Osteo Thread

[Guest Yankeegreyhound]

Here's a pic of my girl last night:

 

 

Awwww...she's beautiful.

[MP_the4pack]

She's adorable.

 

That's the same area that ended up taking my Diamond. It was the second location of OS.

[krissn333]

I'm sitting in the waiting room at the specialist's office. Pinky is having bloodwork, chest films, and a FNA. Should take about 30 minutes or so. Fingers crossed for clear lungs

[BauersMom]

I'm sitting in the waiting room at the specialist's office. Pinky is having bloodwork, chest films, and a FNA. Should take about 30 minutes or so. Fingers crossed for clear lungs

 

Hugs to Pinky! Hopefully you get some good news.

[krissn333]

Chest films all clear He did a FNA and some bloodwork, should have the FNA by Thursday. He said he'd call if there was anything in the bloodwork that looked abnormal. He feels we've caught it early and she'd be an excellent tripod. The tiny part of me still hopes this is a bone infection or something other than osteo. He did give us a ballpark estimate for the amp-$1900-2300. That's with a 3 day hospital stay.

 

The tech there that we always requested for Sutra's pamidronate infusions is the one who worked with us today. She's lovely and very kind and knowledgeable.

 

I am so glad this support is here...the original pups diagnosed that began this thread were diagnosed a few months after Sutra...so I didn't have this big group to lean on with him.

 

Question-did your pup come home with a fentanyl patch?

[BauersMom]

No, we didn't have fentanyl patch. I've had broken leg dogs come home with them after surgery, but I have had a few not tolerate it well. So it's not really my favorite.

 

Berkeley was on gabapentin, deramaxx and tramadol for post-surgery pain. He did well with that - he actually had no GSOD/freak out episodes.

[TwiggysMom]

So glad to hear Pinky's lungs are clear! And of course, hoping for bone infection (sad that's something to hope for...)

 

No fentanyl patch for Twiggy, either. She was just on Tramadol and Rimadyl for pain. She did have GSOD/freakouts, which waned with time. When she seemed to be backsliding pain-wise, her surgeon said that a fentanyl patch was something I could consider, but I discovered the source of renewed pain a couple days later (the infection). So, we never went the patch route. I also have heard some negative things about the patch, and wasn't eager to try it.

[Guest azlorenz]

 

Question-did your pup come home with a fentanyl patch?

 

Flash came home with a Fentanyl patch. He did not tolerate it well, however, since he came home 24 hours after his surgery I know it was a necessity. I was so glad to have that thing removed 7 days later and I think my head spun around when the vet tech went to put another on him. He did much better after it started wear off 3 days into it.

 

And maybe if we'd have had the Gabapentin/Tramadol/Rimadyl combo going it would have eliminated the need for the patch.

Edited October 25, 2011 by azlorenz

[TwiggysMom]

 

Question-did your pup come home with a fentanyl patch?

 

Flash came home with a Fentanyl patch. He did not tolerate it well, however, since he came home 24 hours after his surgery I know it was a necessity. I was so glad to have that thing removed 7 days later and I think my head spun around when the vet tech went to put another on him. He did much better after it started wear off 3 days into it.

 

And maybe if we'd have had the Gabapentin/Tramadol/Rimadyl combo going it would have eliminated the need for the patch.

 

Yeah, I was thinking maybe if we'd had Gabapentin to add, Twiggy might not have had as many GSOD freak outs.

[krissn333]

I will discuss alternative options with the doctor then. I've not had great experience with them either-nothing terribly bad, but there's probably better methods. Plus I don't like them shaving her neck and then bandaging over it to keep it covered. Though I do see how it would be nice for a pup who will be stubborn about taking oral meds.

 

Pinky has always been a chow hound and sometimes I don't even have to put her pills in peanut butter or a pill pocket-she will just take them from me like a treat I am hoping that she will be as cooperative after surgery.

[Charlies_Dad]

Kristen, Pinky is a beauty. When Charlie came home, he did have the patch and the only time he has ever shown any 'aggression' with us was when we tried to remove it. He never actually bit us but boy did he move fast. It was muzzle after that to get it off and we still couldn't remove all of it at once. He is also a chow hound and he had no trouble eating right after surgery. We did bring him our home made food though. I am very glad her lungs are clear!

