Greyhound Osteosarcoma?

[peregrinerose 0]

Anyone have any experience with this? My grey is 8 1/2, a rescued racer. His last race was April 2004, we adopted him in early 2005 and absolutely love him.

He had a bit of a limp a couple of weeks ago, but it resolved in a day, before I could even get a vet appointment. Friday he started limping again, badly, same leg as before. Vet is treating it like arthritis (NSAIDs and doggie glucosamine/chondroiton), but he's getting worse. He can't put any weight on it, and until today couldn't find anything in particular that seemed to make the leg hurt. Now he screams if I move his leg forward at the shoulder, even a little bit.

Based on what I'm reading, the odds of it being osteosarcoma are extremely high. The treatments (amputation/chemo) buy a few months, but that's it, so not really worth putting him through all that.

X-rays are tomorrow.

Anyone have any experience/pointers with this? I know that we're probably going to lose him, either through euthanasia soon, or cancer in a month or two. It's killing me watching this poor dog stumble around in obvious discomfort.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[Jewels 0]

I'm so sorry to hear that! Fortunately, I have no personal experience with that sort of thing but we do have a veterinary specialist clinic here in Colorado with a practice group devoted to oncology. You might check to see if you have something comparable that's local--or call our facility here for a local referral.

http://www.vrcc.com/oncology/

TPM Sister #102

[peregrinerose 0]

They had a good article on their web site regarding osteosarcoma in dogs. Unfortunately, based on their article, even best case scenario with amputation and chemo, dogs only make it an extra 11 months on average Chad and I aren't willing to put him through all that just to buy him a few extra months. If it cured the cancer, we'd be all for it.

Keeping our fingers crossed that it's something benign, but know it probably isn't.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[Jewels 0]

That's understandable. I'm so sorry! It's heartbreaking to have to go through these things. I wish things were different.

TPM Sister #102

[drdive 0]

Please let us know what the xrays show. We will hope for the best. Dogs are so wonderful. Hang in there.

Doc

"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub"

"

[bloody_trauma 2]

well i imagine its about the same manifestations as in a human osteosarcoma, Swelling, tenderness, you might feel a mass of abnormal bone growth, the only thing that will be able to define whether or not it is benign or malignant/aplastic (unlike itself) growth, is a biopsy.
may also notice some lethargy, fever. osteosarcomas have a poor prognosis(outcome), bones are very well perfused, and tend to have a high rate of metastasis (spreading) if not caught in time.

Fly it like you stole it

[wmw999 2,155]

I lost my dog to osteosarcoma in February; with her high pain threshold, it was diagnosed as hip dysplasia (also common). All I can say is that I sympathize with you; it's a tough thing. There is blood work (alkaline phosphatase) that can be done that seems to have a fairly high correlation with chemo being unlikely to help. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a correspondingly high correlation in the other direction with it working.

It's not a pretty situation. But the vet told me that their focus is entirely on preserving quality of life; that's part of why the long-term survival rate is not good, because it's not worth it to the dog. Also, that if you decide to go forward with surgery, that amputation is almost magical in its removal of the source of pain.

We ended up deciding not to because it was likely that a disarticulation or even hemipelvectomy would be necessary, which with a very boisterous dog would be a read hit to her quality of life.

Good luck, both to you guys and to your sweetie. You have her faith.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[MakeItHappen 15]

Quote

Anyone have any experience with this? My grey is 8 1/2, a rescued racer. His last race was April 2004, we adopted him in early 2005 and absolutely love him.

He had a bit of a limp a couple of weeks ago, but it resolved in a day, before I could even get a vet appointment. Friday he started limping again, badly, same leg as before. Vet is treating it like arthritis (NSAIDs and doggie glucosamine/chondroiton), but he's getting worse. He can't put any weight on it, and until today couldn't find anything in particular that seemed to make the leg hurt. Now he screams if I move his leg forward at the shoulder, even a little bit.

Based on what I'm reading, the odds of it being osteosarcoma are extremely high. The treatments (amputation/chemo) buy a few months, but that's it, so not really worth putting him through all that.

X-rays are tomorrow.

Anyone have any experience/pointers with this? I know that we're probably going to lose him, either through euthanasia soon, or cancer in a month or two. It's killing me watching this poor dog stumble around in obvious discomfort.

DHA may help some. Don't give it with Vit E because it's efficacy is significantly reduced. You can get that at a health food store.
That's one of the drugs my dog got for hemangiosarcoma.
I have some left over drugs from last Nov. see this page for details.

Also there are several groups on yahoo that may help.
Canine Cancer
Sumner Foundation aims at raising awareness of hemangiosarcoma
(there is probably one specific to osteosarcoma)

I wish you and your dog the best.
I've had two dogs died of cancer. The other one was from lymphosarcoma.

See also
CVS
Angel Care - lots of good info here

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