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UPDATE 2-9 Some of you have been asking about Maggie-Mae...thank you for that! Well, I am happy to report that she is doing wonderful! She has had 4 chemo treatments and needs 2 more to complete her treatments. She gets sick for only about a day after her chemo. She has been on meds for her tummy and that helps out a lot. She eats well, except for the day after her chemo. Her activity level is high and her attitude is greyt! Her WBC has been low but not enough to cease the chemo treatments. I must admit...I did not think she would make it to the end of the year last year, she was very bad but she fought and pulled through...fighting infection and not wanting to eat and being horribly depressed to the point that she would not get up from her bed. We didn't give up on her as I saw it in her eyes that she was fighting. I am glad we didn't because she turned a corner in January and has been wonderful ever since! Thank you so much for all of your prayers and thoughts for our Maggie-Mae! We love her so much! On Saturday evening she did her first meet-n-greet since her diagnosis and she did so well She will soon be returning to work as a Therapy Dog too! It has been a rough start for poor Maggie-Mae. Her amputation surgery went well except that she had a lot of bleeding and blood pooled in her belly, foot and stomach. That has been almost all absorbed into her body. Then she lost her appetite after her surgery and before she even started chemo. It has been a struggle getting her to eat. She has lost so much weight and looks terrible. We took her for her first chemo treatment Tuesday and Dr. Couto didn't even think they could do the chemo because they found a pocket of fluid near the incision area. They drained it and found it to be inflammation, however, he was not sure if it was due to infection. So, they ran some more blood work and found everything to look good so they decided to move forward with the chemo because they did not want to delay it any longer. She will be on antibiotics for 10 days and we have to clean and flush the incision everyday for 10 days along with daily bandage changes. Miss Maggie-Mae has been so depressed. I know we did the right thing for her but I can't help but question myself when I see her this way I want her to be happy and be my "boogity" girl again. Please keep my girlie in your thoughts and prayers

Oh No, Judy, Mike and Kevin...I am so sorry to hear about Andy I can't find the proper words.... I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

I am so sorry for your loss, Pat My heart aches for you I am shocked that it happened so quickly...I think he was diagnosed right about the time Miss Maggie-Mae was and his lungs already filled up with tumors. That is just scary at how fast it really can spread. Osteo is such a devastating form of cancer..usually by the time they find the tumor it has already spread into the blood, amputation is usually just a means to eliminate the pain from the tumor because it's just a matter of time before it reaches the lungs. Run Pain Free Red Tiger Power

Oh no, Cindy...I am so sorry for your loss Run Free Thunder

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words of encouragement...it means a lot to Brian and I. I have been struggling with this because it seems that whenever we make 2 steps forward, there is immediately 3 steps back While, yes, I did survive a ruptured aneurysm...it has been a very tough year for me and it continues to be tough, sometimes I wonder just how "lucky" I really am. But, everything happens for a reason, so "they" say. Then this with Maggie-Mae, guess there was a reason I needed to still be here. I also know that doG doesn't make bad things happen to people, he's there to help you get through it. Not sure who is making these bad things happen..but would ya quit it already! haven't you "tested" us enough? I think we passed so com'on give us a little bit of a break already! Wow, that turned into a rant The purpose of this was to thank you guys because I hesitated to even say anything at all because there is so much sadness already (lots of sick dogs with cancer) and who wants to read about another one but your kind words and encouragement are a big help We are going to pick up Maggie-Mae tomorrow around 4pm! Yay! It's going to be good to have her home finally and to let the healing begin...

