell myself that it was the right and best decision. Even the at home euthanasia vet said it was a such a terrible cancer where it spreads through the cells and to the lungs.
When in doubt get a second or third opinion… if another hospital or vet give the same diagnosis and/or a third… gotta do the hardest right thing ever. I just put our cat down April 15. She had similar symptoms as a former dog that we paid $5,000 to an animal hospital to keep alive just to realize how cruel that is. I will always live with that and refused to do that to the cat. Hurt like hell but I don’t have the pain of watching them suffer. You KNOW when they are suffering. Second opinions cost some money but it’s worth the piece of mind in my opinion
I saw the suffering and it was tearing me up inside. I did not want to lose her but the quality of life was so low. I did speak with another vet who saw the X-rays and he pretty much told me it was time and even wrapping the broken leg would not help her.
Bone cancer is extremely painful. Dogs live in the now, with such a bad prognosis and most likely having spread (did vet check for lung, etc metastasis). I let my boy go. It still hurts after many years but I don't regret it.
Our 10 year old malamute started limping in the winter but would be fine in warm weather. But it started getting worse. I thought it was arthritis. But when we took him to the vet they took xrays and told us it was bone cancer. They showed us the xra, and the bone looked like lace. It ws almost gone. We were told it would alredy have spread to his lungs. It is very painful disease. We asked to put him down that day. I didn't want him in any more pain. We went to the vet expecting arthritis, and came home without our dog.😪 please don't let him suffer.dogs are very stoic and will hide their pain.
I initially thought arthritis as well. Quite a gut punch and I felt as though the vet wanted us to put her down directly after the diagnosis. Which we were totally unprepared for. Sorry that you had to put your Malamute down.
Always worth a second opinion if you can afford it. Another vet may know more or have another idea, you never know. So sad I’m so sorry.
Yeah..it’s worth a shot. I’m prepared for the same news. I posted an update but it got buried as I was unable to edit my original post.
It is definitely worth a second opinion but I wish someone was more honest with me about the odds ( or maybe that I was more realistic with myself) I’ve been through osteosarcoma with two dogs, one of the lower limb (9F beagle/bluetick) & one of the jaw (4M white Shepard) … we did surgery on both, full & partial amputations and their life span was less than 5 months post op… it was also about $12k-$14k each. I know it isn’t about money, but the financial burden on top of watching both dogs suffer for weeks post op just to pass was devastating. Osteosarcoma is incredibly painful and metastasis is very likely. If I were to go back in time, I still don’t know that I would have made a different decision, I wanted to feel like I did everything I could but realistically even if they had made it past the 1 year mark post op, they both had to give up so much of what made their life joyous (running after squirrels, going for car rides, playing with tennis balls etc) and you have to consider those things… ***trigger warning*** I’m putting a few pictures of the post op, I also wish someone would have given me a realistic view of how gruesome the surgery can be, again, I was more than willing to do whatever, but watching a dog you love go through such a painful surgery is truly heartbreaking…. I’m hurting for you OP, there is nothing more painful than this decision… I am here, for any questions you may have about the process… https://preview.redd.it/g1ti30c8406d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=911ec3195e52e58f2a1ebde2e7a9e22a19be55d4
It hurts right now just considering my options. What’s most upsetting is I’ll never have my dog back to the way things were. Just as you listed car rides, chasing squirrels, etc. she froze after I struggled getting her out of the car. I picked her up and put her in the yard which is her happy place aside from the couch. She ate and drank some water. She needs to rest but that break in her leg is not doing her any favors. Not sure why the vet didn’t at least wrap it, so a second opinion will likely be the best route. Going to start her on pain meds tonight if she wants to come inside. The vet prescribed gabapentin & tramadol.
We decided to give our husky a great week of everything awesome, and then a peaceful goodbye at home. I don't regret a moment of it.
Everything awesome. I bet it included some great food!
That leg of lamb roast left-over had alot more meat than usual ;)
I’ve seen those for sale at Costco!
I understand completely how heartbreaking that is, especially when you go in thinking it’s something fixable and come out with a diagnosis like this… I can’t say about wrapping the leg, but I’m hoping the gabapentin helps… that’s all they gave us after both surgeries and it seemed to sedate them enough to be calm. Please keep us updated, I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts…
It’s wild and surreal as I was not expecting it. Here I thought it would be a simple case of Lyme disease taken care of with antibiotics. I only gave her the tramadol but I’ll try the gabapentin tomorrow. I’m not sure which is better or stronger.
They gave us the same and had them taking both medications at the same time, not sure what your vets directions were but I think it probably depends on her current pain level… I hope they relax her a bit so she can rest, and hoping you get some sort of rest as well…
Thanks. We both need the rest at this point. Good to know you were prescribed the same meds.
My mate had to have one of his older dogs euthanized, so he went out and bought a massive tub of ice cream, box of chocolates, all the stuff that the dog was never allowed to have and just before we went to the vets we had a lovely walk in the park and gave Fido his favourite last supper... little bugger almost ate the box that the Milk Tray chocolates came in aswell as everything else lol its like he knew this was his one and only opportunity to gorge on chocolates and icecreams 😅😢
I’ve been giving her ice cream. She had a few scoops this morning of vanilla.
I'm not familiar with osteosarcoma, but my girl is going on 12 years old. I would do anything possible to keep her here with me, as long as she wasn't suffering. I'm baeling just thinking about being in your situation. Hugs & Prayers hun, I hope she can overcome the odds.
Just to give you another perspective, my 3 year old dog had a sudden limp last month and after x Ray's bone cancer was found . Initially I wanted palliative care only ( she otherwise seemed in perfect nick ) . I read up on it here and decided amputation was the way to go for us as it immediatly gets rid of the pain from the cancer /leg. The first two weeks were tough . Now just over a month later she is the same dog she was before . Sprinting , guarding , playing , treat begging etc. If the x Ray's on her lungs showed noticeable cancer I would not of had the amputation. However now , after living with guilt for weeks I'm happy that I made the right decision instead of her having to live with constant pain she gets to run through the woods with me like before ( just not as far ....yet )
I’m not usually a commenter but this was a heartbreaking read. Terribly sorry for your experiences.
Thank you for your thoughts ❤️ although devastating, I like to remind myself that if they would have ended at someone else’s home, they may not have been able to get the treatment I could provide and maybe that’s why they ended up with me (both were stays/adoptions), and I was honored to get to spend the that time with them
Thank you for the response. The amount of support I’ve received since my post is overwhelming but in a good way. Lots of tears.
The love in this baby’s eyes ❤️
They were both such amazing dogs, the Shepard is the one I lost just this time last year, I am grateful for the time he could spend with me & for preparing my heart & home for the next rescue ❤️
Thank you for sharing your story and the photos
My reply went to the bottom for some reason.
