Vet Just Told Me That If Coby Has A Fracture In Leg

[Guest bonscoby]

Is it true that a dog with osteo in his leg/shoulder would have to be put under if he trips and gets a fracture??????????????? I can't imagine having to do that if Coby is still fine in other ways.......

[Guest HeatherDemps]

I think the only option would be amputation in that case.... not an expert but having gone through osteo with Dempsey, prior to his surgery, the fracturing of his leg was a fear of mine... It is my understanding that osteo eats at the bone basically from the inside out and that if the leg fractures in that spot, there is no way to repair it unfortunately.

[CaliforniaGreys]

I'm so sorry to not have any advice here, but please know you are all in my prayers

[grey14me]

I think you need to take as many precautions as you can that that doesn't happen. make sure he's not doing any jumping on and off of furniture...make sure there are no slippery floors...basically treat him like glass, because that really is just a worst case scenario :hope

[Xan]

Yikes. What a horrible choice to have to make. My heart goes out to you...

:bighug

 

 

[SAVED2]

If it has moved from the leg into the shoulder then yes.

[turbotaina]

Probably, yes. But listen to Michelle (grey14me).

 

Just wanted to add: my friend is going through the same thing with her greyhound girl and is not amputating.

 

Sending you hugs, Bonnie. :grouphug

[Guest MySkye]

No other option for Skye, once the fracture happened and confirmation that the cancer had spread.

 

My heart goes out to you and the road ahead.

 

 

[Guest FrostyBottoms]

Bonnie...I have no answers but wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and your precious boy Coby.

 

 

[Guest KennelMom]

I would agree with your vet. We opted to put Casino to sleep before she seriously risked a bone break. I've been told Osteo is an extremely painful disease. I can't imagine how painful it would be for a bone to actually break because of deterioration from osteo.

[Batmom]

Is it true that a dog with osteo in his leg/shoulder would have to be put under if he trips and gets a fracture?

 

Yes.

 

There are probably a very few exceptions where the cancer hasn't spread in any detectable way; you could amputate at that point (assuming the cancer is in an amputatable location). Often, tho, the cancer has already spread.

 

Those are the only two choices you'd have at that point -- put to sleep or, in some rare cases, amputate. There's no way to repair bone that's being affected by cancer.

 

Most people find that the pain becomes unmanageable before the leg breaks.

 

None of those prospects are pleasant, are they? Best to be prepared, tho, for your boy's sake and your own sanity. Lots of hugs.

[Ruth]

Bonnie, I know nothing about osteo except what I have read here so no experience , but wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and do often. You and everyone are in my prayers at this terrible time. Please know you are in our hearts.

 

Ruth

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

Yes. We found out Morgan had osteo when his leg broke. The ortho Vet told us it would be impossible to repair the leg. The choice was euthanize or amputate.

[Guest BradyzMommy]

I would agree with your vet. We opted to put Casino to sleep before she seriously risked a bone break. I've been told Osteo is an extremely painful disease. I can't imagine how painful it would be for a bone to actually break because of deterioration from osteo.

 

I have also heard that it is very painful for the animal.

[gazehund]

Yes. We found out Morgan had osteo when his leg broke. The ortho Vet told us it would be impossible to repair the leg. The choice was euthanize or amputate.

 

Exactly. If the leg breaks ( as Kia's did) there is no bone there to repair. We let our girl go. I am sorry you are dealing with this Bonnie. It stinks. Trust me , I know. Hugs to you and Coby.

 

[Guest jettcricket]

Dealing with Cricket's osteo (lower hip area) I have to be so careful with her and Dave. Dave is big (88 lbs.), strong and clumsy. I feel so bad at times, cause when he gets excited sometimes he bumps into her and I find myself constantly yelling at him. It's not his fault, he doesn't understand.

 

I do treat my girl with kid gloves and try to be so careful with her. It sucks.....it really sucks.

 

I'm so sorry that your dealing with.

[Guest Mommydog]

As far as I know the bone goes like a honeycomb, so if it breaks then no it won't heal. The best thing to do is as grey14me said and try to minimize his chances of slipping or falling. I wouldn't let him out in the yard alone either Bonnie, just stick to gentle leash walking. I know this sounds lousy and don't mean to upset you, but once you've got over the shock a bit, try to give some thought about how you want things to be when the time comes. Whether you want Coby to be at home or at the vets, and how you want things to go afterwards. I went through cancer with my first dog, Pip, and I'm glad I planned things out beforehand, as I was too upset to be making decisions at the time, and in the end it was as good as something like that can be. Besides which I feel it gives you a sense of having a little control, you may not be able to influence the disease, but you can ensure the passing is as dignified and peaceful as possible.

 

Love Angie :grouphug

[greyhndz]

Bonnie, this is so devastating for you, and so many of us have lived this same nightmare. I've lost 3 to osteo. Charming had osteo at the proximal humerus (shoulder). She was fairly comfortable on Tramadol or Tylenol #3, but I arrived home one night to find her agitated, panting, obviously in severe pain. It was clear to me that she had fractured while I was at work. (don't even ask about the guilt I still feel to this day that she had to suffer) Osteo pain is very bad, but the pain of the fracture is unbearable for them. As Batmom and the others have said, this is a fracture which cannot heal, and the pain will never subside. It would be inhumane to not euthanize under those circumstances, and to do so immediately.

 

As soon as I saw Charming that night, I knew that all I could do for her was take away her pain. My vet told me to load her up with everything and anything I had for pain/sedation, so I gave her enough Tramadol and benadryl to snow her for the trip to the vet's. I carried her to my car, drove her to the vet's, and my vet came right out to the car and, with Charming's favorite music playing, let her go.

 

Do everything in your power to keep him safe, and prevent any stress on that leg, but if he fractures, you'll know in your heart that you have no choice about what you need to do.

 

Jordan

[Guest bonscoby]

Thank you, everybody, for all the information. I still can't believe this is happening....

 

All I can do is cry.....

[Guest tammara]

I am so very sorry

[Guest Aggie94]

I'm so sorry. I know what you are going through. We knew Zak had oseto and he broke his leg just rounding the corner in the kitchen. Hugs to you and Coby. Give him lots of kisses and hugs.

[Guest Pipi5]

I agree with Angie...I didn't have time with either Dear or Bool with their cancer to think ahead of what I wanted to do. I think in your heart, you'll know when Coby has had enough, he'll let you know...your bond is too strong.

Just remember, we're all right here with you through to the end...

[MerlinsMum]

I agree with Angie...I didn't have time with either Dear or Bool with their cancer to think ahead of what I wanted to do. I think in your heart, you'll know when Coby has had enough, he'll let you know...your bond is too strong.

Just remember, we're all right here with you through to the end...

 

What Hilda said.

 

:cry1

[Guest KRKWMU]

No advice, but we're thinking about you and pulling for Coby.

Edited September 19, 2008 by KRKWMU

[Guest longdogs]

I have to agree with what others have said. If you've ever seen the affected bone you would know it could never heal. It would also be exceedingly painful. The only thing you can do to try to prevent this happening is to use a drug like Fosamax. I used it with Nugget but didn't have her long enough to say if it worked. Some people have had a degree of success.