11 year old lurcher with osteosarcoma - got to make the decision

[Goldrill]

My lovely and not-at-all-old lurcher boy has osteo in his front right shoulder. He has had chest x-rays and there's no sign it has spread (but I know it probably has). He's pretty fit and is not yet an "old dog".

He has loads of drugs as of today and looks a lot more cheerful, but there's a visible lump which has got bigger over the past week.

We need to decide whether to go for amputation and possible chemo. I know amputation will take away the pain, and that there is no real cure; this is a short term measure to give him more good-quality life before the inevitable end within the next year or so.

Is he too old for amputation? I am biased as my lurchers have all been long lived, and I've known plenty of tripods who were totally unphased by it.

I am a firm believer that it is better a week too soon than a day too late. But... he isn't old and I love him. I don't know what to do.

That's a horrible decision to have to make, and I wouldn't know what to do in your shoes either.

I suppose all you can do is look around you at the experience of others. A relative had a lurcher who a foreleg off for osteosarcoma - he was no spring chicken either, though I forget how old exactly. He outlasted the vet's prediction - roughly doubled it iirc, from about to year to >2. He adapted brilliantly.

If your dog looked before this diagnosis as if he had another 3+ years in him (which is what you seem to be saying), I'd probably go for the op. If he was clearly slowing down and showing obvious signs of waging (stiff joints etc), then I wouldn't.

What does the vet think about his health in terms of a general anaesthetic and recuperation from the op?

If he is an otherwise healthy, bouncy, happy dog I would probably go for it if the above isn't going to cause an issue. But it depends on the dog. I've had a dog at 11 who I wouldn't have put through an op (and didn't - mast cell tumours). My staff, now 14, would have sailed through such an op at 11.

Ime Lurchers are very robust with fast healing superpowers... One of mine had a tear on her side and bounced back. Our 10 yo rotty had massive surgery for cancer last year. Survived and also bounced back. Not sure a big ddog would have managed an amputation but I have a 10 yo lurcher and I would see her through the surgery you describe op. As you say years ahead for him...

Personally, I wouldn't put an 11 year old dog through an amputation and chemo, and I've been in a similar position with one of my dogs so I understand how hard this is.

My feeling is that he would be fine. A year or so back he skewered that leg when he buggered off after a deer, and had quite a big op to repair it and remove vein etc (I did think he would lose the leg, now I come to think of it) - and he was back to hooning around within a day or two.

I think the fact it's osteosarcoma and it feels like I'm postponing the inevitable for my benefit not his- I am really swinging from being convinced one way and then the other. Gaah.

My old ddog didn't need chemo. But apparently ddogs cope with chemo very well. Not like humans at all.
*as mentioned by a vet on here when my ddog was ill and I posted.

Personally, for just one extra year or so of life, I wouldn’t put a dog through major surgery like an amputation no.

Lurcher lifespan up to 15 years. 4 years he could have op. My Lurcher had 10 teeth out last year and anaesthetic concern was never mentioned by the vet. In your shoes I would give mine a chance with 3 legs definitely..

Thank you. I really do appreciate everyone's thoughts. DH probably more towards not operating; me the other way.

If he’s a good candidate for it - I’d have it done...

They’ve got 3 other legs, it’s not a long recovery time - and any post op pain will be less than he’s in now.

That’s not to say you should or shouldn’t, there’s no right or wrong answer. But I’d do it, no hesitation at all.

Feel for you OP. I’ve seen and heard of lots of dogs where this buys time, it’s not like a human amputation (they adapt quickly) and frankly a lurcher seems one of the best candidates. So you do have the option. I think it seems to us cruel to make then tripods, but if he genuinely is otherwise well I’d be finding the best ortho possible for a very frank conversation.

You know your dog best and whatever you decide will be in his best interests. He’s already a lucky boy to have you doing the best for him. Do what you feel - in my view, neither option is wrong, but every dog owner would empathise with both. So that’s not particularly helpful, sorry. A second vets opinion would be where I’d start - get a view from an outsider who has done a lot of cases to help you make a decision you can be at peace with, even when he’s gone.

All the best OP.

I can only speak from my experience. I had a comparatively young dog operated on to remove a lump; 6 months later I had her put down as it had spread to such an extent the vets couldn't understand how she was still running around looking 'healthy' (she did to other people but in my heart I just knew).

I vowed after that to not put a dog through a similar op. Unfortunately this year I lost a very young dog during what should've been a straight forward op as he suffered a cardiac arrest when put under.

If it was me I'd enjoy the remaining time you have but I would feel any op/chemo and recovery would be more for your benefit than the dogs.

I'm so sorry you are going through this.