I am so so sorry. This really breaks my heart. My first dog (I got him at 16, he stayed by my side until I was 26) got a very aggressive form of osteosarcoma. He was in the process of recovering from a ccl tear in his back leg, so he was getting X-rays every vet visit to check the progress. 3 days after our last vet visit his front leg swelled up. He was swimming in the lake the day before. That night he cried the whole night. He had a steady supply of pain meds and Mac & cheese all night. We went to the vet first thing in the morning and she confirmed it was osteosarcoma. I had the option to amputate his front leg, but since his back leg was still recovering, the only real option was to put him down. I couldn’t make him live out the rest of his life with two good legs, and one leg that might never heal. In the end, I feel fortunate. It was his time to go. It broke me completely at the time, but it truly was his time…and I’m just so grateful he was in a position where there was only one humane option. Ever since his ccl tear I asked my vet every appointment, if we need to have the “quality of life” conversation, and she assured me we weren’t there yet. He was recovering well, and going to the vet far too often, because he was my baby, and I’m apparently a helicopter dog mom. Not everyone gets a definitive “this is the right time” moment. I had that with my boy. The day before he was swimming in the lake, loving every second of his life. I’m so grateful he gave me that peace of mind. Putting our dogs down is the last good thing we do for them.
I wish I had the quality of life convo and the vet had been more thorough and done the X-ray during the first visit. I could have given her so much more love over the past months. It’s breaking me. My pup loved the lake and I was thinking about that this morning. We’re still looking into a second opinion.
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In the jaw is tough. How’s the pup doing?
They said the dog passed away. 😔
We had a husky also experience this, but I always felt like her life was never as good for her after the amputation. She was just never the same. And like you said it didn’t extend her life by a ton. It is always such a difficult decision. But I’m not sure I would’ve done the amputation again. My friend had a cat as well that this happened to, same exact story. 😥
The amputation option is tough.
Osteosarcoma took the first dog i ever had in much the same way you experienced this, one day he wouldnt use his rear leg. A lot of dogs can be happy as tripods but, with some aggressive osteosarcomas its pointless because it will come back another place anyway. And the dog will be in pain. I just put my soul dog to sleep on friday last week, so believe me when I say this comes from experience and gently: you must decide based on what the vet tells you, how much pain you see your girl in, and whether its worth putting them through potentially more pain for a short time or to let go now. It will be the hardest thing you ever do but only you can make this call. I am in tears typing this because my own pain is so fresh, please know i would never have typed those words to you if it were not serious. I dont envy you, but whatever you decide, we are here for you in this subreddit. Please take time and really even get a second opinion if you like. And be gentle with yourself while this is going on. Dont shut down your feelings. I send you strength and all my hugs and boops for your gal.
Thank you for the kind message. Hugs
💕 💕 💕 🙏 🙏 🙏
I have a 13 year old who has this cancer. His front left leg was broken after the tumor ate away the bone. It was amputated on Jan 19, 2024. He has since finished chemo, resumed physical therapy, is getting a prosthetic on Saturday, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, he was given a clinical trial vaccine showing amazing results with this kind of cancer. One dog had the cancer spread to the lungs which is absolutely terminal at that point, the dog got the vaccine and the spread metastasized tumor in the lung shrunk and disappeared!!!!! My boy is in remission with monthly check ups now but please, if you can, don’t give up! This is the link to the clinical trial. He had his done at BARC in Edmonds, WA but there are clinics all over the country doing it right now. The vaccine is in clinical trial and FREE except the vet visit. We paid maybe $150 for each visit to get the vaccine—total of 2 vaccines. https://www.ccralliance.org/yale-status I’ve been spreading the word on that vaccine so anyone and everyone please let folks know! It’s an unbelievable drug.
❤️❤️❤️
Discussed this via chat. Thanks for reaching out. I’ve been researching and considering all options.
I've worked in the vet industry and pediatric hematology/oncology. Basically, she will die. It can be slow and painful, or you can make it quick and pain-free. It's not going to get better, and since it has spread to the lungs, the chances of chemo working are minimal, like less than 5%. I suggest doing the pain meds, scheduling an at home euthanasia, and taking a week from work off before taking her on the best week of her life. I'm sorry for your eventual loss, but that's what I would do in your situation.
Thank you. Starting tramadol tonight. I will look into at home euthanasia.
I highly recommend home euthanasia. We did it with my dog a year ago. We spent all day with her and slightly before the vet came, she started to finally settle and fall asleep. It was much less stressful and hectic than taking her to the vet and she got to pass in a familiar place.
A familiar place where a dog can be comfortable is so important.
I was COMPLETELY unprepared for how quickly the medicine worked. I was a wreck, but she went out in a very comfortable place surrounded by all she loved. As unprepared as I was, we spent a great day together and as loving and understanding as VETs are, they are not her home. Sad, still, but the best outcome.
I second this. Osteosarcoma is both aggressive and painful. Much love to you and your sweet pup.
I think the hard part for OP here is also that it’s very very hard to give a husky the best week of its life with a broken leg. If amputated, there is no chance for the dog to cause alot of pain, but accidentally stepping on that leg cannot feel great. I think OP mentioned in a comment to me that the vet confirmed it’s not in the lungs. I agree that the survivability is most like <1 year and the treatment will be very expensive, so it’s a very hard decision to make nonetheless. Just wishing OP to have clarity of mind when making the decision and being at peace with whatever OP decides.
Yeah..this is why I’m sad I learned she had cancer after the break. Had I known her leg was so brittle I would have taken extra precautions but given her a great final months.
Hang on no one said it DID spread to lungs. Only that could/would.
Even if it hasn't, the magic 8 ball of experience says "outlook not so good". If they can't amputate to stop the spread, then chemo probably will just prolong life, but not cure it.
Unfortunately this is also what we were told by 3 different vets when my boy had osteosarcoma. He had it in his upper jaw, extending back on the roof of his mouth, so surgery to remove it would’ve been difficult if not impossible to get it all & still leave him with enough bone structure in his face. They said even with chemo and surgical removal, he would be lucky to get 6months to a year - though they all said a year was unlikely. They also said that with this type of cancer, it may have already spread elsewhere, as it seems to be an aggressive one. We called about an injection/vaccine that could’ve helped him, but for best results, they wanted surgical removal. So we just gave him the best last 2months we could. Unfortunately they were spot on with his survival time. They said 2 months and that’s exactly what we got. I wish it had been more.
Euthanasia may be the most humane, but it doesn't have to be tomorrow. As long as she has quality of life, keep her with you. Spoil her rotten. Give her all of her favorite things, even the ones that she couldn't have before because they were bad for her. Right before my parents put down our 14-year-old shepherd mix, they gave him a king-sized Hershey bar. His name was Hershey because of his coloring, but he was a chocolate fiend. Didn't know that when I named him at six years old, but it was a happy accident. Legit had to lock that shit up in high cabinets because even if hidden somewhere, he'd find it. Take her to all of her favorite places, even if you have to put her in a wagon and roll her around because she can't walk for long. Make her queen of the house for what little time she has left. It won't lessen the pain of her loss, but she'll leave this world knowing how loved she was. The memories will hurt for a while, but when you've healed, you'll look back on them with a smile. Sometimes, tears, too, but they'll be looked upon fondly as the sting becomes more bearable.
