[Osteo Thread Part 9]

I totally relate to that—the limbo phase is terrible. Now you're in action mode.  

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

I'm sorry it's official, but it sounds like Amelia will be in great hands. We'll all be backnforfing for her on Monday! Make sure they give her Amicar or tranexamic acid to control bleeding. I got it filled at my local pharmacy because there was a shortage at the clinic. She will still bruise quite a bit, but having one of those meds on board is crucial for greyhounds.

When you have some mental bandwidth to consider next steps, I recommend you take a look at the clinical trial being done for a cancer vaccine. It's significantly slowed or even reversed metastasis in some cases. We got the first vaccine in Cincinnati the same week Willa started chemo, and the booster three weeks later; all the follow-up can be done locally. There are only ~10 clinics offering it, so most people have to do road trips; I think the closest option for you would be Pittsburgh. The vaccine itself is free, but you have to pay for the oncology exam at the participating clinic. I figured, Can't hurt, might help, why not do it. Here are the details and the web page. There's also a Facebook group.

[Willa needs your vote!]

1 minute ago, Potomacpupsmom said:

OOOH! We can vote every day!  I just voted again.

Yes! It has to be at least 24 hours since your last vote, but you can vote every day.  Thank you!

[Willa needs your vote!]

Thanks, everyone—she is in the top three now!  Greyhound people are the best.

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

Too many of us have been through it, that's for sure. If you decide on amputation, be prepared to feel that same sense of helplessness and heartache and guilt for a few days...but it does get better. The first time you see them run as a tripod is the best feeling in the world.

Talk to your vet about her current pain meds (I hope you'll be talking with them soon anyway!). There's no reason to be conservative with them—get ahead of the pain as much as possible. Osteo has been described by human patients as feeling like your bone is exploding.

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

Our indoor stairs are very steep (old house) and Willa never did them even with four legs. Sweep had already stopped using them by choice before she became a tripod. Neither has had any trouble on outdoor stairs; in fact, there are several steps into the oncology department at our specialty vet, which always blows my mind. I know lots of tripods do just fine with them. If you're on Facebook, definitely join the Greyhound Osteosarcoma Support Group and, if you decide on the amp, Hounds That Hop.

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

6 minutes ago, 2greyhoundMINI said:

That’s not bad…. Geez I was thinking months! 
But I forget how fast dogs recover and adapt. 

One month post-amp

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

18 minutes ago, 2greyhoundMINI said:

How long did it take for Willow to heal from the surgery?

She had surgery August 1, came home August 2, and was walking mostly unassisted for potty breaks on August 3. There was a huge improvement at 1 week. At 2 weeks, when she got the stitches out and started chemo, she was basically herself again. Most people say 2 weeks is the magic number. Sweep's recovery was harder than Willa's because she wouldn't eat for a few days afterward and she was a senior, but the 2 week rule still held.

And not that it's necessarily relevant, but Willa's tumor was also in the right front leg by her ankle. 

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

What tests are they doing—ruling out osteomyelitis and getting a radiology consult? When you get more info, you might also consider a consult with Dr. Couto. He's wonderful.

When Sweep broke her leg there was no sign of osteo; they repaired the break because the bone was still so sound. When the break didn't heal as expected after a few months, they took new scans and saw the osteo. So a break is probably already a real risk, and you want to be very careful with her. That's not meant to be alarmist, it's just the awful reality of this disease.

And I'm not steering you one way or another, but I do want to offer that even if we lost Willa tomorrow on her sixth-month ampuversary, I'd still have no regrets about doing it. She had no side effects from chemo and none from the vaccine we did. After the first two weeks, she was back to herself and she's had an incredible few months—running on the beach and in the snow for the first time, playing with her brother, and being loved and snuggled every single day. It super sucks that Amelia and Willa are both so young, but the age serves them well in recovery.

I'm also aware that we are fortunate in that we have had insurance for both Sweep and Willa, so we didn't have to worry about that aspect of the treatment. We said yes to everything available.

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

13 minutes ago, 2greyhoundMINI said:

I am so sad to be looking at this thread...

Why? Because our poor Amelia was just diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

We just found out yesterday afternoon after taking her to the vet for tests due to her limping recently. 
She had a lump and hot spot by her right, front ankle. 

I am overwhelmed with looking through info, and we haven't even gotten all the info back from the vet... waiting on scans and final tests.

Amelia is 6... she turns 7 (god willing), in August. 

Oh Monica, I am so sorry. I know it's a lot to process. Please ask any questions here and we will help you through this no matter how you decide to proceed. Many of us are unwilling experts at this point.  

[Willa needs your vote!]

59 minutes ago, macoduck said:

Voted!  Rachel, what a lovely write-up you made for your girl!

I say since Doolin got a bunny that Willa should get a crown. 

Thanks, Ducky; I meant every word.   And I like your thinking re: her crown. I won't have to call the city to remove that...   

[Willa needs your vote!]

Yep, we're doing this again—it worked out well last time!  Fortunately, in this case she did not have to dress up as a piñata.

Willa's in a contest to be "America's Favorite Pet" (sadly, I could not enter more than one pet). With your help, she could be the cover dog, which would be so great not only for greyhounds but for tripods.  

Linky here. You'll have to verify your identity through FB (sorry). It's free for one vote, and then there are different tiers for votes with a donation to Paws.org (which I am not soliciting, just to be clear). We'd love your vote if you are so inclined. With this one, you can vote once per day.

Thank you, friends.

[Doolin got a rabbit]

6 minutes ago, racindog said:

I have had hounds that when the rabbit escaped- the hounds furiously go digging under the fence where the rabbit got out and even injure themselves on the chain link.  If he's that kind of hound he could do a number on his feet/legs if there was that skinny chicken wire there.  Just something to consider.

