I want you to read this. My dane was DX with osteosarcoma in June '06. Like you I noticed the limp in Feb '06. After putting him on Rimadyl for what we thought was arthritis, he seemed better. Limp reappeared in April. Hmmmm, what could it be? Lets try something else for this "arthritis". He was a little over 7, but a dane and they don't live long and age quicker than others. Sooooo, different meds, limp better. In June, WTF????? Leg swelling in the back! Let's get x-rays. Vet comes back, CANCER!!! What? Impossible! I take better care of him than I do myself! How did this happen? OK don't panic, what can I do? Removal of the limb and chemo. Me, OK. Cost-about 8500.00. WOW! I asked the vet what he would do if it were his dog. Put him down, he's in pain and the cost will be steep. No way, I wanna do this. Struggled with the thought of removing his leg, he was a big boy. 6'2" on his hind legs. I would pry his mouth open and force him to eat the week before the surgery. I wasn't sure if he would make it. He was so skinny and weak. Went to the surgeon, paid 2500.00 and had the surgery. Was like his old self again! Three legged dane got a lot of stares but I didn't care. He even caught an armadillo! On three legs! Went to the oncologist to start chemo. Handled it like a champ! Never sick. November, for no apparant reason, went downhill fast. More x-rays. Moved to his lungs. Developed a condition called HOD due to the cancer in the lungs. Had to make that dreaded trip Dec. 4th. K9pal, cancer is a bitch. We did everything we were supposed to do. I got another 6 great months with the big guy, but WTF? Even my primary vet, who didn't make the big money off me, that suggested I just put him down, had tears when I actually had to. I promise you there is nothing different you coulda done. Even with all I did I would still second guess myself when it was all said and done. Was everything in vain? I put him through all of this and it just went so wrong, why? It's not fair! Did these "specialist" take advantage of me in my weakest hour? I spent close to 8 grand to "fix" him. I'm a bartender. I couldn't afford it, I assure you. If I knew I could cure him I woulda busted my ass to do it. And I guess I did. It was the best money I've ever spent. I'll make more money, I will never have another Big E. I cherished the short time we had. I have gotten over my anger with the specialists. I so wanted him beat the monster cancer. It just wasn't in the cards for us. You do what you can and hope for the best. I have his ashes on the mantle. I used to carry it from room to room because he always wanted to be with me, so I didn't want to leave him just sitting in that box. I slept with that box for months. I purchased a cremulet and now wear it around my neck so he can go where I go. My soul is still tortured from it all. I'm part of a wonderful group that is called bone cancer dogs. Its bonecancerdogs.org. Go to the support group and just tell your story. You can find support for what you had to go through and can read other's stories. I know this is long but I hope I've helped you a bit. Take care.



"If your faced with a choice and you have to choose I hope you choose the one that means the most to you"

Missin'My Evander, my heart goes out to you. You did so much but when fate decides otherwise we are helpless.
You chose the best for your Evander and for you. Be proud of yourself, of your Evander and of the life you shared. Hugs.

Missin' My Evander, Thank You so.... much for sharing your story. I know how hard it is to relive and think about those hard times. I'm so happy for you that you got 6 more months of happy memories. I bet you cherish them. If I had that choice with my dog I would of done exactly what you did. It's crazy how much they charge for medical care for our beloved pets. I think they know how much we love them and that we would do or pay anything to keep them alive. I also had Max on Rimadayl for the first week that he got his limp but it did very little for him and he just got worse. Then I had to double his dosage and give him Tramadol for his pain. I was mad that every vet I took him to gave me pills, sent me on my way and said if he doesn't improve come back next week. The poor boy was in terrible pain, adnormal pain. How couldn't they know? When I got the second exray around four weeks later from the first I couldn't belive how bad his hip had got. The cancer just ate it away. I feel so bad that I let him suffer like that. Cancer strikes so fast. Thank you for the website that you recomended. I will definitly go there because I still have so many questions that are unanswered about his cancer. Once again, thank you and I'm so sorry for your lost. A armidillo! He sounds like he was a character. You didn't do anything in vain that memory alone is priceless. I can tell how much you loved Evander. Not only were you blessed to have him, he was blessed to have you. Take care