Greyhound osteosarcoma

[Tswiftscat]

Our beloved 8 year old rescue greyhound was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 3 weeks ago. We thought she'd just hurt herself running as that's when the limp started. Vet couldn't find anything wrong and gave her an anti inflammatory but after a week of no limping it came back. Almost over night a lump appeared on her shoulder and the vet X-rays showed bone abnormalities that suggested osteosarcoma. She was booked in for a biopsy but before doing it they did a thorough examination and more X-rays and rang to say that they were convinced it was osteosarcoma and that the biopsy would be extremely painful as they would have to go into the bone and would potentially fracture the leg so they wouldn't advise putting her through it.

They also didn't think she was a good candidate for amputation due to her age and arthritis already setting in and would but her maybe a couple of months extra but be extremely distressing and difficult for her. Basically our only option to save her more pain and suffering was palliative care with a cocktail of drugs until we can no longer relieve the pain.

She responded really well to the drugs at first and was back out walking and only looked slightly lame if you really looked for it.

However she went downhill almost overnight a week ago and despite trying two extra pain meds she's hopping lame. The tumour seems to be growing by the day as well. I'm sleeping on the floor downstairs with her as I'm terrified she'll hurt herself going up and downstairs. She's still eating and wants to go for short walks but it's so sad to watch and I'm scared she will hurt herself and it will mean emergency pts. The new medication is Amantadine, does anyone have any experience of how long it takes to work? She's been on it since weds night as the vet had to order it in. It doesn't really seem to have made any difference so far but I've read it can take a while.

I'm devastated but the last thing I want is for her to suffer. If we could at least get her pain under control until half term we could give her the best last day ever and let her go unhurried and grieve in peace. She's a bit sad sack but she perks up once outside and is still eating and responding to us, wags her tail when we come in etc. It's so hard to know the right time and if we wait it out will the medication start to work. Just want to do right for my girl but struggling with the reality of her having to go. The worst case would be her injuring herself and it being an emergency pts as our vet will only allow one of us to be with her due to Covid so we plan to have a vet come to the house when it's time so we can all be with her. Does anyone have any advice, experience or even just a paw hold?

I'm so sorry, what a difficult decision. I don't have any advice but I am holding paws in massive sympathy x

So sorry to hear about your dog @Tswiftscat

Having had quite a bit of experience with oesteosarcs, if one of mine was diagnosed I would put to sleep as soon as possible. They are incredibly painful by the time they present and even more so when they do fracture. Sometimes they fracture idiopathically, without being knocked or for any reason.
I also think pain medication should work pretty quickly, if your dog isn’t comfortable by now I would be going back ASAP for either more/stronger pain relief or to discuss options.

Such a huge shame for you all though especially with a relatively young dog

Oh OP I’m so sorry. My sister’s staffy was diagnosed with the same thing and they took the decision to PTS fairly swiftly after diagnosis. Apparently it is a very painful disease. I wish you well in whatever you decide

Vet nurse -i am so sorry , if she were mine i would not keep her going , she is probably is some degree of pain despite pain relief.
These type of tumours can grow shockingly quickly and i would be very worried in case her leg breaks .
She is not agonising over the decision that is needed to be made , you are, but you can help her by letting her pass with love , peace and dignity.
One of the hardest decisions you can ever make but also one of the kindest .

I am so sorry to hear about your lovely girl.

When my girl was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma she was rushed in for an urgent scan to check for lung metastases. We took her home and kept her quiet on tramadol while we waited for the results and hopefully, if clear, to discuss amputation, when her leg suddenly fractured with no trauma. We ended up having to rush her back in for an emergency pts and as it turned out the scan showed it had already spread, despite her only just starting to limp.

We agreed that if we ever had another dog with the same diagnoses we would pts straight away to spare them suffering.

It really is the most awful decision we have to make, but also the ultimate and last act of kindness we can do for them and one borne out of love.

So sorry, I'm an ex vet nurse and I would also say pts sooner rather than later, it's such a painful condition. Such a difficult decision though

I'm so sorry. Our lovely lurcher died in January, as he was being operated on to remove his affected leg. Looking back we were lucky (though it didn't feel like that at the time), as we didn't have to try and make the judgement about pain.
He was a very, very stoic, tough, ex worker. Covered in scars. But he was in pain, and the drugs he was on before the op were beginning to not quite do the job. If we had not have had amputation as a viable choice we would have been days away.

