Lewis

[fourofem]

A second trip to the vet today and a set of xrays has indicated what my vet is 98% sure is osteosarcoma (lungs are clear). He started out a little stiff in the left rear which sent us the to vet two weeks ago. All manipulation was normal so no xrays were done...only bloodwork which all came back normal. Over the weekend, he started limping noticeably which sent us back in today. I left his office in a total state of shock but now that I'm home and thinking a little more clearly, I'm going to have a biopsy done (I'll have to have a referral which I've already called for) just to make 100% sure. 2% is something, isn't it? He's only 7 and right now a healthy, vibrant boy. Any good thoughts, wishes, prayers would he most appreciated. But more than that, advice! I'll update with biopsy results and we'll go from there. Thanks.

Edited December 17, 2008 by fourofem

[RobinM]

I am sending mega doses of prayers.

 

I am pming you.

[Guest ss556]

Sending prayers for Lewis.

[Batmom]

Might want a vet. radiologist and/or one of Dr. Couto's folks at OSU to review the films before doing a biopsy. If there's a problem in the bone, a biopsy can weaken it to the point of breakage and can be very painful.

 

Hugs and best luck with your pup.

[Guest kaotic1]

Oh no... I am so sorry!!!

[Guest EmbersDad]

Might want a vet. radiologist and/or one of Dr. Couto's folks at OSU to review the films before doing a biopsy. If there's a problem in the bone, a biopsy can weaken it to the point of breakage and can be very painful.

 

Hugs and best luck with your pup.

 

 

my vet said the same thing.

 

for lewis

[fourofem]

Might want a vet. radiologist and/or one of Dr. Couto's folks at OSU to review the films before doing a biopsy. If there's a problem in the bone, a biopsy can weaken it to the point of breakage and can be very painful.

 

Hugs and best luck with your pup.

Can I have his films sent to Dr. Couto?

[duncan41]

Oh, this is not good. I am so sorry! Lewis, we are sending hugs, kisses and lots of healing light.

 

I would also not do a biopsy. A good x-ray sent to OSU and a local oncologist, (if there is one close enough) for a second opinion, should be enough to render a diagnosis.

[Houndtime]

Good thoughts for you and Lewis.

I do hate cancer.

[RobinM]

Might want a vet. radiologist and/or one of Dr. Couto's folks at OSU to review the films before doing a biopsy. If there's a problem in the bone, a biopsy can weaken it to the point of breakage and can be very painful.

 

Hugs and best luck with your pup.

Can I have his films sent to Dr. Couto?

 

Absoulutely- have it sent overnight so that it gets signed for. Call in the morning, all the contact info is on the site that you have been looking at. Ask where exactly should the films go to.

 

This way, you will have answers quickly.

[fourofem]

Might want a vet. radiologist and/or one of Dr. Couto's folks at OSU to review the films before doing a biopsy. If there's a problem in the bone, a biopsy can weaken it to the point of breakage and can be very painful.

 

Hugs and best luck with your pup.

Can I have his films sent to Dr. Couto?

 

Absoulutely- have it sent overnight so that it gets signed for. Call in the morning, all the contact info is on the site that you have been looking at. Ask where exactly should the films go to.

 

This way, you will have answers quickly.

Thank you again!!

 

I forgot to mention the vet put him on predisone....thoughts?

Edited December 17, 2008 by fourofem

[patricia]

Sending my many prayers.

[CaliforniaGreys]

Loys of prayers coming for your boy. No experience here but I get sick every time I hear that word. Please keep us posted

[RobinM]

I forgot to mention the vet put him on predisone....thoughts?

 

Quite honestly- I don't know anything about predisone relating to OSA but then again, I am far from aan expert.

 

Did you ask him what it was intended for. I'm sure others will chime in with a yay or nay.

 

Ask your vet to get the films over to OSU overnight (you will most likely be paying for that) and maybe you can have an answer by Friday.

 

 

[Guest EmbersDad]

if they are feeling a high probability already, time really is of the essence. both polli and ember were amputated within days of diagnosis and embers osteo wasnt confirmed to post amputation, but her x rays were clear enough :-(. overnighting the film is the way to go.

