Osteosarcoma and Dogs

[Sleepy]

Well yesterday evening, I got the dreaded news that my best hunting buddy of 12 years has bone cancer. It was a big punch in the gut and choked me up much more than I thought it was going to.

That being said, who has had a dog that was diagnosed with this? What can I expect and how did you determine when it was time to send them on across rainbow bridge?

[dustinztx]

We had a lab that had it. The doctor told us it varies from days to months. Had her on steroids and other meds but in the end, she only made it 30 more days and we had to make the decision which was best for the dog.

[Sleepy]

We had a lab that had it. The doctor told us it varies from days to months. Had her on steroids and other meds but in the end, she only made it 30 more days and we had to make the decision which was best for the dog.

Gunner is a lab too. It’s in his front left leg. He’s limping on it now. Just now sure how fast it progresses, although I know it is an aggressive cancer. He’s still got a lot of life in him, just limps.

[jerp]

Sorry to hear. We had a black lab who at about age 10 had a cancerous lump removed from his leg. The vet said he thought he'd gotten it all but often the cancer returns in the bone. Sure enough within the year he started limping and got the same diagnoses as your buddy Gunner. You will know when it is time - for us is was a little over a month.

[Dirtymike]

You will know. When he no longer enjoys life or is not able to eat and use the bathroom with dignity.

IMO as long as that tail wages, the eyes light up, and they can get around to "function" it aint time yet.

[jerp]

You will know. When he no longer enjoys life or is not able to eat and use the bathroom with dignity.

IMO as long as that tail wages, the eyes light up, and they can get around to "function" it aint time yet.

X2 My vet told me he always asks people "does he still greet you when you come home?" Doing that is so embedded in a dog's behavior - if they just lay there when you walk in it is an indication of the pain they are in. At that point it is time to think about letting them go.

[Uncle Saggy]

Very sorry to hear this


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[Mudslinger]

I have lost 3 Rotties to cancer, not necessarily bone cancer, but I just lost my female Rottie, Sophie last Friday evening to soft tissue cancer that had invaded the bone in her front leg. I am sorry for your loss and feel your pain. Never easy losing a 4 legged family member.

[kurt68]

MY Boston Terrier had it on his front leg, progressed fast and we had it amputated. $6000 later we got 8 months out of him before he had to be put down. He was my wife's first kid, or we wouldn't have spent that on the surgery. RIP Jack.

[Sleepy]

MY Boston Terrier had it on his front leg, progressed fast and we had it amputated. $6000 later we got 8 months out of him before he had to be put down. He was my wife's first kid, or we wouldn't have spent that on the surgery. RIP Jack.

Amputation was an option I was given, although I was only quoted about $1,800. I just feel at his age, it’s probably not going to prolong it much more than his already average life expectancy of a lab. I guess I’m just torn because I don’t know if I’m looking at a month or two or 6 months. Bet couldn’t really tell how far it had progressed without running more tests. At this point, it’s just a waiting game I reckon.

[Drycreek3189]

Hate to hear that Logan. It’s not that easy to let go, because to lots of us, it’s not “just a dog”. My JRT is ten, is allergic to everything, has diabetes, has had $5k worth of eye surgery and associated problems. I’m dreading the day when money won’t fix it. Sorry man.