Rottie with osteosarcoma

kezz86

kezz86

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Hi all never posted in AAD before so brief intro.

I've four doggies who are my babies I love them all so much I'd do anything I'd go hungry to pay for stuff for them if that's what it took.

I've a rottie, a lab and two chihuahuas... it's a bit of a mad house with such a mixture.

Anyway, two years ago my darling rottie "Dozer" was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and give six months to live unless I put him through an op and chemo...

This for me was never an option as I've seen other go through this with no success and the dogs just suffer more. So I chose the "let just keep him comfy for as long as possible" route.

He went for the first six months on just "Joint Aid" supplement to keep him comfy. Then he was put on to Rimadyl about 18 months ago, he's been on just a half tablet for this period, but I think it will have to go up to a whole one now.

My concern now is that he was sick yesterday and today doesn't want to eat which is VERY unlike him...

Obviously I will speak to his vet, but in the mean time does anyone have any suggestions on how to encourage him to eat? I'm going to get some tinned food or something super yummy smelling.

I'm concerned that this could be side-effects from the rimadyl... which means we'll more than likely have to stop giving it to him.

Are there alternatives that you guys know about as if he's to go on he will need some painkillers still... (if they work)

Failing that I know what my only alternative is... I don't know if I can face that, I know I'll have to for his sake but it doesn't bare thinking about...

I'm typing this at my work desk in tear I'm desperate to make him comfy without having to say goodbye... He's otherwise a happy bouncey dog and still plays and wags his tail constantly! I don't think he's ready just yet...

I'm hoping that I'm just over reacting to a one off funny five minutes but you can't be to careful with such a poorly dog that's already pushing his luck time-wise...

Sorry for the essay everyone chocolate drops and Baileys for all that got to the bottom!

x
 
Are they 100% sure of the diagnosis? Its just i've never seen that life span for an osteosarc and its really painful (pet usually presents with lameness) so cant see how a joint supplement will have helped initially in anyway at all?

Osteosarcs can cause the bone to fracture and we have been presented with patients with an acute onset of lameness at home that fracture before they even get veterinary attention.

Did you see the xrays? Where has the osteosarcoma been found? What were the presenting symptoms. I was concerned when my rottie bitch was lame and took her for xrays and found arthritis of both shoulders and the left elbow, there were obvious changes in the bone on the xray - could yours have been misdiagnosed?

Osteosarcs are aggressive and spread quickly - normally to the chest - any coughing/breathing problems?

I think studies show 80% of osteosarcs have already spread before diagnosis.

(Im not questioning you just ive not seen this before and been practicing for a long time).

If they are sure of the diagnosis then maybe stop using Rimadyl (have they done biochemistry blood testing to check organ funtion for this type of drug - NSAID?) Try something else like tramadol or PLT?

Thinking of you at this difficult time xx
 
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^^^^ What they said. I to have never seen a dog with that kind of life span after a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. How was it diagnosed? in the first instance.

Also thinking of you, I have a rotti and the word sends shivers down my spine:(
 
My first Flatcoat lived for 2 years following a bone cancer diagnosis at the age of 8. It was in her left shoulder. I discussed all options with my vets and opted for conservative treatment. The only medication she recieved was Rimidyl and she went swimming in a horse pool once a week. She had a great quality of life until one day she refused to go into the pool for her swim. I knew this was her way of saying her time had come. Inca passed away the following day cradled in my arms.
It is a hard choice but to allow them to go with dignity is a great honour. You will know when the time is right.
My thoughts are with you
 
Hmm... interesting...

Vet seemed pretty sure that's what it is... He had a biopsy. No x-rays as vet was so sure.

"My first Flatcoat lived for 2 years following a bone cancer diagnosis at the age of 8. It was in her left shoulder. I discussed all options with my vets and opted for conservative treatment. The only medication she recieved was Rimidyl and she went swimming in a horse pool once a week. She had a great quality of life until one day she refused to go into the pool for her swim. I knew this was her way of saying her time had come. Inca passed away the following day cradled in my arms.
It is a hard choice but to allow them to go with dignity is a great honour. You will know when the time is right.
My thoughts are with you "

That's interesting Satinbaze thanks for that...

Well he's perked up again now and is tucking into his food happily.

