Osteo Thread Part V I I

[4My2Greys]

From what I have been told, they would have to remove some of the hip itself, not just the leg. Of course I am no vet.

This is what they had to do with Nell also, so it is a surgery that can be done. The decision though as has been said many times is a personal one on whether or not to pursue amputation. I'm really sorry that you find yourself having to consider these things.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

My wife and I will have to discuss it tonight. I just want my little girl to be pain free and happy, whatever road she has to travel.

[MP_the4pack]

And Nell is just a few days post op. Maybe a week? So you can follow her journey, if it helps make a decision.

 

And remember, whatever choice you make, it's not the wrong one because you are doing it out of love.

 

Good luck in whatever path you take.

[seeh2o]

My dad called me on Wed morning, the time had come to put my mom in a nursing home, she has Alzheimer's. I very quickly made arrangements to fly to Indiana from Los Angeles and my dear friend offered to take the dogs while I was gone. She met me and we did a dog transfer Wed night. She called me that night and told me Carl was limping. We both assumed/hoped he had tweaked his leg or back when he was getting in or out of one of our vehicles. He had not been limping at home. When it didn't go away, she gave him Rimadyl, nothing, then Tramadol (to see if it went away with that meaning it was painful) nothing. He was still bright, happy, eating well, going up and down the stairs, and, uncharacteristically, trying to get her younger greyhounds to play with him...that was weird. When it didn't go away by Monday, she took him to the vet and had xrays done. There is something suspicious in his left wrist. Xrays were sent to my vet, a vet who works with greyhounds in OC and to Dr. Couto. The vet in OC thought it looked like it "could" be Valley Fever, Dr. Couto cannot say definitively that it is osteo, he said it was, "I am concerned that the distal radial lesion is osteosarcoma. Please let me know and hope I am wrong." I am praying Dr. Couto is wrong. Honestly, my friend Deb is a saint, she is retired and is taking Carl all around to these appointments, consulting with vets and others and keeping me in the loop. She loves he and Doodles like they were her own. I am so lucky to have her as my friend, though truly, she is more like family.

 

Per what I read here and Dr. Stack's information, my friend had his blood drawn today and is sending it to Protatek to be checked for Valley Fever and Ehrlichia.

 

Please say a prayer for my big goofy boy. I never thought I would be praying for a fungal infection, but I sure am now.

[Batmom]

Chad and seeh2o, I'm sorry to hear your news.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Thanks Jey. As you know, Jesse will be well taken care of for the remaining days. My sweet little Jesse bug.

[JJNg]

So sorry to hear about the new diagnoses. Chad, even if you decide not to pursue amputation, she may do well for much longer than 2 weeks on pain meds. I understand not wanting to wait too long and worrying about the risk of fracture, so there's nothing wrong with setting a date. But I've also seen a few dogs do remarkably well for several months on pain meds. Of course, it all depends on how she does during this initial period.

[Charlies_Dad]

I am sorry to read of Jesse's diagnosis and am hoping Carl does not join this club.

 

It's great to read of Twiggy's anniversary, she just keeps going and going and that is awesome.

 

I hope Casper is doing okay and I know I'm missing a couple other pup updates but always thinking of you guys and your battles.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Jesse has had three x-rays over the last 6 weeks and I am being told the timeline based upon progression from the x-rays. Yesterday was the first day with max dose pain killers and she was still panting in the evening, although I am not sure if it is pain or if she was nervous with me laying next to her and bothering her. We got her a raw femur and she LOVED it. Its been the summer since we had femurs for the pups. Today after work I am going to pick her up some frozen custard from Culverts.

[RaineysMom]

Chad and Jen, Bruce read me your post on FB yesterday and we suspected Osteo :( I'm so sorry that your girl has this. It sucks.

 

sending you all many, many hugs and prayers for many good days still ahead for your beautiful Jesse ;Hope

[Guest fastcasper]

I hope Jesse can find relief and comfort with the pain meds, not to mention the femur bones. What a lucky girl to get those!