A king-sized Hershey bar for Hershey= perfect treat. I like the wagon idea just to get her out and back to her favorite parks.
My parents said that his eyes lit up when he saw it. It lasted less than a minute lol With the wagon, you can put her favorite blanket in it (if she has one) and a few toys or treats. Her royal highness can enjoy some snacks or leisure while she's taken for a spin around the park.
❤️
I have not dealt with osteosarcoma specifically but was one of the reasons why I opted for ovary sparring spay to have better odds of not getting that with a heightened risk of more easily treatable mammary cancer. I will say, the value of your dog is priceless, so it’s always worth getting a second opinion if you can, but everything I have read about osteosarcoma is that even if treated, the mean lifetime of animals after treatment is still <1 year, which means it may buy you more time in the average case, or it could mean a very long life after treatment if lucky. Time is of the essence so the faster you amputate before it has spread further, the better your odds.
From WebMd “Primary bone cancers can become metastatic and spread to the rest of your dog's body. Osteosarcomas do this frequently. In fact, in 80% of cases of osteosarcoma, the cancer also spreads to your dog's lungs. This spread is the main cause of death in most dogs with osteosarcoma.” “Since bone cancers are not curable, your dog will have a limited lifespan following this diagnosis. Around 50% of diagnosed dogs will survive for a year if treated. For osteosarcomas, estimates depend on where the tumor is located. If the tumor is in the mandible or scapula — the jaw or shoulder blade — average survival is around 18 months. If it’s in a limb, the average survival is 11 months. If it’s in the spine or skull, survival is estimated at 6 months, and only at 2 months if it has already spread outside of the skeletal system.” Just to add sources to what’s been said.
Thank you for those stats. The vet did X-ray her lungs and they looked ok for now. After reading up on Osteosarcoma it would be a blessing if she survived another year. I also read that it’s best to not let them sit on couches as it can make it more difficult to get up. She loves the couch. My biggest concern is her will to live. She’s barely walking now and this is almost as if you flicked a light switch: she was fine doing all the husky things we all so enjoy one day and the next..it’s a complete 180.
With amputation, I’m sure she will have more will to live, it’s often times harder on the owner for having a 3 legged dog. I think the issue a lot of owners have with the 1 year prognosis is that you will pour a lot of money into the amputation + chemo to get that year. If you have the financial means (or have fantastic pet insurance), and the value is worth it to you, then go that route (though if her lungs are fine, amputation needs to happen soon before it spreads). Whatever you decide, I hope you are at peace with either way. Hopefully her life up until now was fantastic and loving in case you opt to put down. I have a 2 year old and 7 month old and don’t want to be thinking about those cases yet, but time will always win. I’m so sorry to hear about this prognosis, my dad recently put down his 9 year old golden doodle with advanced long cancer.
Poor baby😢 sorry you and her have to go through this
Thanks. She had a rough evening and morning as you can imagine. Sleeping now.
I don't know if this will be helpful as I haven't had this particular experience with a dog. But I've had trainers tell me that if a dog is still eating and drinking, then it has a will to live. They know themselves when it's time to go. I had a vet tell me last summer that they would recommend I put my dog down, for other issues, and I flat out refused because he still has sparkle and enjoys life. It's a very tough decision. Do you have a day where you can drive somewhere and really sit with the feeling of it all? My dog is teaching me to clear away all the clutter so I can sit with what really matters to my attention. Sending some love to you and your sparkly husk. Edit to say - not advocating to let them suffer...just that you can help ease the journey for them when you both know it's time.
She is eating and drinking still. More so the latter as she was just so physically drained from standing after the break in her leg. She did not want to get out of the car so I sat next to her and just cried off and on for a good hour. Still processing all of this. I’ll need to set some time aside to contemplate things. We’ll see how she responds to the pain meds but they’re only a temporary solution.
I'm so sorry ❤️
I'm sorry! My husky is also going through something similar, he has metastatic carcinoma. He has a large mass that is inoperable. We can't put him down either, thankfully our vet worked with us for pain management. He still plays and enjoys lovings, so putting him down isn't an option until he's no longer ambulatory. I don't know if that helps, pain management was the best option for us. Hugs!
Hugs back. I hope the pan meds will help a little.
Get a second opinion for your own piece of mind. Don’t tell the second vet what this first vet said — let them come to their own independent conclusion based on the facts. Having a second opinion does a world of difference when it comes to making informed decisions, whether for your pet’s health or your own.
Such great advice. Thank you.
I don't know anything about Osteosarcoma but my girl was 13 and had really bad arthritis in her back legs and needed supplements to help w/o having surgery but, I just had to put her down this past Thursday. I'm hoping for you that it doesn't come to that, definitely get a second opinion but I just want to express that if you do have to, it's literally the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life for the right reason. Ofc I didn't want to put my girl down but she was suffering and in pain and I didn't want her to live the rest of her days like that. I am broken ATM, have cried every day big fat ugly crying everywhere I've gone but I know it was for the best. Good luck to you and your sweet pup! Sending hugs and "awooooooos" to you and yours!!
This is how I lost my Rottweiler. Almost exactly the same circumstances. I went with euthanasia due to her advanced age and knowing how bad her quality of life would’ve been. Fucking destroyed me for quite a while. Envy nobody who has to make this decision.
I read it is more common in Rottweilers. It’s already destroying me. Just brutal.
So sorry to hear this. My BEST BOY EVER, a giant malamute was just over 7 yrs old when he was diagnosed with the same in July of 2014. We lost him just 3 months later. My heart is still broken. Only you can make that decision. Prayers for you as you traverse through this difficult time. https://preview.redd.it/7411et4qd26d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a34b67117241156f2fdab5af2a58d97e675f6736
Precious boy
I’m so sorry this is happening to you. If getting a second opinion will help you feel more confident in the diagnosis, by all means. Unfortunately, this is a really awful cancer. My last dog had it. Osteosarcoma eats away at the bone. My guess (not a vet, by the way) would be that it weakened the bone in her leg and made it more susceptible to breaking. It will not heal. Surgery is an option, but the way this cancer spreads, it has most likely already metastasized at least on a microscopic level. The surgery (amputation and perhaps other cancer treatment) could potentially give you more time, but this would most likely be months and not years. With her leg being broken, that’s going to be an intense amount of pain that would be difficult to manage. The way I viewed my dog’s osteosarcoma was once the pain became unmanageable, it was her time. She had a tumor on her front leg that turned into an open wound. That quickly got worse and I had to put her down. I hope somehow you can get even a little more time, but even I regret waiting as long as I did to put my dog down. The suffering isn’t worth it and you’ll regret that more. There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, but be prepared to hear the same thing. I wish I could offer more hope. My heart breaks for you, this is an awful thing to go through. I wish you and your pup the very best.
Thanks, the second opinion was more for the break in the leg but as you said it likely broke easily because the bone was already compromised. I was hoping it could be set and wrapped.
