Osteo / Amputation Poll

[RobinM]

This poll, my first, unfortunately is a very senstive subject to myself and many others, I am sure.

 

I know I was certain that we had beat the cancer and Polli was going to be THE one who made it another 3++ years post amp however, we were wrong. We were very wrong.

 

Polli left us one day short of 5 months. We were shocked. She went from full blown roo fests and and running the field to it being over in just a few short days. Totally heartbreaking.

 

If you greyhound was diagnosed with osteo and whether or not you opted for amp/chemo, there is a poll here for you too.

 

Prayers for all the hounds and their people who are undergoing treatment for any and all illnesses.

Edited June 16, 2009 by RobinM

[Guest MnMDogs]

I couldn't answer. Matty was gone 6 days after diagnosis

 

I'm really very interested to see the results though.

[Guest HappyHarleysMom]

There isn't a catagory for less than one month of pain management. My dear Wag survived 3 weeks after being dianosed with osteo before I had to make the awful decision to send him to the Bridge. He wailed in pain. I mean wailed. Rimadyl did nothing. Specialist told me it was probably in his lungs at that point.

 

He had a slight limp off and on for months that was diagnosed as arthritis. One day, I bumped into his shoulder, and the wailing started, thus the diagnosis. He went downhill fast and I couldn't justify keeping him alive for me when I knew he was miserable. His face was sad all the time by then.

 

God that was so awful. I'm crying writing this. It was horrible. He was a few months shy of his 10th Bday.

 

I miss you Wag.

[gazehund]

Kia was on the table to fix her broken leg when osteo was confirmed. We let her go.

Dem Bones. 11 days.

[Anne]

6 weeks for my sweet precious Phantom, from dx and first limp until pain was too much for oral meds.

[Guest PhillyPups]

I lost 2 and it is still to painful to think or write about - to all going through this - cancer sukks!!

[Guest HappyHarleysMom]

group hug

[Guest EmbersDad]

it wouldnt accept my vote because i didnt answer part 2. we had 3 mo with amputation, never completed chemo. a few days before round 5 she began to cough. i hoped she had just picked up my cold, but xrays revealed a plural effusion and lungs full of quarter size tumors...our adventure ended quite suddenly one cold january morning....

[carronstar]

Robin, this is brave of you. I hope you are not doing it because you are second guessing yourself.

 

I know for me, Scarlett fell off her couch the day before Thanksgiving. My vet and I opted to treat it as possible arthritis for the first 4-6 weeks as she was a super-senior. Amputation at her age would have been unfair to her. When the treatment didn't improve things we did the x-rays. I got my answer right then and elected to schedule the day I would let her go right then.

 

I have since decided that the amputation route is not for me or my pups. If/when it happens again, aggresive pain management is the way we will go and I will let my pup go before there are more bad days than good.

 

This doesn't mean that I have any issues with amputation, just that it is not my choice.

[RobinM]

Robin, this is brave of you. I hope you are not doing it because you are second guessing yourself.

 

I know for me, Scarlett fell off her couch the day before Thanksgiving. My vet and I opted to treat it as possible arthritis for the first 4-6 weeks as she was a super-senior. Amputation at her age would have been unfair to her. When the treatment didn't improve things we did the x-rays. I got my answer right then and elected to schedule the day I would let her go right then.

 

I have since decided that the amputation route is not for me or my pups. If/when it happens again, aggresive pain management is the way we will go and I will let my pup go before there are more bad days than good.

 

This doesn't mean that I have any issues with amputation, just that it is not my choice.

 

I think about Polli every day, every hour. She is in my head. Period.

 

Second guess? no. I had no options. She fractured her leg and if I did not amputate right then, I would have had to say goodbye and I know that is not what she wanted.

 

I am very disappointed and disillillusioned by our outcome. I just don't want our outcome to be the norm. But then again, what's norm about any of this?

[Guest IrskasMom]

 

 

My Irska was limping for at least 2 Month , a Vet Visit with X Rays confirmed just a sprained Ankel , 3 weeks went by another

X Ray , again nothing more then a sprained Ankel , per Vet . After a week with GSOD by laying down , we went to the E Vet

and he confirmed full blown Osteo . I opted for Amputation but after talking to 2 E-Vets in Annapolis , the Option was NO

longer an Option and within Three Days , my Heartdog was gone

[Bill419]

With Tipper amputation wasn't an option because she was diabetic and wouldn't have survived the surgery. She died only a week after diagnosis. She was my 1st greyhound and I still miss her a year and a half later.

