I just found out today that my dog probably has bone cancer in her left front shoulder. She suddenly became very lame over a week ago and when refraining from exercise and ordinary pain killers didn't improve things, we got X-rays done and received bad news. We will be going to a specialist next week to look at the X-rays and take a biopsy to make sure what it is we're dealing with, but I'm pretty sure my vet is right in that it's cancer. In the meantime, my dog will be taking Morphine for the pain. I guess the usual treatment is amputation. I would like opinions on what others would do if this were their dog. She is a rescued Doberman and is about 8 years old. I don't know if she has any arthritis in her shoulders, but she doesn't seem to have it anywhere else. We have hard floors and right now her legs slide out from under her as if she were on ice. We would have to put down carpet runners everywhere for her if she has to spend the rest of her life on three legs. I understand dogs can live happily on three legs, but with most of a dog's weight situated in the front and her being 8, would this be too much of a detriment to her quality of life? I just want to do right by my dog.

Kitty S.

Kitty, I'm sorry to hear about your dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

If it were me, the deciding factor for the surgery would be if the cancer has spread. If it has spread, beyond the operable, I would focus on a pain free life, however long. For me, it would not be worth the pain of surgery and recovery, just to find the cancer has spread to a vital organ when they have recovered from surgery.

So, I guess it would depend on the prognosis from the vet, and which would be the most comfortable decision for the whole of the dog.

That is just my opinion. I'm sure you will do what is best for your dog. Best of luck.

I had a 5 1/2 year old shepherd that had bone cancer. It was 10 years ago. He came up lame one day also and after a week of rest took him to the vet for xrays and it looked like cancer in his front leg. Went back the following week for a follow up xray and it had noticably grown. Amputation was suggested and we were told to think about it. I made a lot of phone calls getting opinions from different vets, I was concerned too about being such a large dog losing one of its front legs. Everyone assured me he would be fine on three and that's what we decided to do. The vet wanted to do a full body xray to make sure it hadn't spread first, but it had. It was everywhere. In his lymph nodes, his bones...I can't tell you how sick I felt. They couldn't do anything for him. Such a strong tough dog was so sick I didn't even know it. I was told he was in a lot of pain and we had to put him to sleep.
I don't know if any of that helps you, I would have had it done. He was younger than your dog also. I don't know if I would have felt different if he was 8. Older dog, harder and longer to recoup. Xrays would also show arthritis. I'd make sure the cancer wasn't anywhere else. My heart goes out to you, you don't have an easy road ahead of you.

I'm sorry to hear this. My dog Ki died of bone cancer in his right front sholder at 14. Being in the natural health industry I had a friend who was a human cancer specialist. He told me that Artiminisin (may not be correct spelling) had shone good results in bone cancer in dogs when they were doing the studies even though it is used mostly as part of a treatment for lymes disease in humans. He also gave me a supplement protocol for Ki which I also used. This included vit E,vit C, ipriflavone, multivit, immune inhancing mushroom complex, vit D,. He said that Ki being so old most likely would die but he felt his quality of life would be good. He did not recommend amputation because of the stress it causes and lots of x rays can do the same for different reasons. Ki had morphine but did not like it as he was too spaced out and wanted to be present with me. The doc was right. He did so well I thought he would make it. He was pretty much pain free with one or two aspirin a day and I had him put down when the edema made it hard for him to move. I learned alot from his death. He was my best friend for 14 years and I will always value the pain free last few months so I could show him how much I loved him and say my goodbye in everyway I needed to. I will never forget him. Your dog being younger and having more life energy could beat this, who knows. Ki got natural herbal home treatment for ills, no vaccinations and did not go to the vet once in 14 years (until the end) except for rabies shots which are required by law. Hope this is some help to you and your fine dog friend.

Kitty, I feel so bad for what you're going through. I know firsthand how much heartache you feel when the vet tells you they've found out what's wrong. I can't say how it is for you, because a 3-legged dog is fine...but I'd be really scared, cancer always seems to spread. In retrospect, being told Ceasar's was inoperable was the best news of all for his sake, because I'd have had a hard time letting go. I read all kinds of stories on the 'net and some people can go to great lengths to 'save' a beloved dog. My dog had scuamous (sp?) cell carcinoma of the throat. From what I learned from others' experience, he may have had 6 more months, and not nice ones. What does your vet say? I know nothing about bone cancer. My opinion? If your dog was 2 and had broken a leg it would be a different story. I know it's the hardest thing in the world to do, but love is compassionate too.

Kitty , I am so sorry for the decision your going to have to make. I had to put down a Border Collie when I was 13, I still get lump in the throat and tears in my eyes when I think about it. and I'm 44 yrs old now. somebody on this forum told a story about our dog meeting us at the bridge when we cross over into heaven. if some one knows it. please share it with us.

Dennis,
You can read Rainbows Bridge at:
http:/rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
Jerry

Kitty,
Nothing is more devastating than finding your dog has a deadly disease or health disorder. I have been down that road too many times. This quote I found has always helped me through those decisions:

"When I am very old, when I no longer enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that my life is taken gently. And be with me on that difficult journey when it's time to say goodbye. Never say "I can't bear to watch". Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing that, with my last breath, my fate was always safest in your hands.

Our thoughts are with you, whatever decision you make.
Jerry

Thank you all who have responded. I find myself very torn between hope and guilt. I hate the thought that I have to wait till Thursday to drive my dog to another city to get a more definitive answer as to what's going on with "Riva." I hate watching her hobble around or lying stoned on her bed from the morphine. Either way she looks miserable. My vet here doesn't have the best X-ray equipment and says he could be wrong about his diagnosis. I had a conversation with my sister who is an oncology nurse a while ago before I found out what might be going on with my dog, and she said if she ever had a pet get cancer, she'd have it put to sleep because treatments such as kemo are just too hard for an animal to be asked to take.

Well, I guess I won't know what really to do until Thursday--an eternity away.

Thanks again all. And I will promise to put my dog's needs before my own wants.

Kitty S.

I am so, so sorry to hear about what you're going through. I lost my last Rottie, Talen, to bone cancer. He was only 2. It started the same way - unexplained lameness that didn't resolve with rest and anti-inflammatories. We definitely would have considered amputation had the cancer not spread - which it had. I've known lots of large dogs that have done extremely well as "tripods", the most recent being a HUGE Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He's 9 now, and lost the leg at 3. Retrieves, runs like a mad thing, plays with the kids, and is one of the happiest dogs you've ever seen.

I'll surely pray that the outcome is good. Just hold on, and I know you'll do what's right for your dog.