My doberman (Cadence) is 10 years old; I love her so much and just recently found out that she probably has bone cancer. In October, I noticed that she was limping and had a huge mass on inside her upper left back thigh. I took her to the vet and she drained fluid out of the mass and did an x-ray, she didn't think it was cancer at the time. She was given strong antibiotics, along with some pain medication. I noticed a couple months later that she was having the same problem and took her back again. Once again the fluid was drained and she was given the antibiotic again.

I had her back at the vet within a couple weeks, this time a different vet looked at her and did an x-ray and said that she had arthritus, but he felt there was something going on along with the arthritus so he sent the x-ray to an orthopedic specialist and soon as the specialist looked at it he said that it was bone cancer.

He called and told me this last week and said that it was bone cancer, which through me for a loop because originally the vet didn't think that it was bone cancer. I took her back for a chest x-ray and it didn't show that the cancer had spread, at least to her chest.

He is recommending amputation for the pain; he said that he was 90% sure that the cancer had probably already spread somewhere else and the amputation may buy her a few more months.

When she was 6 she was diagnosed with Wobbler's Syndrome and we had surgery for that and she has done great since then. I dont' know if I should put her through the amputation or try to control it with pain medication as long as possible. Right now she is on steriods and doesn't seem to be in any pain and the swelling has went down considerably.

I don't know which way to go with this. I don't know if there is any other options that I should look at, I have been trying to do research on the internet. The vet said that the type of cancer is Synovial Cell Carcinoma, I don't know much about this type of cancer, I am going to research it today on the internet and see if there are any treatments for this.

Has anyone here had a pet with bone cancer? From what I understand it is very painful and I do not want my doberman to suffer. With her being 10 years old this makes the decision even more difficult, I looked up the average life span of a doberman and it is 9.8 years.

She has always been an indoor dog and been treated like one of the children, she does have anxiety and panic episodes and I don't know what cutting her back leg off would do to her. Is it possilbe that she could be traumatized by this?

I'm sorry to ramble, but this is my first post here, I am so glad that I found this site and pray to find some support and answers or any thoughts.

Thank you for reading this and I hope to hear your thoughts.

Thank You,

Becky

Becky,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. What is her name? I am not familiar with bone cancer but I definitely recommend doing a little research or getting a second vet opinion before you make any major decisions like that. Another vet might have some different ideas but if not, just hearing the news confirmed will get rid of some of the doubts you have about what to do.

I hope you find something to help. Please do keep us posted on her condition.

i am so sorry you have to make these decisions. our family had to put our beautiful yellow lab, bailey, to rest on feb 1st because of bone cancer. when we found out she had osteosarcoma of the jaw in may, there was never a question of a jaw resection for this food driven dog who loved to chew. in october, we began pain management with remidyl (sp?) 2 times a day, which really seemed to improve her for a long time. the day we put her to sleep was the 1st day she refused food and her pain medicine...we could not let her suffer. she was 9 1/2. this is our 1st dog and a very painful process, but our goal was to do what was best for her, not us. in the long run, i think it will teach our children true love and looking out for the interests of others despite one's own pain. your wonderful dog has trusted you for 10 years to make the right choices...no matter how hard. so sorry....

I am 45 years old and Cadence is my first dog; At 35 years old, I had never had a dog always cats and at that time I did not want a dog, especially such a big house dog. My husband's brother bred doberman's and he insisted that he was going to get one of the pups. I finally gave in and was so glad that I did, she has been such a joy in my life. My husband worked out of town for about 5 years and she would sleep with me each night that he was gone.

I would have to give her a pillow and cover her up and she loved to sleep with her head under the covers, I was always afraid she would suffocate, but that's just the way that she liked to sleep and even to this day, I have a quilt on the couch and I cover her up before I go to bed and before I go to work in the morning.

This is so hard. I know there is no way of knowing for sure, but if I knew the amputation wouldn't traumatize her and give her a couple more years, even a year, of a good quality of life and she would be happy I would do it in a heartbeat.