[Guest Energy11]

ME? I don't believe in amputation, but, that is just me. I am NOT against anyone opting to do it. I just wouldn't personally.

 

I wouldn't do anything but palliative care for MYSELF if I got cancer ... guess I saw too much as a paramedic, especially in the ICU!

[Sighthounds4me]

With Gunnar, we opted for no surgery. So we do not know for certain that his bone cancer was osteosarcoma. But, based on its aggressiveness, we are all but certain it was osteo.

 

Based on his age, and the fact that he was rather frail at the time of his diagnosis, we opted for no surgery, not even a biopsy. We could not put him through the pain of a biopsy, when knowing what specific cancer he had would not have changed our course of treatment.

 

We discussed with the vet our pain management options. He recommended Piroxicam, which, in some cases could slow the growth of the tumor. However, we did not find it early enough, so it did not slow the growth for Gunnar. It did give him many pain-free days, though, and he found his puppyhood again! We took many pictures, and treasured him every day.

 

He never did bear weight on his bad leg again, except accidentally. And if he did, he screamed in pain. But he still had his fantastic spirit to the end.

 

He was diagnosed in mid-July 2004, and died the Sunday before Thanksgiving. That Saturday, we had a meet and greet for our adoption group, and he desperately wanted to go. He insisted on being brushed as I did Naples, so I obliged him. It was then that I noticed the mass in his mouth. I'm sure it was a metastasis of the cancer. (We did not take him to the M&G - he was too fragile and weak, and we WOULD NOT risk a fracture).

 

That night, he was restless. He could not get comfortable to sleep, and was drinking lots of water. We knew it was time. The next day, our Borzois' breeder, a vet, came to our home, and euthanized him in our arms, in his favorite sunny spot in the living room.

 

We both miss him terribly, because we had such a short time with him. We had adopted him just before his 9th birthday, and he had just turned 11 in June of that year. But neither of us would change it for the world. Gunnar brought us so much joy, and he will never be forgotten.

[Houndmommy03]

It wouldn't let me vote for some reason. We just did pain management for Lucky and she was with us 3 1/2 months after official diagnosis but had started limping about 2 months before we finally got an osteo dx (so 5 1/2 months from when she started limping). We were relatively new greyhound owners when Lucky started limping (we had only had her 3 years and she was only 5 years old) and I didn't know much about medical issues so when she started limping I had no idea it could be cancer. Otherwise we might have gotten a proper dx sooner. It was during that time that I found Greytalk. We opted to not amputate for many reasons but I often feel guilty that we didn't because when we finally had to send her to the Bridge, she still didn't show any signs (via x-ray) that it had spread to the lungs. I often wonder if she could have beat the disease or at the very least lived much longer.

[Guest WhiteWave]

Giggles- our first experience, we did pain management. She was 11 yrs old at diagnosis. She fell going down the steps and had a knot on her leg that wouldn't go a way. Lived about 3 months afterward. Died September 2003

 

Casey- showed symptoms in February- stupid vet said it was arthritis and sent us home w/ pain meds. It didn't get better, took him back, said it was arthritis and he didn't need an xray. Went to another vet. Xrayed right away, diagnosed with osteo. Amputated a week later. Took 3 weeks to recover from amputation. Went back to do chemo, did a lung x-ray and lungs were full. Canceled chemo and he lived about 3 months, mostly pain free. Ran, played, ate, and was loved. Died in September of 2005.

 

Linus- never showed any symptoms was almost 15 yrs old. Came home from work and he was doing his happy dance and his front leg snapped into. Vet tried to set leg, but bones were complete mush. Spinal tap revealed billions of cancer cells. He was never awaken. Died April 2008.

 

 

I absolutely HATE this disease.

Edited June 16, 2009 by WhiteWave

[Guest Energy11]

I, TOO hate this disease! I KNEW Max, 12.5 had it from the FIRST day I saw him limping! Took him to Dr. Beau, and sure enough, we saw the actually START of this disease ... Max lived another three months on pain management. The last two weeks, were hard, and we decided to let him go when he started "hopping" on three legs!

 

ALL TYPES OF CANCER ARE UGLY, AND HORRIBLE! Lost my late husband to it, as well!