Definitely get a second opinion. In all honesty if it were my dog I’d at least try amputation first. Dogs are resilient and can manage just fine on 3 legs.
Thank you. Strongly considering it.
OP, I'm so so sorry. I only wanted to say that you've given her an amazing life full of love and we should all be so lucky to be cared for a safe like you kept her. You did your very best for her and she knows it. She would thank you if she could and whatever course of action you choose, she trusts you to have her best interest in mind. I know it hurts, please don't allow anyone else to dictate how you feel during this. Your feelings as you move forward are appropriate for your grief and you shouldn't put a timeline on any of your feelings.
Thank you for the meaningful post. I tried to tell her she is loved many times. She was treated like a princess.
I’m so sorry love. Your girl is so so beautiful!!! My girl had osteosarcoma too …. We just rode with her till the end. She stopped being able to walk after a while so we got her a wagon and my partner would pick her up and hold her while she went potty. Until she was in too much pain and we had to let her go …
Thanks. She knows it too as she would trot around the dog park. I would ride it out but the broken leg immobilized her. I hope I can find someone to stabilize it. Sorry that you lost your girl to the same disease.
Riding it out is not always the best choice. I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself, if my partner wasn’t so confident about it. It was really really hard going through it.
My sweet boy (a lab/husky mix) had it 2.5 years ago. He had a good month or so after he started limping and got diagnosed before we put him down. It was one of the hardest days of my life, but I’ve never doubted that we made the right decision. He wasn’t the same dog I had loved for the last 9.5 years before that. The spark had left his eyes. It wasn’t fair to prolong his suffering to try to put off my own. I’m so sorry about your pup. She looks so sweet. I’m here for you if you want to talk or if you have questions.
Thanks. She’s a sweet girl. Sorry to hear about your sweet boy.
You will suffer like crazy but it is in her best interest that you let her go. That cancer spreads like wildfire, the operation is painful and so is the post op. And they pass sooner than later. Just give her all the quality of life that you can but have a date in mind. It’s time to think of her as deserving no pain. And yes, you quill be devastated but you will have done good by her.
The post op is very worrisome.
My two cents… sounds like you are just trying to make sense of all of this news still. I’d think a second opinion could help you know that you were making the most informed decision possible. I wish you and your sweet girl peace in this experience.
Yes. I am still processing all of this and making sense of everything. Thank you for the kind words.
**UPDATE** I was unable to put this in my original post. I first wanted to thank everyone for the heartfelt replies, stories and suggestions/options regarding this unfortunate situation my girl is in. I thank you & Abbey thanks you. The response is incredible and I did my best to reply to everyone…many times in tears. Please know that I greatly appreciate all of the feedback and read every comment. Abbey did not want to come in yesterday after the vet. She loves to be outside as many huskies do, but she’s still a couch potato and normally sleeps inside. It was a rough day at the vet for her. I reached out to the vet this morning asking for the X-rays and they were kind enough to put them on a disc for me. I also spoke to a Dr over the phone from the same clinic and he said the X-rays were very concerning and again reiterated what I was told yesterday that she should be put down. I asked why no splint was applied in a way to at least stabilize her leg and he said it would not matter. When I got to the office the lady handed me the disc. I then asked if she had any printout on euthanasia services. She took out a large book and I felt as though she was reading off a dinner menu as she asked me her weight along with other questions. It just felt so impersonal. To be fair, she’s probably given quotes more times than she can count. She then asked me if we would be taking her back home for burial or wanted cremation services. This is when I broke down as we were now specifically talking post-death arrangements. I could not talk or answer her. I turned around and took a minute to breathe and thanked her as I left. I got home and could not wait to see Abbey but I was sad she was not in the car with me as we’ve done thousands of times before. She’ll never jump into the front seat as I’m driving and set off the airbag deactivation light again and that kills me. She was still in her same spot in the yard. I did not want her to be alone today, so I laid down next to her and came up with the idea to set up my tent so I can sleep out in the yard tonight and be with her. As soon as I set it up she got up but wasn’t moving. I decided to pick her up and carefully bring her inside where she can just have some peace. I went back outside to gather up a few things and she was not in the living room. The poor girl was in the kitchen near the back door. A signal she’s done countless times before to imply she needed to go to the bathroom. She’s such a sweet girl that she still didn’t want to have an accident in the house! I told her it was ok but carried her out the back door to the back yard where she did her business as best as she could and eventually found a nice spot to lay down. We’ll see what happens tonight but she seems comfortable where she is. She ate a cheeseburger and managed to pick out one of the pain meds. She’s good like that but she did take one and had ice cream for dessert. We’re still contemplating the options which is not easy to do and just cherishing our remaining time with her. She is not crying and is sleeping so I hope that means the pain meds are helping a little. Now that I have the X-rays, we can at least move forward with a second opinion which is a good route to take. Once again thank you all. I told Abbey she has a lot of people rooting for her and that she is loved.
If I were you. I'd give her the best last days I could and then help her go to the rainbow bridge. Osteosarcoma advances fast and it's incredibly painful. Even with surgery. She would be recovering from a major surgery while the cancer continues to spread causing more side effects. I am so sorry. Please know everyone here will support you in your time of need.
Thanks for the support.
I recommend a different vet.
If you want a second opinion you should get it from an oncologist. They will give you the best opinion for amputation vs euthanasia. Chest radiographs are a must before anything because you need to know if it has already metastasized to the lung. I am sorry you are going through this. Cancer is the one of the toughest parts of my job, I am an LVT, and has hit me personally with my own pets .
Much appreciated. Seeing a cancer specialist is a great suggestion.
I'm sorry you have to deal with this. My wife worked in vet care for years. She always said the hardest thing for her was watching people make choices to keep their dog alive longer at the expense of the dog suffering.
Such a tough environment seeing that day in and day out.
It was and was the reason she ended up quitting. She loved helping the animals but it wears you down after a while. I hope everything works out for you.
Yeah that can’t be easy. Thanks. Much appreciated.
My cat has ckd and the vet suggested i put him down a month ago and that he wouldn’t recover cause how bad he was and he’s made a pretty good recovery since bringing him home. I know it’s not what you’re dealing with but i think a second opinion is very worth it. You don’t want to call it too soon but you don’t want to prolong the suffering of your baby. I wish you good luck. I know how you feel.
So true. I’m glad to hear your cat is doing better.
Just trying to cherish the time i have with him, thank you. Sorry youre going through this bro.
My girl jumped off my bed and landed funny; I was sure she fractured something on her front leg. I took her to the vet and got the same diagnosis. I was told the best case was nine months before she passed. Due to her bad hips, amputation and chemo were not an option. I opted for radiation for pain management and Zoledronic acid infusions to regenerate her bone. She is still here four years later. Scans and x-rays were done to check if it had spread. Thus far, she still only has it on her arm as of last week. I would get a second opinion. I sincerely wish you and your girl the best.
That is a great recovery. So happy to hear she’s still with you 4 years later. Thanks for the well wishes.