Edited December 17, 2008 by EmbersDad

[Guest HeatherDemps]

Don't know about prednisone and osteo.... mine was put on Rimadyl and Tramadol as soon as osteo was suspected. His films were "suspicious" but even OSU wasn't sure it was osteo when we sent the films there. We ended up at the University of Illinois and had more x-rays done. Initially, the radiologist didn't see anything either and then confirmed a small lesion. I did not want to do the biopsy after finding out that it would be very painful and that my dog would be lame for awhile. We tried to do a fine needle aspirate, but there ended up being complications (of course!) with the sedation for x-rays, etc and they did not get a diagnostic sample. After talking with multiple oncologists at U of I, I decided to amputate without the confirmation. The reality was that a bone fungus, etc were all unlikely given the breed, age, and location of the lesion. And either way, my dog was in significant pain. After amputation, tests confirmed that it was in fact osteo. Our regular vet was pretty shocked that amputation would be done w/o confirmation first, but from everything I had read, I think it's pretty common....

 

It's a terrible diagnosis to hear about your beloved hound and it's made even more difficult with having to make important decisions in a short period of time. Dempsey's lesion was found the Friday before Christmas last year. We had the x-rays, etc at the university done about a week later, and then another week after that was the surgery. The day of the surgery was probably the hardest day of my life, up until the day we said goodbye to Dempsey in August. Even though the first couple of weeks or so after the amputation were difficult, neither DH or I had any regrets. All you can do is try to make the best decision you can at the time and not look backwards.

 

Many positive thoughts for you and Lewis.

 

Heather

[fourofem]

I'm on it...a big thank you to everyone. I'll call the vet first thing in the AM to get the xrays and send them myself. I'm not sure what the protocol is...should I e-mail OSU first and let them know what I know or enclose a note with the xrays?

[RobinM]

if they are feeling a high probability already, time really is of the essence. both polli and ember were amputated within days of diagnosis and embers osteo wasnt confirmed to post amputation, but her x rays were clear enough :-(. overnighting the film is the way to go.

 

Strongly agree. Not trying to stress you out more.

 

Polli tripped on the steps Wednesday about 4PM and was a tripod by 10:30 Thursday morning. We had to move quick. Once you know...

 

Our confimation came about 5 days later when the pathogy report of the leg came back. They knew it was a tumor/OSA by the x-ray.

 

We are all thinking of you and praying for your sweet boy.

 

 

 

I'm on it...a big thank you to everyone. I'll call the vet first thing in the AM to get the xrays and send them myself. I'm not sure what the protocol is...should I e-mail OSU first and let them know what I know or enclose a note with the xrays?

 

Yes, OR ask your dr to do it. PLEASE update asap and you have my # if you should want to talk.

[mangos_mom]

As I am going through this right now with Mango, I can totally sympathize with what you are feeling right now. I don't have a lot of wisdom about treating this dreaded disease, but I have broad shoulders, so PM if you want to talk. I learned the comfort of talking through my 'adventure' with Osteo.

 

Sending healing thoughts Lewis' way, and to you.

[4greyhounds]

Sending lots of prayers....

[Guest Scouts_mom]

Prednisone is usually for inflammation, so I don't know what it has to do for the cancer. I don't remember that my Scout was put on it when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. The big thing with bone cancer is controlling the pain--It is very painful, even if the dog is being stoic. So if your vet did not prescribe pain-killers, I would demand some for your boy.

 

Hugs and good wishes--I hope it is the 2% other possibilities.

[Guest greydogluvr]

I am so sorry. I am in the exact same stage as you and my Willie's story is almost exactly as you described. A small lesion with no definitive diagnosis. I have gone to several specialists, sent films to Dr. Couto, had a fine needle aspiration and still no answer. I am going to have to follow my instincts on this one. I am so, so sorry.

[Guest Piila]

Hugs to Lewis. I'm going through this exactly with Abbey right now. His fine needle aspiration samples and x-rays are all in transit down to Dr. Couto right now, but my vet looked at the slides yesterday and confirms our worst suspicions. Abbey's on Metacam and Tramadol right now, seems happy and not in pain. Although he was in pain last night after the aspiration and it took him a while to come out of the anesthetic.

[Guest EmbersDad]

I'm on it...a big thank you to everyone. I'll call the vet first thing in the AM to get the xrays and send them myself. I'm not sure what the protocol is...should I e-mail OSU first and let them know what I know or enclose a note with the xrays?

 

Yes, OR ask your dr to do it. PLEASE update asap and you have my # if you should want to talk.

 

 

 

exactly. the vet can describe in doctorspeak exactly what they suspect in the xray, and the vets at osu can look and offer their opinion. embers xrays were looked at by a local oncologist to confirm here. i would phone them and let them know its coming. i spoke with a dr vilar when i called. osteo is aggressive, so the quicker this is done and a decision is made, the better the chances are for lewis.

[Guest Carla]