It started with a limp after we got back from Dewey Beach. Then we noticed a lump in her rear left foot. Brian and I feared the worst but kept our hopes up that it was something else. We took her to see Dr. Couto and he worked hard to figure out what was going on. He said it was very rare to see OSA in the smaller bones like the foot. He has only seen 2 cases in his entire career! It finally came down to that she had to have a bone biopsy done. We hated to put her through that but it had to be done. The results came back and our worst fears became a reality she had Osteosarcoma! Next step was figuring out a treatment option that would work best for her and it was decided that amputation and chemo would give her the best chances for surviving. Miss Maggie-Mae is young (6 yrs old) and otherwise healthy so we all agreed that we would be giving her a second chance. Her lungs were clear at the time of surgery. Dr. Couto also says that OSA in the foot bones tend to be less aggressive than when it's in the larger bones. So, Brian and I begin another journey down the same road we took with Miss Nellie. It's like reliving it all over again...I've even mistakenly called her Miss Nellie. Maggie's diagnosis was almost on the exact same day as Miss Nellie's was. Maggie is also a registered therapy dog like Miss Nellie was. The only difference is Miss Nellie's tumor was high in the rear right leg, above the knee and Maggie's was low in one of her metarsus bones in her foot in her rear left leg. Maggie had her amputation on Thursday and will be coming home tomorrow! They did a partial amputation. They cut through half of her femur bone leaving a "stump" (for a lack of better words.) We miss her and are looking forward to having her home with us again. I know she is in good hands at OSU and they are taking excellent care of her. Miss Maggie-Mae is one very special girlie to us...she found us when we needed her most while dealing with the loss of Miss Nellie. I always said that Miss Nellie sent her to be with us because we were not looking to adopt another greyhound, yet, and so soon after losing Miss Nellie. I hope and pray that Miss Maggie-Mae will be able to beat the odds My thoughts and prayers go out to all that are dealing with this evil monster we call OSA... UPDATE 11/19 Miss Maggie-Mae is finally home! We had a tough night so I am feeling like crap...but I bet she feels worse, at least till it's time for her pain meds. She doesn't look as good as Miss Nellie did with her amputation. Even though Dr. Couto has this surgery and bleeding with greyhounds pretty much figured out, he said that some of them just bleed bad no matter what and unfortunately, she was one of the bad ones she pooled blood in her front foot, her chest and in her stomach. I feel so bad for her. Dr. Couto said they almost did a transfusion but when they tested her blood it came back that it was clotting, so they were actually kinda confused by that because of the amount of blood. Leave it to my Maggie-Mae to be difficult. Dr. Couto said that a couple times over the weekend she didn't look good at all and she was definitely NOT pleased with everyone bothering her all the time but she pulled through and now she's home! The monkeys (the 2 yr olds ) are pleased to have her back but can't understand why I keep them separated. Mr. Alan, well, he's just happy to have his sister back as are we! It will be 10-14 days before her first chemo treatment. Let the healing begin! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the continued prayers and well wishes for our sweet girlie, Miss Maggie-Mae

Thanks for the suggestions! Gonna have to go to the store to get some mineral oil or baby oil. We've got an entire medicine cabinet filled with "hound" medical stuff and not one bit of mineral oil or baby oil, wouldn't ya know it Ah, cooking oil I have...maybe we will try that first!

So, we need to take a fentanyl patch off of Maggie-Mae but it's pretty "stuck" to her skin. Any recommendations as to what to do to help aid in removing it without causing her any pain...or is like the band aid theory, the quicker you yank it off the better Didn't know if soaking it with warm water might loosen the adhesive or not? Thanks for any help!

Alan suffered with FCE and was completely paralyzed in his hind legs. It was a traumatic time for him and for us. He has since regained the use of his right hind leg and 75% use of his left (he still knuckles under sometimes and he has absolutely no toe nails left on that foot.) My Mom says he walks like Quasimoto He can not go up stairs at all so he and I have come to an agreement, since I can not carry him up and the stairs I "wheel barrel" him up the stairs...I grab his rear haunches and he uses his front legs to climb the stairs as I carry his hind end up after him! It sounds awkward but it works! He's happy and I don't hurt my back lifting him! The other thing that really helped him regain use of his legs was hydrotherapy! He went 2 times a week to walk on the underwater treadmill. I took video of each and every session so we could go back and review and the difference before and after was amazing! Best of luck to Mac!

Oh no, BJ...I am so sad to read about your Pansy Jane Run free sweet little girlie...

Hi Heidi Welcome to GT! Congratulations on adopting Spencer! Hope to see ya at a NCGC event someday

I'm not sure I have the proper words...I was never good at things like this Janet, I think you were blessed to have Miz Foxy in your life! I pray that your heart will heal in time....I pray that your sadness and tears will turn to smiles when you think about all of the good times you had with her and what joy she brought to you and will continue to through her memories. As I always say...cancer may take away the ones we love so dearly but one thing it can not do is take away the memories you have! Godspeed Miz Foxy....

Oh no, Suzy....just reading this now! I will keep your sweet Angel in my thoughts and prayers!

Whenever one of my greys starts limping my mind immedaitely thinks "bone cancer" because we have been down that road before. I recently took Maggie-Mae to OSU Vet Clinic/Greyhound Health and Wellness program because she was limping and it was discovered that she had a broken toe that never healed properly and as she ages she is developing some pain in that toe. She was instructed to take Deramaxx when the pain flairs. The strange thing is that the leg I thought she was limping on was actually the leg that was ok, it was her opposite leg that had the broken toe and she was shifting her weight in a way that would make it appear that she was limping on the good leg. We waited a few days till we took her in and by then the limping seemed better but we wanted to know for sure what we were dealing with and now we can sleep easier knowing it's not serious and the pain can be managed. I say have her checked out.