[MaryJane]

Kristen, Pinky is a beauty. When Charlie came home, he did have the patch and the only time he has ever shown any 'aggression' with us was when we tried to remove it. He never actually bit us but boy did he move fast. It was muzzle after that to get it off and we still couldn't remove all of it at once. He is also a chow hound and he had no trouble eating right after surgery. We did bring him our home made food though. I am very glad her lungs are clear!

 

 

My angel Onyx also had the patch and the only problem that I remember was when I tried to remove it. I ended up having to have the staff at the hospital remove it. My boy was supposed to come home the day after surgery but, he ended up coming home the next day.

[krissn333]

I'm just concerned about the patch due to how she handled the morphine last night...she was resting, but would not close her eyes and go to sleep. We went to bed and she kept her eyes open there too. I fell asleep and woke up at 1 am to see that she was ACTUALLY sleeping.

 

Today she's a bit sore. Think we're going to have to go w/ tramadol today because she's been on Deramaxx but I forgot to get more from the vet (will prob call them today and pick some up)...I have Rimadyl but IIRC I shouldn't switch over like that.

[MP_the4pack]

Diamond had the patch which she tolerated ok. She was also put on tramadol. I was glad when we were able to wean her off all pain meds because they did make her anxious. Once off the meds, she calmed right down and acted as if she had always been a tripod.

 

So keep that in mind that the pain meds may actually be causing symptoms that look like they are in pain. It's actually the meds.

 

Also, if you go visit her the day after the surgery be prepared for her to look upset. I was prepared to see Diamond without the leg, but not the expression on her face. I really thought I did the wrong thing. But once we were home and healed, I absolutely know in my mind that for Diamond, I did the right thing. She was a very happy tripod for 6 months. She even chased deer, that little stinker.

[Guest Yankeegreyhound]

Diamond had the patch which she tolerated ok. She was also put on tramadol. I was glad when we were able to wean her off all pain meds because they did make her anxious. Once off the meds, she calmed right down and acted as if she had always been a tripod.

 

So keep that in mind that the pain meds may actually be causing symptoms that look like they are in pain. It's actually the meds.

 

Also, if you go visit her the day after the surgery be prepared for her to look upset. I was prepared to see Diamond without the leg, but not the expression on her face. I really thought I did the wrong thing. But once we were home and healed, I absolutely know in my mind that for Diamond, I did the right thing. She was a very happy tripod for 6 months. She even chased deer, that little stinker.

 

So happy your Pinky's x-rays of the lungs were clear!

 

Sara was never on the patch probably due to her extended stay at the vet.

 

I totally agree with the day after visit. She was so high on drugs and out of it. I brought her favorite - pizza crust -and she wouldn't eat a thing. But, day by day she got better and better. I have no regrets about the amputation.

[krissn333]

Just received an email from Dr. Marin...the X-ray is consistent with primary bone tumor. I knew this, but somehow having her say it makes this more real now. We'll wait for the FNA and will likely schedule her surgery for next week.

 

I asked Dr. Marin to send me OSU's recommended surgical protocol so I can discuss it with the surgeon.

[winnie]

I sent Faye Oops x-rays to OSU last Tuesday. I still haven't received a response.

 

Best of luck with Pinky.

[greysmom]

I sent Faye Oops x-rays to OSU last Tuesday. I still haven't received a response.

 

Best of luck with Pinky.

 

 

Laura, did you use the consult fom to submit the xrays? If you haven't heard, I would contact them again to make sure they got them.

 

Dude broke his leg Friday, had his amp Monday and came home Thursday. He was only on rimadyl and codeine - he never had any Tramadol or other pain meds until recently. Even after developing a bad post-op infection, he only had IV meds at the hospital. Never had a patch. He did have a couple episodes of phantom pain, but otherwise her did fabulous.

[winnie]

I sent Faye Oops x-rays to OSU last Tuesday. I still haven't received a response.

 

Best of luck with Pinky.

 

 

Laura, did you use the consult fom to submit the xrays? If you haven't heard, I would contact them again to make sure they got them.

 

Yes. I completed the consult form on 10/14. I got a response 10/17 asking me to mail the x-rays. X-rays mailed via First-Class Mail on 10/18.

[BauersMom]

Just received an email from Dr. Marin...the X-ray is consistent with primary bone tumor. I knew this, but somehow having her say it makes this more real now. We'll wait for the FNA and will likely schedule her surgery for next week.