Must have just been having an off day...

Perhaps you're right he may not have Osteosarcoma.....

He's happy again for now so I guess we carry on until he lets me know. I am a panicker when it comes to my animals though and always expect the worst!

Thanks for the thoughts.
 
Echoing everyone else here.....the description of your dog is not fitting with the normal cycle of an animal with an osteosarcoma....

Most are extremely painful...ie not bearing weight on that limb and in so much pain that tramadol and other higher drugs cannot control it.Amputation is done not just to help survical times but as pallative pain control to relieve the uncontrollable pain and take away the high risk of fractures aroung the tumour. Even in a very very stoic dog managing to get by with supplements and rimadyl is not a normal reaction to this type of tumour...at all.

Only 50 percent of animals who have chemo and amputate the leg survive more that a year with that tumour.....and it is the lung tumours that are the eventual issue with osteosarcomas.

I would seriously consider repeating the biopsy and re-xray the leg.

You may find a tumour or growth still there but it is unlikely to be an osteosarc at this point and some cases bone tumours are completely curable with amputation. There are other types of bone tumours in dogs that resemble osteosarcomas..but these are rarer...you may be in that "lucky" 5 to 10 percent in spite of your dogs breed(Rotties are known for being prone to Osteosarcomas) Most of the other bone tumour's have a better prognosis however so I really would check it out further.

You had a biopsy done and that shows your vet is practicing at a very high standard but no test is 100 percent sensitive or specific....
 
Aru said:
Echoing everyone else here.....the description of your dog is not fitting with the normal cycle of an animal with an osteosarcoma....

Most are extremely painful...ie not bearing weight on that limb and in so much pain that tramadol and other higher drugs cannot control it.Amputation is done not just to help survical times but as pallative pain control to relieve the uncontrollable pain and take away the high risk of fractures aroung the tumour. Even in a very very stoic dog managing to get by with supplements and rimadyl is not a normal reaction to this type of tumour...at all.

Only 50 percent of animals who have chemo and amputate the leg survive more that a year with that tumour.....and it is the lung tumours that are the eventual issue with osteosarcomas.

I would seriously consider repeating the biopsy and re-xray the leg.

You may find a tumour or growth still there but it is unlikely to be an osteosarc at this point and some cases bone tumours are completely curable with amputation. There are other types of bone tumours in dogs that resemble osteosarcomas..but these are rarer...you may be in that "lucky" 5 to 10 percent in spite of your dogs breed(Rotties are known for being prone to Osteosarcomas) Most of the other bone tumour's have a better prognosis however so I really would check it out further.

You had a biopsy done and that shows your vet is practicing at a very high standard but no test is 100 percent sensitive or specific....
Click to expand...


Hmm... okay thanks for that Aru...

This is interesting as my vet hasn't at any point mentioned how unusual my boy is in that he's doing so well after such a long time...

Amputation was never an option due to the area the first "lump" was found in and no there are is another further down his leg which shows that it has spread..

I will mention H&H thoughts to him when I next go in always good to go in prepared with millions of questions!

He's a great vet I actually swapped to him as another in the practice basically only gave me two options .1 operate 2. put to sleep right away!
 
kezz86 said:
Hmm... okay thanks for that Aru...

This is interesting as my vet hasn't at any point mentioned how unusual my boy is in that he's doing so well after such a long time...

Amputation was never an option due to the area the first "lump" was found in and no there are is another further down his leg which shows that it has spread..

I will mention H&H thoughts to him when I next go in always good to go in prepared with millions of questions!

He's a great vet I actually swapped to him as another in the practice basically only gave me two options .1 operate 2. put to sleep right away!
Click to expand...


I would think the initial vet gave those options because as Aru said a true osteosarc is soooo painful that you either amputate to aleviate the pain or PTS. We find 8/10 pateients that we diagnose with osteosarc ask for euthanasia under the anaesthetic is their preferred option. We do have a few that want them brought round from the anaesthetic and put on analgesics which is normally only for a short period of time before the pain is too much.

Was it a bony swelling then? A bone biopsy is quite invasive compared to an xray? The whole thing just doesnt ring true. I personally would be going for a second opinion. Osteosarcs spread to the chest, ive never seen them spread down a limb?

Good luck with the vet.

xxx
 
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