It particularly brought it home to me; before the diagnosis he was definitely sore. We then got whopping doses of 3 meds and he was like his old self again, and we realised how much pain he must have been in. As the drugs were having less effect we were trying to make sure we compared how he was to that bit in the middle.

I know that saying about better a week too soon than a day too late can sound a bit trite, but really; you probably can't do this too soon. Much love to you.

Thank you for all your replies. I know what you are all saying is the right decision, it's just so hard to let her go.... she has slept beside me for the past 7 and a half years and I honestly don't know why I'm going to do without her.

Does anybody have any recommendations for vets that visit your home to pts? We are in the South East.

I had to have my ten year old greyhound put to sleep last year, he was losing weight very quickly and he was getting confused and was in pain in his abdomen. The vet thought it was likely to be a tumour and I didn’t want to put him through tests without me being able to be there because of COVID rules. It was made clear that a diagnosis would only be a diagnosis, not a cure, and I didn’t want him suffering. He’d had enough of that in his racing life. I was scared I’d come down one morning and he’d have passed away or would be in severe pain.

The vet and nurse came to the house to put him to sleep. He had a walk, lots of treats and then she gave him an injection to make him sleepy. He wandered around the lounge briefly then climbed up onto my teenagers knees on the sofa and passed away quickly after the medication was given with us all cuddling and talking to him. It was incredibly peaceful and he had no anxiety because he had no idea what was happening. It really was worth every penny having them come to him. The real heart breaking part was them carrying him out of the house afterwards.

It’s an incredibly difficult decision but it really is an act of love to let them pass peacefully and without fear and pain.

@Tswiftscat > so, so feeling for you and giving you another paw hold. Our rescue Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with lymphoma after multiple swellings appeared. We were told he'd probably have two to three decent weeks and then go downhill fast. That's how it turned out. I sort of hoped he'd die in his sleep (feel bad even writing that), so we wouldn't have to make the decision; but I knew in his final days he was going. This enabled us to get the vet to our house (shortly pre-Covid 19) towards the end, and he fell asleep on the sofa he liked to sleep on. Too soon, but very peaceful. Thoughts with you x

@Tswiftscat hiya, how are you doing today, have you managed to speak to the vet to see if they can visit you at home? So sorry you're in this situation, has to be the hardest part of pet ownership.

[quote Roodog]@Tswiftscat hiya, how are you doing today, have you managed to speak to the vet to see if they can visit you at home? So sorry you're in this situation, has to be the hardest part of pet ownership.[/quote]
I spoke to our vets but they still aren't doing home visits and it's a strict one person with her at the surgery policy. I've contacted a highly recommended home vet euthanasia practice the seems to be the only one that covers our area. They seem really caring and respectful. Significantly more expensive than I was expecting but I'll stick it on the emergency credit card if I have to, can't bear the thought of us not all being with her when she goes for her last sleep.

Our vets did suggest upping her gabapentin to see if that helps her get more comfortable and at least allow us to get her out for a few last walks. So we are going to try that for a few days to see if it helps. She is being spoiled rotten with treats, all her favourite foods!

My eldest daughter and her boyfriend even had a sleepover with her in the sitting room on Saturday night to let me get a good night's sleep, as sleeping on the floor with her and in a constant state of anxiety about her has taken it's toll a bit.

Glad you have had some sleep. And also good you've found a vet who can come out to you. I'm sure you're making humour grey's last days special

Sorry, don't know where the word humour came from. *your not humour

Paw hold needed.
After a week of better days, our beloved girl went downhill overnight. Sadly we know her time has come as we don't want her to suffer pain we can't manage.

We are waiting for the vet to arrive and let her peacefully slip away. Our hearts are broken

Oh, I am so sorry. ]

I really feel for you, as we almost made the same dreaded phonecall yesterday.

I know it’s not much comfort at the moment, but she has an extra week of being spoiled rotten, surrounded by your love. You have done everything you possibly could for her and are now giving her the ultimate act of kindness and love.

Take care of yourself. x

@Tswiftscat so sorry to read this, but as pp said, you've done all you could and it's amazing you were able to have those extra days together and spoil her rotten.

Thank you all for your kind words it's been a very emotional day.

She passed peacefully in the sunshine in the garden surrounded by love, being stroked on the head and with a tummy full of all her favourite treats. We are absolutely devastated but take some comfort from knowing we gave her the best end we could in the circumstances.

RIP my beautiful girl.

Pawhold @Tswiftscat > If it had to happen it looks like it happened in the best way. Horrible, horrible, horrible, but it seems like it went as well as it could possiblly go. Thinking of you.