Beachbum1

So very sorry for your loss.

Zoledronate has been used to replace Pamidronate. It has proven to be much more effective, and takes a lot less time to administer.

You can see Petunia with that look, "What's wrong with that dog???"

Posted 3/24/17: A wonderful mobile vet came to the house Thursday afternoon, to help Taylor have no more pain. Taylor was a miracle dog. He was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma above his right front wrist 1/10/15. I immediately turned his care over to an oncologist practice with a wonderful doctor. Since it appeared to be caught early, we thought we would try to save the leg. Started with radiation treatments, and also Carboplatin chemo. He also received an IV every 4 weeks of Zoledronate, a bone strengthening/pain relief drug. He tolerated all treatments well. No side effects, as expected. After 1-1/2 months, he slipped and fell, and broke a small bone in the area of the cancer. He was then basically using 3 legs, and managing just fine. Running faster than Face in the back yard. Spinning and leaping. A few weeks later, he turned in the back yard, and broke another part of the bone. We decided it was then time to amputate. Amputation was done 4/10/15, and even with Amicar to control bleeding, he still had massive amounts of swelling and edema. His body was trying to absorb the edema, but he was peeing dark red. He had to stay in the hospital for 6 nights, on IV fluids to keep the kidneys from being damaged. Within 2 weeks, he was back to demanding and loving rides and walks 2-3 times a day. Hopping in and out of the SUV with Face. Going out and about everywhere. Seeing people. Getting hugs. He was a happy boy. It's a given that Osteosarcoma comes back in the lungs. Just a matter of time. Every 3 months, he would go in for chest x-rays and blood work. All was fine. This past June, the chest x-rays showed a couple of very small nodules in his lungs. We started him on Palladia, a chemo pill, given 3 times a week. The thought was that the chemo pills would slow down the growth of the nodules, hopefully shrink them, and keep others from forming. No side effects from the chemo pills. Checked his blood every 4-5 weeks. Late this past December, I noticed he was slowing down walking. Not as hungry. Hard to lay down. They did chest x-rays (looked good), blood work (looked fine), and an ultrasound of his abdomen (all clear). Started him on 300 mg of Gabapentin for pain every 8 hours. He was not feeling better. Two weeks later, I happened to be on the floor with him, and his front left leg felt very warm, and very swollen. X-rays of his legs the next day showed that he had a very rare condition called Hypertrophic Osteopathy. He had a temperature of 104.3. That condition seems to be an off-shoot of nodules in the lungs. It's a thickening of the periosteum, which is a tissue surrounding the bones. It is progressive. It is painful. It can't be cured. He then started taking Previcox, which is an anti-inflammatory/pain medication and within 24 hours, the fever was gone and the swelling was down. He was walking better. Most dogs don't survive that condition more than 4-6 weeks. The amount of pain medication needed would then be too much for the dog to function, especially a 3 legged dog. Around 4 weeks ago, Taylor started coughing. Chest x-rays showed that 3 nodules in his lungs were between 6-10 times larger than they were 11 weeks earlier. The chemo pills weren't as effective anymore. One nodule that had been the size of a dime was now the size of an egg. But he wasn't coughing when walking or eating. Just once in a while when laying down. Earlier this week, the coughing got worse and he was having a real hard time walking and laying down, but he was eating well, and demanded those rides and walks. His breathing was very rapid. He seemed uncomfortable. Tuesday evening, I noticed his left front leg was swollen in a large area. I called the oncologist's office in the morning, and they said to bring him in. They did one x-ray of his leg, and the doctor showed me the huge difference in the thickening of his Hypertrophic Osteopathy. He was taking the maximum amount of pain medication. There was nothing else to do to help him with his pain. It was time. Taylor was my first greyhound, and he came to me 12/20/11 when he was 3 years old. He was a BIG boy (90 pounds), and he loved his hugs. We went everywhere together. He loved rides and loved being around people. Face, another big boy at 85 pounds, joined us a year and a half later. He loves rides and walks, too. I would be walking, loose leashed, 180 pounds of well behaved hounds, in stores, everywhere. I promised each dog, when they came to me, that I would always take care of them, and keep them happy as long as possible. On Wednesday, I knew it was time for Taylor. The doctor and I knew it was coming. He was a miracle dog. It's VERY rare for a dog with Osteosarcoma to still be around 2 years and almost 3 months after diagnosis. He was a tripod almost 2 years. Never slowed him down. Up until a few weeks ago, he could STILL run faster than Face. Taylor's last day, Thursday, was a Taylor day. 2 rides. 2 walks. 2 cans of dog food. Lots of treats. Saw lots of people he loved, and they said goodbye to him, and cried. We've lived here for almost 3 years and have met thousands of people. The vet came to the house at 2:00 PM on Thursday. The dogs greeted her looking for TREATS! She was so caring and gentle. She and I sat on the floor, and I petted Taylor's head and told him what a good boy he was. Face stayed in the room and watched (mostly upside-down). Taylor passed quietly. I have his ashes back today. My heart feels shattered. I had not left him alone for more than 2-3 hours for the past 2 years and almost 3 months. He was my heart dog. My baby boy. My hug-loving boy. I know it was time, and I wouldn't let him suffer. I miss hugging him.

As stated above, there are a lot of variables involved in making a decision to go forward with surgery. It's a "given" that the cancer comes back after Osteo diagnosis. It's just a case of when, and sometimes something else sends the dog "to the Bridge". This thread is about Taylor's journey, as listed in Remembrance. Taylor was a Miracle Dog. Acknowledged by all of his doctors. Taylor, 12/11/08-3/23/17

So very sorry for your loss.

Does anyone have any experience, or knowledge, about the chances of a dog becoming infected with kennel cough as a result of human exposure to the dog with kennel cough?

So very sorry for your loss

Happy gotcha day, pretty girl

"behold.......the regal Greyhound"

Taylor, even as a 3 legged dog, was 90 pounds. A healthy looking 90 pounds. Big boys rule

I think you need more...........magazines and books (betcha thought I was going to say TOYS!!)

So very sorry for the loss of your sweet girl.

So very sorry for your loss.

So very sorry.

That was a GOOD day 11 years ago.

Facebook developed that condition 6 months ago. He has been on Prescription W/D dry food since then.

party animal

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Facebook's (9 years 5 months old) new premium will go up 30% with Embrace. Jagger's (10 year 6 months old) new premium will go up 38% with Embrace. I will call Embrace in the morning to confirm discounts are in place (membership with The Greyhound Health Initiative will NOT result in any discount with Embrace with Florida dogs...check to see if your state is still eligible). After many years with Embrace, this will be "bye bye" time. Any suggestions for companies that won't HAMMER you when you have seniors?

So very sorry for the loss of your sweet boy

So very sorry.

So very sorry for your loss.