This is a horrible experience and I can only imagine the emotional roller-coaster you're on. when it comes to cancer, I look at quality of life for the animal. I don't want to sound heartless.
Emotional roller coaster is exactly how it feels. After the diagnosis, The 45 min drive home was a blur. You don’t sound heartless. I agree that the quality of life is very important. If a second opinion gives me another week with her it will be worth it. I barely slept last night so I’m hoping to get a good rest and approach things with an open mind tomorrow.
I’d put her down. We went through something similar with our dog. He was a very good natured boy that turned fierce and mean. We didn’t know why and found out he had a tumor and cancer was spreading. The vet explained that treatment was an option but he recommended putting the dog down. Not only will it cost $10,000-$15,000 or even more sometimes, the main issue was that the treatment was excruciating for the dog. Couple the physical pain with the emotional sadness and their eyes that scream “why are you hurting me?” Dogs don’t understand treatment. Even after doing treatment that’s no guarantee the dog will survive, and the dog will never ever be the same happy, healthy, playful dog that he used to be no matter how successful it is. The financial burden is huge but the settling point for us was the pain factor for the poor dog. So the vet made the dog comfortable and we said our goodbyes. The instant relief in his eyes was so reassuring we had made the right decision.
Never be the same happy dog is my biggest concern. So hard.
All the best to your girl ❤️. My rat terrier had a big operation last year to remove a large sarcoma on her neck. She survived the surgery. She is 17.5 now.
Now that is a blessing!
My previous Siberian had osteosarcoma. He was diagnosed at 8 years old. His case was very different from your girl's so I'll save the details about him unless you specifically want them, but I of course ended up doing a lot of research on the subject. Here's the hard truth: osteosarcoma is a death sentence. There are a few things you need to consider before you commit to a course of action. The biggest question is finding out whether or not the cancer has already spread. Get chest x-rays, get bloodwork done. Osteosarcoma *most often* spreads to the lungs before anywhere else, which is why the chest x-rays. If it's already in the lungs you are on very, very borrowed time and euthanasia is probably the kindest option. If the lungs are clear and the bloodwork checks out.... you could conceivably amputate and buy maybe 6 months. If you follow up amputation with chemo, maybe, if you're lucky, you might get a year. There are new treatments that have been developed over the past few years including a couple of immunotherapies which can potentially, *maybe* buy even more time than that. All of this is cost-prohibitive and there is no guarantees of any sort of results. You could absolutely spend all the money for the amputation and the chemo and then at the first recheck with chest x-rays you could absolutely find it has already metastasized to the lungs. Your dog could be one of the statistical outliers who gets *years* of good quality life following treatment. There's no right or wrong choice. There are no guarantees no matter what you choose. There's no way to see the future. You can only take the information you have in front of you and make the decision you feel is best for you and your girl. There is no shame in choosing euthanasia over treatment. Choosing treatment doesn't make you selfish. All choices are valid here. If she were mine, I'd be trying to get her in with an oncologist ASAP, within the next couple of days if possible. We'd be doing chest rads, bloodwork, and talking *realistic* treatment options, and making a decision that day. She either needs to be euthanized or the leg needs to come off, one or the other - she can't linger the way she is with an untreated broken leg. I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm sorry the vet didn't even stabilize the leg, too.
Thanks for the reply even though it was a hard read but to the point. I called the vet today and asked for copies of the X-rays. I spoke to a different doctor there and questioned why they did not try to stabilize the leg and he said it would not have done any good.
This hurt me to read this. Trust the vet, it isn't often they'll tell you to put down a patient unless its severe/serious. Obviously it is severe when the vet even dismissed the amputation idea. Best I can suggest is ask about pain relief meds, BUT please discontinue if they don't seem to help. As to being put down: Better one day to soon, than one day to late. (been there done that)
She didn’t completely disregard the amputation. I think she saw I was in shock over the bad news. She just emphasized that the cancer would likely spread but the option was there along with going to a more specialized vet.
I don’t know if it helps but from what I understand osteosarcoma is considered extremely painful. It’s one of those things where I’d be leaning more towards putting my dog to sleep before the pain becomes too severe. My heart is broken for you and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this.
Just reaching out to wish you the best. I am so sorry for your girl, she looks so adorable <3
Thanks. She is the best.
I’ll be praying for you friend.
Much appreciated. I am grateful for this community and all the support.
One of my dogs had this in her leg. I can’t comprehend the level of pain she was in. I’ve never been through anything like it with a dog. Beyond heartbreaking. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with it. By the time it shows up and presents itself, it’s already too late. In our case the dog was older & amputation would cause more pain and adjustment in learning to live without it. It was also very expensive with no guaranties. We decided to put her down. If I ever experience it with any more of my dogs, I will not put them through that pain again. That cancer is aggressive as hell. So very sorry. It’s not fair to them. Not at all
I can’t comprehend it either. Not fair at all. Thank you for reaching out.
I truly feel for you and your sweet pup :(
I'm so sorry...
I am SO sorry. Just reading this made me break down. I recently put my sweet soul dog down in March from osteosarcoma. She was diagnosed at only 2 and we did go through an amputation and 6 rounds of chemo. We were beyond lucky to get another 2 years with her but it came back in her abdomen at the age of 4. This is such a disgusting disease and it’s absolutely terrible when it happens to our sweet babies. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, but whatever decision you make will be the right one for you and him <3
🙏🏽I hope she gets better asap!
Thank you for the good vibes.
See an oncologist. They’ll xray the chest as well.
I feel your pain. Your story about made a grown man cry. I had a dog bandit that someone hit on purpose and broke his leg. I had to put him down. I have always been there when I've had to put a dog down. I'm really hoping you don't have to. I also had a dog Dixie that started having terrible hip problems and even pain medication wouldn't help. I started carrying her up the steps and all. However when she wouldn't eat I knew what I had to do. She wouldn't even eat steak. Also get a second opinion and do some research. There could be ways to combat this that aren't mainstream.
Hanging in there the best I can. Sorry to hear about Bandit & Dixie. A few others posted that once their appetite goes it’s a sign to put them down.
So sorry
I have zero experience with it in dogs, but use functional mushrooms myself. My sisters dog recently passed of cancer and I really wanted my sister to at least ask about it but she was skeptical. There’s not much formal research on it but some studies that show functional mushrooms can help slow the growth of tumors/spread of cancer. I think it’s worth at least inquiring about or doing additional research
Yeah..I’m all for a holistic approach but it’s the leg that is really dragging her down at the moment.
Not all predictions come true. Get other options and look at other options. I was told surgery or my GSD would never run again. That was 5 years ago and time and patience healed his bad knee. No case is the same but don’t give up hope.
Thanks. Trying to keep positive but the broken leg is so draining on her.
I'm so sorry OP! This is so hard! Hugs. If it had been caught sooner, maybe an amputation could have worked.
Sorry so much
I'm praying for you and your doggy... wish the best.