Edited June 16, 2009 by Energy11

[fourofem]

Lewis was diagnosed on 12/16/08 and I lost him on 3/11/09. I did not amputate but chose to keep him as comfortable as I could for as long as I could with meds. I thought I caught his fairly early on. The vet (not my regular) who helped him to The Bridge said, on that day, he was at the point where most people bring their dogs in for the first time. A lot of yaw'll had the same diagnosis around the same time as I got his and I followed their stories throughout. Knowing everything I do now, I wouldn't do anything different if I were to get the same diagnosis with my others. I know it was only three months for Lewis but two and a half of those were very, very good. I would have rather had him like that than having him go through an amputation and chemo. Losing him was hard and I second guessed myself at first but now I know we did the right thing.

[iluvgreys]

It's not letting me vote. I lost three greys to OS within 6 weeks of dx, with pain mngt. only, no amp.

[Guest Energy11]

Lewis was diagnosed on 12/16/08 and I lost him on 3/11/09. I did not amputate but chose to keep him as comfortable as I could for as long as I could with meds. I thought I caught his fairly early on. The vet (not my regular) who helped him to The Bridge said, on that day, he was at the point where most people bring their dogs in for the first time. A lot of yaw'll had the same diagnosis around the same time as I got his and I followed their stories throughout. Knowing everything I do now, I wouldn't do anything different if I were to get the same diagnosis with my others. I know it was only three months for Lewis but two and a half of those were very, very good. I would have rather had him like that than having him go through an amputation and chemo. Losing him was hard and I second guessed myself at first but now I know we did the right thing.

I think you did the right thing, too!

 

It's not letting me vote. I lost three greys to OS within 6 weeks of dx, with pain mngt. only, no amp.

OMG!! three within six weeks, from the SAME thing! HOw HORRIBLE and sad! I am soooo sorry for you, very, very sorry! This disease HAS to be conquered, SOMEHOW!

[Guest HappyHarleysMom]

Casey- showed symptoms in February- stupid vet said it was arthritis and sent us home w/ pain meds.

Same with Wag. He had a limp off and on for a good 6 months that vet diagnosed as arthritis. It turns my stomach to think of what could have been if his cancer was diagnosed earlier. For years I did a lot of second guessing myself with Wag's whole situation. Sometimes, I still fall back to guilt. Wag, my world, my hearthound, if only..

 

One thing I know: if Harley ever limps for no good reason and a vet says arthritis, I will demand an xray immediately.

[Guest mike]

Being a vet, personally, I think this poll is not set up to meet many canine owners answers. I see too many who only have days or weeks not 1-3 months which is your first choice.

[Guest PiagetsMom]

I know for me, Scarlett fell off her couch the day before Thanksgiving. My vet and I opted to treat it as possible arthritis for the first 4-6 weeks as she was a super-senior. Amputation at her age would have been unfair to her. When the treatment didn't improve things we did the x-rays. I got my answer right then and elected to schedule the day I would let her go right then.

 

I have since decided that the amputation route is not for me or my pups. If/when it happens again, aggresive pain management is the way we will go and I will let my pup go before there are more bad days than good.

 

This doesn't mean that I have any issues with amputation, just that it is not my choice.

 

I'll be following this poll to see just what the outcome is. I agree with carronstar's post above, and I tend to feel that it's the minority, and not the majority, who benefit long term from amputations, and have always felt that I wouldn't take that route. I don't think it has anything to do with the depth of your love or committment to your pup as to which choice you make. We all love our pups and want what's best for them - that just seems to be a personal choice and opinion as to what that would be.

 

[RobinM]

Being a vet, personally, I think this poll is not set up to meet many canine owners answers. I see too many who only have days or weeks not 1-3 months which is your first choice.

 

 

I think that this answer pretty much sums it up.

 

[Guest PhillyPups]

Okay, I am drawn back to this for a reason - SugarBear' dx at 14.5 years, six weeks from dx to letting her go. TigerPower, less than that, it had gotten into his lungs - at almost 11 and fear aggressive, amp was not an option. When my son's grey was diagnosed at 8 years old, vet told him with amp lucky for another year, they opted for pain management, 4 weeks later they let her go.

 

Personally for me, in dealing with osteo, amp is not an option - SugarBear's breeder taught me to ask myself, "am I keeping her alive for me or for her".

 

GoD bless all traveling this journey - no matter how much support we have, it is a very personal and painful decision. Cancer sukks and robs us of too many too soon.