 

Casper's sprained paw is coming around. He can only have Deramaxx on non Palladia days, so that is slowing his recovery down a little. But he seems to back to his old happy self. He had acupuncture treatment today, which he likes. I asked the acupuncturist (vet) if she would come over when the time comes for Casper. He knows her and doesn't get stressed and I think he would get nervous and stressed if my regular vet came to the house. She said she would. He continues to "dry hack" but it seems when he gets excited (when I come home, or getting a treat, or hoping for a walk). Hard to say if the Palladia is working or not. He goes in on the 27th for another set of x-rays.

 

Kim and Casper

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

What is the typical dose for Gabemeprin (sp?)

 

I am 100% sure the vet said 1 pill/3 times a day, but my wife says the bottle says one a day. We have been giving her 3 for the last two days. I am at work, so I don't know the dosage, so this question probably doesn't have an answer unless you know the dose. I do have a call into the vet as well.

[Guest fastcasper]

You can give gabapentin 900 mg/day. Breaking it down to 300mg every 8 hours. My oncologist said Casper could go to 400mg every 8 hours because we were trying to get his phantom pain under control. But 300mg 3xday is good pain management. Pup may feel a little loopy on that dose initially, but should adjust.

 

Kim

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Thanks Kim.

[nessa]

Hello,

I have a question. My GH was x-rayed because she did have swelling and pain and limping at the bony joint above her foot. (ankle, knee?? what is that part)

They saw a questionable dark spot in the bone but the edges of the bone were very clean. She got better and it might have been a soft tissue injury. She now has no swelling, no pain, and NO limping but we did re- X ray and the vet thought it looked worse. Not as clean at the edges of the bone and a larger area was dark.

 

So, can she have osteo with no symptoms, no limping and no discomfort or is it just brewing and we caught it early and she will develop a limp?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I am now staring at her walking like a crazy person!

nancy

[a_daerr]

I asked the acupuncturist (vet) if she would come over when the time comes for Casper.

 

Kim, this breaks my heart, but what an amazing mom you are.

I hope that day doesn't come for a very long time.

[nessa]

posted at the same time as above, hoping my question will be seen . thanks again

[Guest fastcasper]

Thank you. I hope so too. As are most greys, Casper is a keeper!!

 

Nancy, Unfortunately it could be osteo. We only found Casper's because he broke a toe on the OTHER paw and my vet took comparison x-rays and found it. Casper had no bump or limp on that paw. I hope it's something else.

 

Kim

[a_daerr]

So, can she have osteo with no symptoms, no limping and no discomfort or is it just brewing and we caught it early and she will develop a limp?

 

It's very hard to say. In your case, I would probably use Dr. Couto's consultation service and have him review the films. I've heard of situations where vets incorrectly advised people that "your dog couldn't possibly have cancer- he'd be limping more" or "he'd be in more pain than this." There are many dogs in varying stages of osteo who barely limp or don't limp at all.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed that it's not osteo.

[nessa]

thanks. I will follow up with Dr C.

[Charlies_Dad]

thanks. I will follow up with Dr C.

 

That is what I was about to say. Good thoughts for your girl.

[MP_the4pack]

So, can she have osteo with no symptoms, no limping and no discomfort or is it just brewing and we caught it early and she will develop a limp?

 

 

Some dogs show no symptoms until their legs break.

[krissn333]

Chad you want to be sure to start slow with the gabapentin. We started with 100mg every 8 hours and that was enough for Fritz but most folks will increase to 200 every 8 hours if needed and then 300 every 8. Some find that not all the doses need to be 300mg but can be lower. So for example someone might do 300 in the first dose of the day, but only 200 or 100 8 hours later, and maybe 200 before bed. Hopefully someone who's done a different dose depending on the time of day will chime in and explain better than I can

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

I just want to be sure she is comfortable for the last 8 days. I feel so horrible about this. I scheduled the vet today and the finality of what I am doing has hit me, very hard. Thank you for all the help.

[a_daerr]

Chad and Jesse