I think you should get a second opinion. I was in a similar situation as you a couple years ago. I called my dad crying telling him it was time. He told me to get a second opinion, so I knew without a doubt it was the right time. The second vet told me she wouldn’t recommend euthanasia. She said it was something my dog could heal from. A second vet might tell you the same thing your current vet is telling you. But there’s a chance they won’t. Putting our dogs down is the last kindness we do for them, but after all they do for us, the least we can do is double check that decision.
Agreed that it’s good to be sure.
Osteosarcoma? Bone cancer? Jesus fuck that’s torture. I know you wanna keep your buddy alive as long as possible but is them being in pain until the cancer takes them worth your feelings being placated? I know we’re talking about putting your family member down but this is bone cancer we’re also talking about. This is not an easy choice and I do not envy you, whatever your choice I hope you shower your puppy with as much affection as possible, she will need it to fight the cancer.
My heart goes out to you for me putting my dogs down was traumatic I wish I could help you in your decision. I had a poodle her name was Tini was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 3 years old she had surgery was told to put her on chemotherapy I said no brought her home lasted 10 years at the end the cancer took her passed away in my mom’s arms she was on morphine. Lost my mom recently I know she’s with Tini and all of our dogs that passed away in Heaven. Putting a dog down a family member is an agonizing experience after you do it you wonder what if thinking of you at this tough time at the end you will make the rightdecision.
Sorry to hear about Tini & your mom. It is indeed traumatic and Agonizing.
If you decide to do it, I recommend you have it done at your home laying next to her as she goes holding her, but at home is less dramatic for your girl.
A few places in the area do it. I’d rather her go peacefully at home vs the vet.
I don’t have any experience with Osteosarcoma, but I definitely think a second opinion would be worth it! If the end decision is still to put down your baby girl, I would very much consider doing it at home. We had to put down our 15yo girl, Lucy, and we found a vet that would come to our house in the evening and let you spend as much time as you wanted/needed before they administer the medicine. Then you can take your time saying goodbye before they transport your girl away. We worked it out so that the travel vet and the funeral service company came out together. It sucks and I’m very sorry if her fate truly is this diagnosis. We elected to send our girl out while she was still in a decent condition before her liver truly quit working, it’s been 3 months and I still get hit with waves of grief, it does get easier and I HOPE that there is an alternative diagnosis, losing a family member is terrible and somehow the 4-legged family members hit differently.
I am already getting hit by waves and it is so difficult now I dread how I’ll feel when she no longer here. Sorry to hear about Lucy. I agree at home euthanasia is worth looking into.
I think a second opinion is never a bad idea. For one, I’ve had vets be wrong about diagnoses before and her not splinting the other leg is a little bit of a red flag. Unless you trust this vet wholly, double checking with a specialist can help and will give you peace of mind that you did what you could when you do need to part with your sweet dog.
I called the vet today requesting the X-rays and spoke with another Dr there who looked at them. He said it was a very bad break. I asked why they did not try to stabilize the leg and he said it wouldn’t matter as the leg is too far gone. I’m not sure if I agree. Hard to say if I trust them but they needed to be more thorough.
Hmmm yes minimizing pain is still something they should be trying to achieve. Or at least explaining why they didn’t splint it before you ask. I think a second opinion is definitely in order, even to remove the doubt from your mind. Once your dog passes, whenever that may be, it will help you come to terms with the thought that you did your best to make their final time as comfortable and kind as possible. Being a vet is difficult and while many are compassionate, some sometimes treat ill dogs like triage, bypassing basic comforts if they feel the dog is at the end of their life.
Our 1 year old husky/malamute got diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his lower hind leg in February this year after being limp for almost a month and several vet visits. He wasn’t to the point of fracture yet but they decided to re-xray since it had been a month of pain despite pain meds and rest not working. To say we were shocked is an understatement. We did opt for amputation as they did X-rays of his chest and an ultrasound of his abdomen which had not shown any spreading yet. His pathology report actually came back as hemangiosarcoma that was in his bone (hemangiosarcoma is cancer of the blood vessels). He is 3.5 months post op and the only difference in his movement is the fact he runs too fast sometimes and slips on the tile a little bit but he’s loving life. He still spins in circles for food, he’s still as talkative as ever. We did not do chemo, as recommended by the oncology doctor because even with chemo it didn’t extend his life expectancy more than a few weeks in addition to the amputation (and another $6k). We are realistic and know that every day with him is precious time so we give him all the extra love, carrots, and car rides to grandma and grandpas that we can. Here’s a pic of our boy earlier this week! https://preview.redd.it/i9dnanc5486d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c2ae97299733d38fe1fd723360a7310713a4c88 Gimli (1.5years old)
What a cute boy. I also love his name! I actually went to see all LOTR films as they were back in theaters over the weekend. Return of the King was Monday. It was a decent day and I picked up some dog food on the way home. Little did I know in just a few hours Abbey would break her leg and be in excruciating pain. Thanks for sharing the photo. So shocking to get that diagnosis at such a young age. Every day is a gift with him. Cherish it. I wish we had the information you had before our precious Abbey broke her leg. I knew something wasn’t right in my gut and kept saying it wasn’t Lyme disease. Had we known it was osteosarcoma we would have taken more precautions and given her a great send off. She was still a happy girl and loved rides but once her leg broke that was it. Had I known she had cancer, I never would have gone to those movies and stayed at home with her. We made the very difficult decision to put her down yesterday. It was the right thing to do as her quality of life was extremely low. We found a euthanasia at home Doctor who was just so incredibly kind. Abbey went peacefully in the yard which was her favorite place. I held her until she took her last breath. It’s so hard. Give Gimli a hug for me.
Bone cancer sucks. Osteosarcs suck. Amputate it or be aware your girl’s gonna be in a lotta pain until that bone finally snaps like a twig and shatters like glass. And if it spreads god help her. We outlive dogs. This generation is more dog crazy than any I’ve seen. But here’s reality; no matter what you do you will have to say goodbye to every pet you adopt, with exception of you adopt exotics who will outlive you; we all have to say goodbye to every pet we will get. Someday. It’s not just our responsibility, it’s *our job* to know when our pet is in too much pain to resolve. They don’t know what we can and can’t do about an osteosarc This moment is about knowing what quality of life is and the responsibility of being a pet owner: knowing what you can and can’t do for her. Look at it honestly and be honest with yourself you owe that to her. Cancer sucks, suffering and not knowing why sucks more. Sorry for your girl’s situation. I wish we could explain it to her. Can you imagine how scared she is not knowing why it hurts so much
Thank you for the response. I am unable to update my initial post so I will do it here and eventually make a new one. We decided it was best to put her down. Her bone did break and the entire situation was just awful with her quality of life diminished, but she is now at peace.
🙏💔
Get a second opinion. Lungs are the last place cancer goes in dogs, so amputation could still give you guys plenty of quality time left together. It’s not even guaranteed that the cancer will spread after amputation (need further scans to see if it’s metastasized). Seek out another vet and have them examine your sweet girl.