 

I asked Dr. Marin to send me OSU's recommended surgical protocol so I can discuss it with the surgeon.

 

I'm sorry.

 

Even though I knew the original diagnosis by the onco vet was right, hearing it a second time from OSU really "hit home".

[BauersMom]

I sent Faye Oops x-rays to OSU last Tuesday. I still haven't received a response.

 

Best of luck with Pinky.

 

 

Laura, did you use the consult fom to submit the xrays? If you haven't heard, I would contact them again to make sure they got them.

 

Yes. I completed the consult form on 10/14. I got a response 10/17 asking me to mail the x-rays. X-rays mailed via First-Class Mail on 10/18.

 

Do you have a delivery confirmation? I would see if they got the x-rays, that's likely what's slowing the process down vs. the response with digital x-rays.

[winnie]

After posting here, I sent a reply e-mail to OSU. I got this response:

 

We got Faye Oops x-rays, unfortunately there is a lytic (destructive), lesion in her left proximal humerus (upper front leg bone, below the shoulder joint). The lesion is compatible with a primary bone tumor, a needle aspirate will confirm if it is osteosarcoma.

 

Please find attached a couple of articles about bone tumors in Greyhounds with info about treatment options. If you and your vet think that amputation and chemo is a good option for Faye Oops, and you are interested, we can provide injectable chemo (doxorubicin or carboplatin) at no cost.

 

Please let us know how we can help.

 

Liliana Marin . DVM, MSc.

 

My vet's office did not do a needle aspirate. Both the vet that originally examined Faye Oops and our primary vet felt pretty confident that it was osteo. After discussing the x-rays with our primary vet, we decided that Faye Oops would not be a good candidate for amputation.

 

I guess I was hoping that OSU might have something new to say or advise us if we were following the right protocal.

[krissn333]

I may have received a fast response because I sent digital X-rays that I attached to the consult form.

 

The response from Dr. Marin is roughly the same, except replace humerus with femur.

 

Don't be afraid to write back and ask for their recommendations for palliative care-they are very busy people but are pretty quick about replying (they might write back and you'll notice the time stamp is midnight or something odd though). We did Pamidronate infusions with Sutra, and FedX is getting them along with radiation. In most cases it does help. I had a hard time keeping Sutra calm after his first one-he felt so great I didn't want him to overdo it playing in the yard.

[NeylasMom]

Just received an email from Dr. Marin...the X-ray is consistent with primary bone tumor. I knew this, but somehow having her say it makes this more real now. We'll wait for the FNA and will likely schedule her surgery for next week.

 

I asked Dr. Marin to send me OSU's recommended surgical protocol so I can discuss it with the surgeon.

Why wait for the FNA? I would trust OSU's diagnosis and it sounds like with your days off next week, scheduling the surgery for say Friday would give you the right timeline to be home right after she is released (assuming they keep her for a few days at least).

[BauersMom]

After posting here, I sent a reply e-mail to OSU. I got this response:

 

We got Faye Oops x-rays, unfortunately there is a lytic (destructive), lesion in her left proximal humerus (upper front leg bone, below the shoulder joint). The lesion is compatible with a primary bone tumor, a needle aspirate will confirm if it is osteosarcoma.

 

Please find attached a couple of articles about bone tumors in Greyhounds with info about treatment options. If you and your vet think that amputation and chemo is a good option for Faye Oops, and you are interested, we can provide injectable chemo (doxorubicin or carboplatin) at no cost.

 

Please let us know how we can help.

 

Liliana Marin . DVM, MSc.

 

My vet's office did not do a needle aspirate. Both the vet that originally examined Faye Oops and our primary vet felt pretty confident that it was osteo. After discussing the x-rays with our primary vet, we decided that Faye Oops would not be a good candidate for amputation.

 

I guess I was hoping that OSU might have something new to say or advise us if we were following the right protocal.

 

I would imagine it's hard to give "advice" without seeing the dog and getting a full history, etc. Their initial consult is largely focused on the diagnosis based on x-rays, which is all they really have to go on. And even then, most vets are hesitant to say what's "right" with something like osteo, because in all cases, it's a terminal disease with no real "good" outcome. So it's hard.

 

Dr. Marin was very helpful with my follow on questions about amicar, post-op stuff, etc. Don't hesitate to ask her something if you do have something else that you need answered. Worst case, she says she can't help with it.