I don't want her to suffer, this is still so new in my head, I'm having trouble adjusting to the fact that she may be on her last days and I know that if her leg is not amputated I will have to put her down when the pain medication doesn't work anymore or when she quits eating. I am constantly watching for any sign of discomfort.

I am trying not to be irrational, but I've never loved an animal like this. I've had cats that I did love, but I have bonded with Cadence. She has been there for me when I felt good, bad, sad, miserable etc., she was always beside me.

take a minute to breathe. you do not have to decide today. the unconditional love of a dog is a true and amazing gift which we could all learn from.

I know nothing about bone cancer itself, but for the possible trauma, I'd recommend both flower essences (F.E.S., Bach, Bailey, Anaflora, the ones recommended on Teresa Wagner's site, or many other good brands -all found on the web) AND homeopathics prescribed through an experienced homeopathic vet. And since you have some time yet to make decisions, if it were me, I'd be looking at both homeopathics and T.C.M. (Traditional Chinese Medicine) to also see if they might even provide a remission or a cure. I know many people in the Western world don't believe in things they've not been exposed to, but I can say from experience that we found some good successes with our feline daughter, from these treatments. And so have many others, including Nissa's Reiki pract*itioner, with her own cats and dog. I also wonder if a veterinary oncologist has been involved?

From an emotional standpoint, I'd do whatever you feel you need to do and go as far as you feel you need to, to try not to be left with regrets afterwards, and this is different for each person.

any decision yet as to your path with cadence? thinking of you during this troubling time.....wish we all had a crystal ball to help us know the right way to go........

I am still struggling with this; I am taking her for a second opinion Tuesday. I live her vet, but he really doesn't seem to know much about this possible type of cancer. He had to send the x-rays off to another vet to get a diagnoses and I've had a lot of questions and while he does his best to research information for me, I just feel that I need to get another opinion.

My husband feels that since we have a split level home, her remaining back leg won't last that long because of her being older and also having surgery a few years ago for Wobbler Syndrome, which somewhat weakens their back legs.

I am driving myself nuts trying to make a decision, while I still have the option of making a decision.

Thanks for caring and checking on her condition. I hope to have more information Tuesday.

Becky

Becky
You might try this website, just as a start to find out about some other natural things you could do.
Cancer in Animals info.
There are also vets listed who've written some of the articles there, so possibly you could contact some of them if you wished.

What you are facing now is the hardest decisions a pet owner/lover/parent of a furbaby has to face. If you are near a major animal medical center or a university with a veterinarian school, I would suggest that you try to take Cadence to an oncologist. This way, you will feel that you have the best medical opinion possible.

Then it will remain to make the best loving decision that you can for your dear friend. When that time came for my beloved Daisy, I tried to apply the standards that I would for myself or for a human - would a person want to go on under those cir%%stances. (At the very end, she went into a seizure which made the decision for me, but I don't think I would have done a major surgery on her for a few more months. Like your Cadence, Daisy wasn't a young dog)

I also tried to remember that the final gift we can give our beloved pets is to put our own pain aside, the terrible pain of saying good-bye, and help them to leave this earth without suffering or fear. If you have strength, be there with her when the time comes, and let her leave feeling your touch and hearing how much you love her. You will always be glad that you did this.

My thoughts are with you.

Daisy's Mommy

HI Becky,
My goodness what a difficult place you are in with your very lovely dobie...a second opinion is needed, and make sure the cancer has not spread, I had a friend whose dog developed bone cancer, they did amputate, but then found that the cancer had already spread and the dog had to be put down anyway it was really tragic, it was a vet school who did the treatment. We saw a cancer specialist, for my boy and they really are the experts, remember knowledge is power and it will help you make the right decision for you...Bless you and your boy, you are in my prayers tonight, alot of the general practioner types of vets just don't have this knowledge, its better to go to a specialist when its this serious. Again, peace and love to you and Cadence, just love him right now Best Wishes, Tory, Hrudey's Momma

will look for your posting after your tues appt- good luck

your baby looks just like my tee bonz.. she is also a doberman and is a spunky almost 12 years old.
i will keep you in my rpayers and i will light a candle for you and your pup.. so sorry that you must go thru this.. thinking of you..

michelle
pooh-bear and kittens mom