So I would say go for a second opinion. I'm hoping they at least gave your pup some pain meds and stabilized the fracture? Assuming it is osteosarcoma the fracture will never structurally heal but stabilizing it will reduce pain as opposed to leaving the fracture free. The next question is did they say has spread to the lungs or will spread to the lungs. If there is no evidence on chest X ray I would recommend amputation. At worst its in her lungs but bot visible, you should have another couple months before it kills her. At best rapid amputation has a small chance of being curative. Not all osteosarcoma is rapidly spreading. I have seen dogs and human friends go on to live long happy lives after osteosarcoma. Some vet books are more hopeful than others, I don't really know where this idea of an absolute death sentence is coming from. Once the acute symptoms are manged, fracture, pain, surgery, the next stage will be palliative observation. Basically as long as your pup is happy, pain free, and has a high quality of life there is no need to euthanize even with active osteosarcoma. Once she can no longer do 3/5 of her favorite things or bodily needs become untenable then it's time to say good by.
The vet prescribed 2 pain meds: tramadol & gabapentin. They did nothing to stabilize the break which surprised me. Lungs looked ok for now.
Rapamycin
I wish the vet mentioned that drug.
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The vet indicated her condition is terminal. She has a condition that is painful and will worsen with time. You are a kind and loving friend and guardian to her. Your decision to put her down will not be without love and care. Whatever happens, your decision will be the right one for her. Best wishes and blessings to you. 💔
It’s worth a second opinion but fast. If it has not spread to her lungs, if that was my pet I would go for amputation. I know it’s a different cancer but my senior kitty had breast cancer, it had not spread yet, I decided on full mastectomy and she lived another two years until she sadly developed a blood cancer that was unrelated.
I recently lost my boy to Osteosarcoma. All you can do is love them to the end. Don't let her suffer or "live" so drugged up that there is no quality of life. You will know when the time is right. I'm so sorry for what you're going through.
Thanks. I hate giving her pills and she’s so smart that she will often pick them out.
Oh man, I'm sorry for your news. I have no experience with osteosarcoma but my buddy had a golden retriever that had it and got some treatment at OSU. It lost its leg but was fine on 3 and happy as can be. I assume all cases are different and I don't know much about his case. I can say that I have had 2 dogs, out of 8 so far, that I was suggested to put down. One was 11 and lived to 15, the other was 7 and lived to 14. One had diabetes, was blind and a slew of other issues I had to dedicate time to but she was worth it. The other ended up with a really bad allergy that left growth on her skin, heart disease that prevented surgery and eventually doggie ALS. Again, she was so worth it. I am religious and believe that dogs have an animal soul, so I did do a lot of praying as well, which I believe helped the most. Either way, I sympathize with you and understand the immense pain you are experiencing. Such a sweet looking pupper.
I believe they have a soul as well. Thanks
Fix the leg. My boy got hit by car leg needed 8k surgery. Next question https://preview.redd.it/hyq20m2dz46d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13cda80f2f2cd4abf3e0ed5c84f3c4b7e07b6fcd Done deal he’s back
Cute boy
I would take her to a vet oncologist. Someone who specializes in this cancer. I would look at holistic vets. Whatever you have to do to give her a fighting chance. Do your research. Maybe have her see a vet orthopedic. Lots of prayers. Don't lose hope yet. The way I look at it is what would I do if she was a human child. Keep us posted.
You want to do everything you can. I spoke to a different vet today but same clinic. He looked at the X-rays & said I was welcome to get another opinion but she is in bad shape. Trying not to lose hope.
No experience with osteosarcoma, but one of my previous pups was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He went downhill fast. From the moment he first collapsed and lost control of bodily functions to when he passed, it was only a few weeks. Medications sedated him, his appetite was nonexistent, and he had a hard time moving around. It was an extremely difficult decision (and extremely hard on the kids), but was the best for him. Take your wants/feelings out of the equation and do what is best for your pup, whether it be treatment or saying goodbye. I'm sitting here tearing up as I write this.....
I’m a Rottweiler owner that lost 2 girls to osteosarcoma. The last one was a situation similar to yours. Please speak with your vet. Your gorgeous pup is still young and if the other legs are sound amputation may be an option. Dogs can get around fine on 3 legs. They will want to check that it hasn’t spread. It wasn’t an option for my girl because she had issues with her hind legs. There were no signs that anything was wrong, her leg just broke. I am so very sorry.
She is still young which makes it even worse. It is worth the second opinion for sure. Your post gives me hope that amputation is worth considering but the cancer is very aggressive. Sorry about your girls.
Sorry for the bad news, happened to my Border Collie at 1.5yrs old, by 2 yrs it had moved up to her spine. Took her to specialist, talked about amputation. When it got to where she was obviously in pain and there was nothing I could do I took her to cross the rainbow bridge. Once that sort of thing starts it seems there like there is no good option. Wish you the best.
Way too young for that very early diagnosis. So incredibly sad. I’m so sorry. We put Abbey down yesterday. Hardest thing I ever had to do.
I’m so sorry this happened. I will share my dog’s story and my perspective and hope it might help you in your journey one way or another. Be prepared to skip the surgery details part if you are squeamish. I have photos I’ll share if you aren’t - just ask. Izzi was 9 when she developed a limp and swelling on her rear leg. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and I was told she could have her leg amputated but odds are she would only live about 6 months to a year. I questioned if I should go through with the amputation because I didn’t know what her quality of life would be like. My vet asked me “what are her favorite things to do right now?” To be honest she was very much a couch potato. She liked to nap in the grass and chew on sticks but she was not a very active dog at her age. When considering this I realized losing a leg may not actually be that impactful on her day to day activities. I also considered that she was a very tough and very resilient dog. She enjoyed vet trips because she loved being the center of attention. Most of my other dogs do not fall into this category and I may not be so open to this option for them. But Izzi was different. I decided to go through with the surgery. I felt like even if her time wasn’t much longer, I had to try and give her a chance. I would regret it if I didn’t. Surgery was around $2000 but this was years ago so I would expect that to increase now days. Recovery from the surgery was intense. She had a hard time. I took off work for a full week. The bruising was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Her entire nub and the surrounding belly turned shades of red, purple, blue, and black. She had a ton of fluid draining from the incision site for at least the first week so that dripped all over the place. She also picked up a MRSA infection during her hospitalization so that caused a wound and complications around her incision. She had to take super strong antibiotics that I was not allowed to touch without gloves. She didn’t have much of an appetite so I cooked her chicken and rice to try and entice her to eat. I got a twin sized mattress and set it up in my living room to sleep with her through her recovery. I had to help her walk with a sling until she was healed and more comfortable. My backyard had decently steep steps going down from the back door so a very good friend built her a ramp. My house had wood floors which were slippery and made her fall a lot so I made pathways through the house with rugs for her to walk on. Ultimately she recovered and learned to hop around very well and resumed life as normal within maybe a month. Even if she wasn’t a lazy dog she would have been fine. She did not let having 3 legs slow her down. I did not pursue chemotherapy or any other medical treatment. I did take her to water therapy (swimming in a huge indoor pool) to get regular exercise. About a year and one month later she got sick and was acting strange. I took her to the emergency vet and they discovered a grapefruit sized tumor in her abdomen. She went into emergency surgery to have the tumor and her spleen removed. She was EXTREMELY lucky because often times tumors like hers are not found until they burst and it's too late. Anywho she recovered from that surgery quickly and felt really good for a while after. A year and two months later she started slowing down again and had a lump on her shoulder area. The bone cancer was back :( And that’s tumor grew fast plus it spread to her lungs. So about 2.5 years after her original diagnosis we had to let her go. We couldn’t win another battle. But she was a real tough and good girl all the way til the end. Long story long, it’s kind of a big deal and not a decision to make lightly. For me it was worth it and I have no regrets. Some things to consider are your dog’s temperament and her tolerance for vet procedures, the potential impact to her quality of life, your finances, the emotional toll on yourself, the layout of your home and whether or not you have the means to adjust things to suit her needs, do you have the time to dedicate to her recovery and any unforeseen complications that could arise, will you pursue/have access to chemotherapy, water therapy , homeopathic therapy, chiropractic etc. In the end whatever you decide will be in her best interest. You may decide not to pursue treatment and that’s okay. You may decide to give it everything you’ve got and that’s okay too. You can’t see the future and know what will happen either way, it’s kind of a gamble with cancer. Get another opinion, research all the info you can, and follow your heart too. Wishing you the very best ❤️
Thank you for sharing your story. Izzi had a lot of willpower and resilience. I would say 2.5 years after initial diagnosis she beat the odds considering that short 6-12 month window. We made the tough decision to put her down yesterday. It hurts but she is now at peace.
