Ddog just been diagnosed with Osteo sarcoma

[minsmum]

Just that really, he went in for an x-ray as he was limping and they have just phoned me

Oh bless you and him. I didn't want to read and run but don't have much experience to share, hopefully someone else will come along soon.
What breed is DDog? How old is he?

Sorry to hear that, OP.

That's very bad news (I am a long-term greyhound owner and it's quite common in that and other large dogs).

One thing I would say is if you opt for amputation (which is usually palliative rather than curative) discuss tranexamic acid with the surgeon beforehand. When I had my first dog with osteo I opted for surgery, but his blood never clotted properly afterwards and we lost him a couple of days after the op.
Tranexamic acid promotes clotting - sadly the clotting issues some greyhounds have and this potential workround weren't really known then.

Talk to the most experienced vet in the practice - their experience of what outcomes to expect will be invaluable (I think some studies are a bit optimistic).

Thanks the prognosis is it's not curable. He is a Fox hound and quite big. They say that to amputate and give him chemo might extend his live expectancy by a couple of months but as they would think it would take him 3 weeks to recover from the operation and another 3 weeks to learn to walk on 3 legs as well as having chemo every 2 weeks Each time he would have to be sedated and given the fact he was badly beaten when he was young which has made him anxious, the extra time we would have with him would be minimal. I spoke to the top chap and he said if he was his dog he would go for palliative care but no rush for us to make out minds up as it won't make a difference really

I'm so sorry. TBH, I'd take him home, give him a lovely couple of weeks, then have him PTS before he is in pain

@minsmum oh I’m so sorry to hear this. I had a beautiful lurcher who had an osteosarcoma in his front leg. We did go ahead with the operation and it was initially successful, but he then had secondaries elsewhere and we eventually had to say goodbye.
I agree with @CMOTDibbler and think palliative care is the way to go. I do feel for you and your ddog. 💔

I’m so sorry. We lost our last dog to osteosarcoma very, very quickly. 36 hours from limp to diagnosis and pts.
It’s incredibly hard, my utmost sympathies. Agree with palliative care and making the most of the time he has left.

I really feel for you . We lost our westie X jack Russell to this 4 months ago amputation wasn't an option she had palliative care and was on very strong pain relief. We had a fantastic last 8 weeks with her doing all her favourite things and she had anything she wanted to eat /treats new toys everything

Thank you all, I have spoken to my dh and the rescue he came from, he hasn't reacted very well to the anaesthetic they have him for the x-ray. Sad as we are we have to put him first so we will be going with the palliative care. Tomorrow is his 5th gotcha day. I have to pull myself together for work tomorrow. I will work from home I think as I won't be able to cope with people being nice to me

Very sorry. We lost our fab lurcher to osteo a couple of years ago. He was 10 but very fit and so we went for amputation and chemo; unfortunately he didn't survive the op. Not sure what decision I'd make now. I have a friend whose lurcher had several years of happy life following treatment, but I think she was very much the exception.
It's a horrible thing to go through, and I'm really sorry.

He is just six and a half maybe 7, we have a holiday booked the beginning of September and the rescue have asked if they can look after him while we are away so that they can spoil him and say goodbye but I feel so guilty leaving him

@minsmum we lost DDog last week to cancer. On the vet's advice, we didn't go down the chemo or amputation route (initial tumour was in leg), just palliative. He had a happy three months since diagnosis, while we came to terms with it all. He was pain-free and comfortable to the end. We're all heartbroken. Sending hugs.🐾

Thanks everyone, I really thought he had hours left after he got back from the hospital but the effects of the sedative have now worn of as well as the discomfort of the x-ray. He is now counter surfing , stealing car food and being his normal stubborn self. He is only having on lead walks and dragged my Dh around a short walk at 10pm last night. I know it's the medication and won't last but we will be going with the palliative option and just making the most of the time left

That should say car food

Cat flipping autocorrect

That's really sad. I lost my flatcoat to osteosarcoma last year. He was only 8. Once the vet called me to confirm what it was, I asked for him not to woken up from the aneasthetic as, having owned dogs for the past 45 years, if a dog is lame it's in pain, but they are so stoic and loyal they will push through it.

I lost my collie to a rare osteo sarcoma in her jaw just in April. After the initial removal of the tumour we had hoped for months but sadly grew back rapidly and we lost her after 4 weeks.
Make the most of your time together, maybe postpone the holiday. Their lives are so short and it breaks our hearts to lose them.
Give your boy all your love and spoil him rotten xx

So sorry it's shitty disease and by time notice a limp it's often already advanced, I've had a few acquaintance lose their greyhounds to it. Darcy deerhound did have amputation & chemo and lived for couple years before passed of something else as was elderly but I think that's rare, many just get months.

I think amputation can also suggested to remove the pain from bone cancer & risk of site fracturing. Though they check to see if already spread to lungs first. As Dogs usually do fine on 3 legs, unless also have issues with the remaining legs.

Osteosarcoma is sadly extreamly common in US greyhound lines. So you may find some helpful info on greytalk they also had an FB group which maybe busier these days.
forum.greytalk.com/topic/318606-osteo-thread-part-9/page/34/#comments

Dr Couto is one of leading research vets in the disease in US.
www.coutovetconsultants.com/

They have been working towards a vacination treatment but I'm not sure where it's at these days.
www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vaccine-appears-to-control-canine-osteosarcoma/

Thank you for the information, the vet didn't think amputation and chemo was a good idea for him, he is big and he doesn't tolerate sedatives very well. He is a rescue and was very badly treated before being rescued so is very anxious, particularly when away from his regular people. He thought that we may get another 2 months by doing that but a lot of that time would be spent recovering from the operation and being sedated to take chemo. He also said to take our time making the decision as it won't really make a difference. He is not limping at the moment

Just to update, we had to have him pts this evening he stopped eating, drinking and taking his meds yesterday.

I’m so sorry to hear this. My condolences. You did your absolute best for him and he was loved x

Our Lab has an enormous tumour on his back leg and they think his lungs are now affected. He is 12 so no options for him but keep him going as long as we can, he seems awkward with the mass but still loves short walks and eats like a horse. I guess when those pleasures stop when that’s the time to say goodbye, but the thought of it breaks my heart. The price we pay for love ❤️

I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s heartbreaking isn’t it? You did your absolute best for him and he couldn’t have had a better chance. At least he is now sleeping peacefully and you will find comfort remembering the good times you shared. 💔

So sorry OP. 💐

I'm sorry for your loss. We lost our girl to cancer in January and I'm still heartbroken, it would've been her 9th birthday a few days ago. It's an inevitable part of loving them, unfortunately. Look after yourselves.

I’m so sorry OP. My ddog recently had front leg lameness and this was my biggest fear. Luckily in his case it was just a corn but I don’t think I would amputate for osteosarcoma as it’s almost 100% certain that the cancer has already spread (as I’m sure you already know).

Sorry, didn’t read the update. It’s awful and I hope you have lovely memories of your dog,