my dog has bone cancer!?

Question

my new rottie/lab cross that I just adopted from the pound has bone cancer in his right front leg. The vet says the leg can be removed but he may only have 3-6 months after that to live. Should I put him through all that surgery and recovery or should I just let it go and then put him to sleep when it gets painful?

I'm really sad for my dog he is the best dog in the world to me. I don't know what to do so I need any ideas!?

Answer 1

I am so sorry your dog is going through this. I had a Dobie with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) & I chose not to amputate. He lived about 10 months after diagnosis. I was on my way to the vet to have him euthanized because the cancer had spread to his lungs. My baby boy passed away on the way to the vet. My daughter had a Dobie that was diagnoised with the same in the back right leg. We amputated his since the cancer was down around the ankle area. We thought since it was far from the body we could save his life. We were wrong & so was the vet that did the amputation. He ended up getting the cancer in his lungs & we had to have him euthanized only about 6 months after the amputation. With the experience I have gone through with our dogs & bone cancer I would not reccomend the amputation. If your vet has not given you any pain medication ask him if he has Deramaxx. Those two dogs of ours took 1/2 pill every twelve hours & it really helps the pain a lot. I feel the dog we did not amputate lived his last months of his life better than the one with the amputee. If I am ever confronted with this terrible disease again I would not put a dog through an amputation. I am so sorry & my heart goes out to you!! EDIT: As for a second opinion it will probably not help. I took my dog to my regular vet, then to a bone specialist vet & the third was a cancer specialist vet. I did all I could for him & yet there was nothing I could do to save his life. I would just get your dog on pain medication & enjoy the time he has left. Hopefully you'll enjoy 10 more months like I did after diagnosis.

Answer 2

My border collie had bone cancer.

I did have her hind leg amputated. I got ten months of quality time with her.

The deciding factor for surgery was if the cancer was already visible in her lungs. The X rays showed her lungs were clear at that time.

The bone cancer will ALWAYS move to the lungs and even though one can have a clean xray the "mets" are just so small they can not bee seen.

The surgery and recovery was no big deal, she came home the same day and was wide awake and wonderful, and very active.

The pain from the bone cancer is actually worse then the amputation. Plus they will let your dog come home on pain meds or a patch.

If you have the financial means, and the lungs are clear on x-ray, I think it was worth it. I think my vet bill was about $2,000-$3,000.

If you can not, I would not let the dog suffer, as the pain is excruciating and you would have to keep this dog very drugged up to give him any pain relief.

Good luck to you. I know it is a hard decision.

Answer 3

Just wanted to share my story so far. It's been 11 months since my 12 year old pup (half lab half border collie) was told she had 1 to 3 months to live because she has bone cancer. The vet wanted me to have her leg removed but after much thought I went with a bisphosphonate treatment. The first treatment went great. She looked so much better than the week before. However, after the 4th week she started to deteriorate a little. Then she looked better again after the next treatment. I moved her to a regular treatment at 4 weeks instead of 5. She takes rimadyl twice a day. And I cut her pain medicine of tramadol (wrapped in cheese) in half because she looked unhappy and drugged with the full dose. Now she is herself and seems totally happy. Over the past year with the cancer she has her monthly treatments and the vet is amazed at how she is doing. She has some slow days and her good rear leg sometimes isn't 100%. I don't let her on the steps and set up downstairs to be puppy save which means nothing to jump up on and risk hurting herself. So far she is doing great considering the cancer. If anyone else has had a good experience with this treatment or another please share. The decision on which treatment was brutal but so far I couldn't ask for better.

Answer 4

You and your pup have my sympathy. This is a tough thing to have to go through. About 5 yrs ago I had a collie that lost a back leg when he was run over. Personally, if the vet is convinced that your pup will not be able to beat the cancer, even if the leg is removed, then I would sadly have to say the humane thing would be to have your pup put to sleep. If your vet just isnt sure, (sometimes they aren't), then I would give your pup every chance at having a good life. If this is the case, be prepared to possibly have your pup put to sleep in the future if the cancer spreads. My collie is at my feet even as I am typing this. I hated the uncertainty and distress of not knowing what to do when my pup was in bad shape. I know the situations are different, but I've been blessed to have my 3-legger in my life. God bless you and your pup, I'll pray for you both :) -Polly Si

Answer 5

This is so strange.....I was looking through Y! about when it is time to put a dog down...and then your question popped up. Let me explain...I recently found out that my 7 year old rott, adopted from the pound and possibly mixed with lab, has bone cancer. I have seen three other dogs in my life suffer with this. Like people have said...it is terribly aggressive and painful. Surgery was not even an option for me for a few reasons....to long of recovery and it is very difficult to get all the cancer out. For that reason, I chose to take my dog home and just live day to day, which is exactly how dogs live. I am trying to be strong and stick to living the day. He limps like a fool but he is so happy to go outside and visit all his friends. He is also still eating fairly well. Dogs manages pain a lot differently than humans do and the rottweilers can really handle pain! It is hard, really hard, but I am going to try to save the grieving until he is gone.