I think Judy Answered it for me but we buy the big bottle of them at Sam's Club (their brand Member's Mark) Omega 3 Fish Oil Softgels 1000 mg pills. I think there is 400 pills in a bottle. We give 2xs a day (breakfast and dinner)

Our foster girl had very flakey skin when she came to us. It was so bad that whenever she got up from where she was lying down it looked like it had snowed so, we started her on fish oil pills and her coat and skin are wonderful now! She is still bald on her thighs and neck but what little hair she does have is amazingly soft now!

well now don't shave that area around where her booboo is...cuz she might end up looking like Mr. Alan! guess you need to read this post to understand http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?showtopic=201330 I hope your booboo heals quickly Pave!

Yea, one would think it would be normal for a scar to not grow hair back but the hair grew back perfectly fine where the injury was, it's the area around it that won't grow back btw...it happened more than 6 months ago! Maybe we should shave him all the way down over his whole body? Then, with our luck, none of his hair would grow back and he would go from "fuzzy" to "Bald"

Not sure if this is for medical or not but many, many months ago Mr. Alan fell down and cut open his right hip. We shaved the area so it was easier to keep the wound clean because he is very fuzzy. Well, the hair grew back where I shaved it to the skin but the hair will not grow in the area around where I shaved it, the area that I clipped short but not to the skin...not even sure how to explain it so I have a photo to show. It actually looks kinda silly, almost as tho we glued a patch of fur back on his hiney It's obviously not a life threatening situation but it seems so strange to me and I was just curious as to why this would happen? How can I get his hair to look normal in that area again? We always get asked about that "patch" of fur I'd say if this is all I have worry about right now in life then I am doing pretty darn good

Oh no! So Sorry for your loss Suzy and David Lizzie needed her brother. Godspeed Jake....

Amputation and chemo is NOT always for the owners! Bone cancer is EXTREMELY painful for a dog! If the dog is a good candidate for surgery then the BEST way to control the pain is to remove the leg with the tumor! However, if the cancer has metastasized or the tumor is high in the shoulder or hip or the dog is older, then amputation is not always best. Controlling pain from Osteo is difficult Miss Nellie lived 5 months to the day after her amputation...and she was very happy without that painful leg! She ran faster with 3 legs than she did with 4! I think it was the best thing we could have ever done for her. She wasn't ready to give up and we gave her a second chance and she fought a good battle and lived very happily in those last 5 months of her life....but in the end, cancer will always win

Yes! Thank you! I will be bringing Maggie with me but Alan is staying home, his foot is bad Thanks Patti! Poor LaceyLaine what kind of tape is on her ear? Is that vet wrap? Rose bush is now gone! uuuuggghhhh....had it for years without one problem and never even thought it would be a problem till now I will ask my Vet about it on Monday

Maggie-Mae had to go to the e-vet yesterday for a badly cut ear we think she cut it on a rose bush...it bled so bad that it looked like someone was murdered in our driveway and she was covered in blood She has 2 sutures to hold it together and skin glue for the rest that couldn't be sewn together. Problem is that she keeps shaking her head and it starts bleeding again we put clot stop on it to help stop the bleeding but we having been trying to keep her ear wrapped to her head and the wrap just won't stay, she shakes and the wrap falls backwards off her head exposing her ear....any suggestions on what we should do? E-vet wasn't very helpful in that regard. Thanks!

Sorry you are going thru this with Sam No real advice from me, just my thoughts and prayers for you! All I know is that in humans, Discoid Lupus is not life threatening but Systemic Lupus is! I have Systemic Lupus

Thank you so much, everyone! I still can't get over the fact that he is gone I received an email from Sonny's mom, Jena: I am so sorry for your loss, as well as my own. I know how special Sonny was to you and that he really helped you through such a rough time in your life. Sonny was such a wonderful gift and i know i will never be able to replace him. Your tribute was absolutely beautiful... I thought it wasn't possible to cry anymore than I have... I wasn't able to log into Greytalk, but please post this to let everyone know how much I appreciate the sympathy... this is a very hard time for me. If I could ask one favor, I'd really appreciate one of those beautiful photographs of Sonny on the red couch that you showed me at Sandy's house. I'm not sure what else to say right now as im drying my tears, but thank you all so much for the wonderful life I got to share with Sonny. Although it was all to short, it was time very well spent. There will never be another greyhound that could fill Sonny's paws. Thank you all so much. aaawwwww, I always wondered where his littermates might be! So your girlie is My Indigo Angel?