Canine osteosarcoma

[foolserrand]

We have just been told our rescue Rottie bitch may have bone cancer in her left hind knee. She will be having X-rays on Friday. We took her to the vet yesterday as she had stopped using her leg. We thought the nylon ligaments (previous op) had snapped, or the arthritis was just really bad.

Can anyone with experience or knowledge please tell me what to expect if her diagnosis is confirmed? Google says there would likely be an amputation, but I'm not sure she would be a viable candidate.

Our girl has bad joints, she has had operations on 3 of her legs and regularly gets lame on her front legs due to arthritis and other joint issues. Would it be cruel to put these legs under further stress and strain to keep her with us? Are there any other options?

She's only 5. We have had her since she was 6 months old. She was terrified of everything when we brought her home, even grass as she had never been outside. She has worked so hard and become a loving, protective credit to us. Ds (4) would be devastated if we lost her, as would our other dog.

I'm trying to prepare for the worst, but just can't imagine our house without her.

Poor you what a horrible situation.
Sadly Osteosarcoma is more common in Rotties than other breeds. Really there are two options, firstly painkillers and keeping the dog happy for as long as possible (though if osteosarc likely to not be that long) Or amputation. If amputating your vet will want to xray the chest first to make sure it hasnt spread there already
If insured there are referral centres that can do more complicated surgery, Fitzpatricks for example does some cutting edge stuff.
My caution, and an important factor in your decision possibly-chat to your vet, is that amputation and removal of the primary tumour can precipitate te developement of secondary tumours elsewhere.
Fingers crossed for a happier diagnosis for you

Sadly, it's very common in greyhounds as well - all big, long legged breeds. Hugs to you and your Rottie girl.

Going on my greyhound based knowledge - you need to be VERY aggressive with pain management and please be prepared for very sudden changes for the worse - cancer can move very fast. Also, depending on where tumour is/type, your dog is at risk of sudden leg break - check with your vet about this.

I think you need to have a hard conversation with your vet about amputation - given her other joint issues this is going to be tough for her. I'd want to ask about how much extra time you will buy her with this, and the realistic assessment of her managing on three legs. I am not anti -tripod - was very positive about amputation on a thread here recently but given a Rottie is a heavy dog and she has joint problems already this may be too much. Again, I think you need specialist vet input on this to advise.

If you don't amputate then please, please have her PTS sooner rather than later - bone cancer pain is horrible. Talk to your vet about having her PTS at home - surrounded by her family, peaceful and in surroundings she knows.

So sorry you are dealing with this.

Thank you both. Dp seems incapable of even considering having her pts. I am thinking it'll come to that if the worst is true.

I really hope it's something easily fixed, but what else can a hard swelling on the joint be?

If it is osteo, we have had this twice:( and amputation isn't viable then I would pts asap. Amputation extends the time left and rarely gives a cure. If you try to manage the condition the pain is so hard to manage and the limb can fracture spontaneously. It is awful I drove one dog to the vets as her bone disintegrated:( I so wish we had picked it up earlier...the stoic never limped.

Noodled, so sorry you've gone through this twice. How utterly shit.

We have decided that, if it is cancer, odds on we will have her pts at home. I'll send 4 yo ds to my parents' for a day to shield him as much as possible, but she deserves to be at home.

It's so upsetting because she doesn't seem poorly. Still so alert and lively and loving. It's just so fucking shit.

Sorry about this. X-rays will diagnose this.Few facts:
Treatment options:
Amputation alone - will not cure and not advised if arthritis in other joints
Limb sparing surgery - this removes the tumour and uses a bone donation to fill the gap plus lots of metal. Again the issues in other limbs will be an issue. Very expensive specialist surgery (£3000 plus) only at specialist centre
Either of above plus chemo (if chest clear) can buy up to around 12 months with weekly chemo
Sorry to hear this - just wait for X-rays though as osteosarcoma doesn't usually affect joints, although it will affect the bone close to the knee joint but there are other potential diagnoses.
Sorry again, it is a bastard of a tumour.

well hopefully you will miss it yet, it is shit. Bah. Another of mine only has weeks and he too appears in great shape very lively and waggy. maybe better than slowly getting in more pain etc. horrid though.

Thanks, Samvet. That's really useful info. Can I ask if you can think of anything else that could cause a hard swelling on or close to the joint?

Well, we got her home tonight and it isn't cancer. Just terrible arthritis. Long term pain medication and gentle exercise for a long time. We get to keep her!

Thank you to all of you who posted over the last few days. You helped us a lot.

Hurrah not often arthritis is so welcome:)

oh foolserrand i am so so pleased for you My heart sank when i read your thread title and i knew it would be a rottie. I lost my lovely rescue rottie to this bastard disease and my friend lost her dane. I am an ex vet nurse and my old boss looked after my dog. It was awful because he had ruptured his cruciate , it woudlnt heal, we were going to re-open to see what was going on - but we decided to Xray and it confirmed the worst - i'll never forget that day. Just awful, he was only 4 and we had him two years. He had aggression issues when we got him but he turned into a lovely dog who was great with the surprise baby. I miss him :(