Your puppy is so young but he has already found you. He is very lucky to be with you, someone who is looking out for him. Months ago, he was not in a good situation. I am truly sorry for that diagnosis.

What ever you decide to do, I will tell Zeke to look for him. They sound like they would be great friends. You will make the right choice for you dog, he trusts you and believes in you.

www.dogster.com/dogs/26359

Answer 6

I have worked as a vet tech for several years and have heard of no connection to spaying and bone cancer or incontinence. You can regulate her weight with the amount of food she eats and exercise that she recieves. I do know that not spaying her will be messy every 6 months or so when she goes into heat and begins bleeding and at these times she may also want to explore her "options". I have a boxer that we adopted, she was not spayed and we could tell about a week or two before any symptoms would start that she was going into heat because at that time when we would take her out to use the bathroom she would find a way to take off. She no longer does that since we had her spayed. (She has been spayed for about 3 years and is no heavier than before.)

Answer 7

It sound like your dogs was caught early if no pain yet
has your vet referred you to an oncologist to get their opinion and have them look at the x-rays occasionally mistakes are made and the diagnosis of bone cancer turns out to be a bone fungus instead which is treatable, amputation alone does not provide much time, it normally recommended to combine with chemo even then only about 12 months but some dogs do manage to live on 2 or 3 year post diagnosis

By any chance are you near Ohio State, they have a clinical research trial which if you are able to go and was accepted would lower the cost of the amp and provide free chemo drugs
http://vet.osu.edu/2718.htm

A lot of research has went on at Ohio state in greyhounds , I know of a couple owners whose greys went beyond the 2 years
info on
http://vet.osu.edu/2096.htm
and post surgery dog walking and doing stairs video
http://vet.osu.edu/2108.htm most are on their feet within 24 hours of surgery they are kept on strong pain meds, normall in the form of a fentayl patch that delivers a slow release of pain medication to get them thru the recovery most go home within 3 days after surgery

One of my own greys had but the location upper leg at the hip was affected so surgery was not an option


But the clinical trials opened the doors for more owners to try I believe a couple manage almost 3 years though the majority of grey average only 8 months(shorter than other breeds) but many owners feel it is worth it giving their dogs extra time

You could try posting a message on greytalk http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?act=home about their experiences and length of time and whether they thought it was worth doing, sometimes best to get the opinions of those who have been through it with their dogs.

I am very sorry you are facing this I wish I could offer better news/advice, just wanted to add theat I am not recommended surgery, just letting you know dogs recovery far better from amps than humans nor do they have reasoning powers to assume they are disabled therefore they don't have the mental blocks people face with recovery and just get up and do, most are doing super well in only a week , talk to an oncologist first before making any decisions neither choice is right or wrong it boils down to what you feel is right for your dog

Answer 8

So sorry to hear you are going through this. Unfortunately, this may be the reason the dog was at the pound to start with as some people with sick animals who either cannot afford to care for them or cannot face putting them to sleep will take them to animal shelters. Such animals should never be allowed to go to other homes as it places both an emotional and financial burden on the new owners.

Have you spoken to the animal shelter where you got the dog?

With such a short life expectancy - even with treatment, it is best not to put the dog through the pain and agony. Let your friend go in peace.

Answer 9

I'm sorry about your dog! Osteosarcoma is a terrible cancer. By the time it is diagnosed, it has already spread. Amputation will only buy him a few months, maybe longer with chemotherapy and/or radiation. This is very expensive and is not a cure. Without surgery or treatment, most need to be euthanized within a few weeks. It is a very painful condition. I've seen many cases, and I personally, as a Certified Vet Tech with 20 years on the job, would NOT amputate my dogs leg and put him through that just to buy him a few months. It's not worth it to me--my opinion only.

Answer 10

I know how much it hurts to loose a pet, especially a good loving one. I'm sorry for the tough decisions and pain you are going through.
I've seen dogs with cancer close up and one very personal. I believe the best option for both you and your dog is to appreciate the time you have with him. Be mindful that his bones are weakening so no jumping around. Just share the affection you have for each other until he shows signs of pain. Then have him put to sleep. You can be with him and pet him so he won't die alone.
Please don't go through with the surgery, it will just make the time you have together more difficult and painful for him.
I've seen animals that were dying slowly because their owners couldn't bring themselves to put them down and it was pitiful. You don't want to put both of you through that.
Enjoy him now.