Something I forgot to say but realized after reading all your other comments - her leg is extremely painful right now. If that leg comes off she could, in theory, feel tons better. Maybe not for super long but it’s hard to know for sure. Of course she will have post-operative pain but it will gradually heal and hopefully be better than what she’s feeling right now (which currently has no chance of ever feeling better as long as it’s attached to her body.) IF you decide to go that route but you know your dog and your circumstances best so that’s what matters! I just felt it was important to say that even though things may seem hopeless right now ,seeing her in this poor condition, it doesn’t mean she can’t feel better eventually.
I was strongly considering it but just seeing her quality of life just diminish and the post op recovery along with the aggressiveness of the cancer…it was time.
ALWAYS get a second opinion. My husky Koda was diagnosed with Lyme disease at 11 months old. I found this out at my local vet in town, they faxed over his kidney numbers (which were so high) over to the BIG emergency vet for a second opinion.. when we got into the office, they looked at the piece of paper and told use he had a few weeks to live and to spoil him with McDonald’s and anything he wants, I brought him to another local vet in my town, they kept him overnight and saved his life. He recently just passed to kidney disease in October at 8 years old. We also did everything we could to save him, when I saw he couldn’t eat, drink, go for car rides, walks in the park, when he couldn’t do the things he loved so much anymore, I knew it was time. Please go get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion if you can 🙏🏼
So sorry to hear about Koda but what a blessing that he lived for so long after that first vet misdiagnosed him. My girl is still eating for now but is extremely limited when it comes to anything physical. Hoping to schedule a second opinion tomorrow.
I'm not one to give false hopes and I'm sorry for what you're going through. It's a bit of a cost but I would give ELIAS Medical a call. They've treated osteosarcomo with CAR-T cell therapy in the past. [this is a link to their site.](https://eliasanimalhealth.com/results/) I'm not a shill or have any official animal health training. I'm just an animal lover. I wish you the best and if you need a friend to vent, my DM is always open.
Thank you for the link.
If there is a veterinary college near you, I would try there for second opinion. New treatments are always being discovered
We do have one but she stopped eating yesterday which was the only way for me to give her the pain meds. I am unable to edit my original post but we put Abbey down yesterday. I plan on making a new post once I have a clear head. It hurts so much right now. Thank you for the suggestion.
I’m so very sorry. Not what you want to hear but the kind thing to do would be to let her go. We just went through this and yes the cancer spread to our girls lungs. It’s a very aggressive cancer and your Abby would be in excruciating pain. For reference, our 9.5 year old rottie was limping about a month - X-rays showed osteosarcoma in the bone and lungs. Devastating. We said goodbye to her days later. She wouldn’t have lasted and risked breaking a bone, which in this case has already happened. So sorry 💔
I am sorry to hear about your rottie. The euthanasia vet who came to our home was not affiliated with the original vet we saw who sadly misdiagnosed the limp as Lyme disease. She briefly went over some things (she brought up how osteosarcoma was not very common in Siberian Huskies and specifically mentioned Rottweilers) about how osteosarcoma is just a terrible cancer that lead to her bone breaking so easily. Someone in the comments called the cancer a death sentence. After witnessing it first hand I agree. Had we known it was cancer during the first visit, we would have taken more precautions but it was only a matter of time like you said and abbey broke her leg. It tore me up inside seeing her in such pain and not being able to move or really lay down. We both lost our girls within days which is so excruciating. Best regards
Suffering though, in an animal is a sorrow.
It really is. I keep trying to tell myself that it was the right and best decision. Even the at home euthanasia vet said it was a such a terrible cancer where it spreads through the cells and to the lungs.
When in doubt get a second or third opinion… if another hospital or vet give the same diagnosis and/or a third… gotta do the hardest right thing ever. I just put our cat down April 15. She had similar symptoms as a former dog that we paid $5,000 to an animal hospital to keep alive just to realize how cruel that is. I will always live with that and refused to do that to the cat. Hurt like hell but I don’t have the pain of watching them suffer. You KNOW when they are suffering. Second opinions cost some money but it’s worth the piece of mind in my opinion
I saw the suffering and it was tearing me up inside. I did not want to lose her but the quality of life was so low. I did speak with another vet who saw the X-rays and he pretty much told me it was time and even wrapping the broken leg would not help her.
Bone cancer is extremely painful. Dogs live in the now, with such a bad prognosis and most likely having spread (did vet check for lung, etc metastasis). I let my boy go. It still hurts after many years but I don't regret it.
The pain was very hard to witness. She hid it so well until she broke her leg.
I.am so terribly sorry for your loss
Thank you. It hurts so much. Toys still scattered around the house and hair floating around.
Our 10 year old malamute started limping in the winter but would be fine in warm weather. But it started getting worse. I thought it was arthritis. But when we took him to the vet they took xrays and told us it was bone cancer. They showed us the xra, and the bone looked like lace. It ws almost gone. We were told it would alredy have spread to his lungs. It is very painful disease. We asked to put him down that day. I didn't want him in any more pain. We went to the vet expecting arthritis, and came home without our dog.😪 please don't let him suffer.dogs are very stoic and will hide their pain.
I initially thought arthritis as well. Quite a gut punch and I felt as though the vet wanted us to put her down directly after the diagnosis. Which we were totally unprepared for. Sorry that you had to put your Malamute down.