Thanks, that's a good point I hadn't considered. I don't think he's that kind of hound, but I decided against the chicken wire anyway. I decided I'd rather any future rabbits have that escape route. 

35 minutes ago, EllenEveBaz said:

On another tack -- what do you call a bunch of rabbits hopping backwards?

 

a receding hare line

Very nice.  

[Doolin got a rabbit]

1 hour ago, EllenEveBaz said:

Milo adds his high four:  "Major score, dude!  Congrats!  Make that first shake decisive and you won't have the humans (who probably eat meat themselves, amiright?) blubbering as much.  Rabbits are idjits and will keep on coming into your yard.  It is your duty to keep houndie territory free of those lop-eared vermin.  Let's see -- you've already gotten a squirrel, may I suggest your next critter be a groundhog (although those little chunkies can run surprisingly fast) or a chipmunk, if you prefer them small and agile.  While I have caught several skunks, I do not recommend them for the beginner. " 

One of Milo's songs is my lyrics to the tune of "Popeye the Sailor Man."  Feel free to adapt for Doolin.

     He's Milo, the wonder hound
     Leaps logs with a single bound
     He chases the wabbit, he catches, he gwabs it
     He's Milo, the wonder hound 

No matter how many times Milo catches something, even though I was raised in a hunting and fishing family, I still dread it.  

Gotta admit, I was waiting to hear from Milo.   And the humans here don't eat much meat at all, but this might have pushed me officially over the line to vegetarianism. 

4 minutes ago, Remolacha said:

Much as I love bunnies I can not fault a houndie for doing what comes naturally. There is a reason another name for wild rabbits is “lunch”. So, nice job Doolin, but like Milo says, do your mom a favor and kill it before she has to.

The stray cats and the crows have been enjoying "lunch"...I really thought something would have dragged it away by now.  I did knot have to put it out of its misery, which I cannot even fathom. I just sat and petted it for a couple of minutes as it passed.  I really think Doo was on his way back inside to play with his new toy. OMG.

[It’s Been a Day]

Punkin.  

[Doolin got a rabbit]

53 minutes ago, Time4ANap said:

Even Rocket who would walk right by a bunny on the sidewalk got a rabbit once when it suddenly ran from him. The instinct kicked in.  If the bunny had stayed still nothing would have happened. The look on Tocket's face was more of a "Oh crap, what do I do with this thing now that I caught it" look. 

Good boy, Doolin. 

Doolin caught a squirrel in the yard when he was very new and that was his exact reaction. He dropped it and it ran up a tree.  

[Doolin got a rabbit]

I forgot to give star pupil Willa credit for her "leave it." And as tough as it was, I am so glad we were out there because who knows how much fun those two would have had with their new toy otherwise.

2 hours ago, FiveRoooooers said:

If it helps you feel any better, shy sweet in-your-pocket Segugio did the same, with a skunk.

 

[Doolin got a rabbit]

First time in three hounds. It was in our fenced backyard despite our efforts to keep out small critters (will be getting chicken wire tomorrow for the gap under the fence).

I know it's instinct, I know he didn't do anything wrong, etc etc. But it still sucked. Poor bunny didn't die immediately.

Doo is quite proud of himself, of course, and he was a very good boy to let me pry his jaws open and remove his prize. We'll be working on "drop it" more. Sigh.

[Home Page Question]

28 minutes ago, Jeff said:

How about now?

Yep, I see sidebars for both Topics (did they used to be bold there if they were unread? I already can't remember ) and Upcoming Events now. 

[Home Page Question]

Thanks for mentioning that, Annette, and thanks for looking into it, Jeff. I really like that feature and have been missing it.

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

42 minutes ago, Reebokabec said:

Willa's amazing! She looks so happy and she looks an awful lot like my Charm (just a different missing leg). It's encouraging to see a tripod running around like that! 

She makes it look easy, but I have to add the caveat that she's only 5. My first osteo girl, Sweep, was a senior (11 when diagnosed) and she was a happy girl and got around just fine as a tripod, but she didn't attempt Willa's  gymnastics. She's always been a nut!  

[Osteo Thread Part 9]

10 minutes ago, Reebokabec said:

What is 'backandforfing'? I was reading through this thread because my beautiful greyhound (13.5 yo), Charm, just had her amp surgery 2 weeks ago. I'm trying to see what I am in for. 

So sorry your Charm has joined this club. "Backandforfing" means pacing while we await updates about hounds who are having procedures or recheck appointments. It's our attempt to share some of the anxiety and express sympathy for the people and hounds going through scary things.

Hope Charm is doing well—if she's two weeks out, you're through the worst of it. I've been through this twice in three years, so it's all very fresh for me. Feel free to ask any questions here and I'll do my best to answer.

[Sibs in Snow]

All clear on the recheck!  

[Sibs in Snow]

1 minute ago, Time4ANap said:

That girl is incredible.

Snow always meant that Rocket was going to do zoomies. Looks like they both got the memo. 

Sweep too! She loved bouncing around in the snow.  

[Sibs in Snow]

31 minutes ago, GreyPoopon said:

I'm absolutely amazed by how nimble Willa is as a tripawd. Astounding!

19 minutes ago, Remolacha said:

I completely forgot about Willa being a tripod the first time I watched it! I went back and watched it again, it is still hard to tell 

She's incredible to watch. And so clever. We got about 7–8" total—hard for a four-legger to navigate, much less a tripod. After an afternoon potty break, she came running toward the back door and found herself in a deep drift. She stopped, thought a second, leapt over to another section of yard that was a bit more trampled down, and then waltzed inside like "Wot? Where's my treat?"  

Recheck Wednesday morning (once we dig the car out). I'm going to show her oncologist this video.