I'm so upset , I just came from a website that is primarly about osteosarcoma .( bone cancer) The site was recomended to me throu a post here. I began exchanging e-mails with a woman whose dog had OS in the same area that Max had his. The hip area is a rare place that this cancer forms so I was interested in how she delt with it with her dog. I was mistaken to believe that there was no hope in amputation until I read a letter from her. Her dog lived 7 more years after being amp. She said the surgery lasted 10.5 hrs because it was a complicated area were the cancer was. I think it's wonderful that her dog bet the ugly cancer and I am truly happy for her. I'm so mad because if Max was dignosed with cancer earlier maybe I could of caught it in time so it couldn't spread and I would still have him. I know I shouldn't direct my anger at the vets but I can't help it! They did absolutly nothing for Max but give him pills. They should of known the urgency of the situation and not play the waiting game. Here's pills come back, Here's more pills come back. Even after there was belief that he may have cancer they still sent me and Max away with more pills. That time was crucal and it was wasted! Why didn't they know at the begining that it wasn't a sprain after I explained how he yelped in pain countinuously. Theyr'e specialist they should of known that kind of pain was not normal.Why didn't any of them recomend a oncoligist. I never even heard of a oncoligist until it was to late. Please anyone who reads this if you feel in your heart that something isn't right with you beloved pet take action right away because it could make the diference between life and death. Do not assume that the vets are always right. If they just check your baby and send you on your way to play the waiting game. Wait one week and then come back. Dont' play that game if you believe there's more to it. Demand xrays, bloodwork, ect... right then. Even thou I knew I still played that game. I felt as if they knew best. I wish to god that I wasn't so timid and trusting at that time. If I could gain anything from writting this post. It's this Maybe my lost of Max will help people with trusting in thier instincts when it comes to the care of their furbaby. If you feel in your heart enough isn't being done to help your furry friend demand action immediatly. They have nothing to loose but you do.

k9pal, I know exactly how you feel. It is so hard not to blame them but in a lot of ways, I think there is some reason to. My kitty had heartworms and my vet never even suggested to me to give her preventative medication. That's an easy one!! Your situation is a bit more complicated but the botton line is, we should be able to trust our vets completely. It's a shame that they have let us down. It just adds to the pain and guilt.

I'm sorry K9pal that you had to hear that. Just don't blame yourself after you've come so far. You may want to talk to your vet though and tell him your concerns and issues with what you heard...if only for your peace of mind.

I agree with you. We really do need to trust our instincts. they can be fickle though too, so don't beat yourself up. Just know that you did the absolute best for Max with your absolute unconditional love.

Take care
John B

Although I have a nice vet, I 'm still very guarded when we're dealing with my animals health. I don't trust anyone implicitly. Problem is, sometimes I don't even know what questions I should be asking! His is a very small operation so he sends us out for more complicated things, sometimes even for blood tests. This is good and bad.

Years ago, I took my beautiful eleven week old Gordon Setter puppy for his booster shots. Two days later, he was deathly ill. I took him back no less than two times in as many days. The following day, I rushed him to a large University Hospital where he languished for a week before dying. His little body just couldn't take anymore. He had Parvo Virus.

I was incensed! It was April on the East Coast, the very time when this horrible virus is"in bloom". The vet hospital was rather surprised that my family vet had missed it. I was furious AND heartbroken. (Needless to say, they have never seen another of my animals).

Although Toby did have his baby shots and was not in areas shared with strange dogs, I did have an older dog at the time. Even so, there was no excuse for them missing this obvious and fatal disease.

The only positive that came from that experience was that it led me to Rescue and the love at my feet today.

Don't be hard on yourself. You did everything you could.

Your post is important to everyone here. Trust yourself, you know your pet best and TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. I'm sorry for the price you paid because of them.

Thank you Kittylove and John B for your kind words and unstanding. I love having the two of you in my corner. Zookeeper let me start by saying I'm so sorry about what happened to your puppy. That's exactly what I mean about some vets. Seems that theys come to one conclusion and then that's it. I wish that they would consider all possibility's and then relate it to us. So we can decide what road to take. But how do we know what road to take when they don't even give us all the possibility's. Take care k9pal