Need veterinary help - today was a bad bay - long

[deanp]

Today was a bad day. Took our soon to be 8yr old Saint Bernard Chloe to the vet for a limp that developed the middle of last week in her left front leg. There was some localized swelling (hard) but she had good movement in the joint. She only seemed uncomfortable when she tried walking and put pressure on the leg. Would still get around, just slowly.

Was hoping for a sprain, bone bruise and figured worst case would be a stress fracture or some sort of soft tissue damage.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Our vet took a look at the bump, felt it, ran the joint through the range of motion, Chloe was a trooper, not even a wince. Then Dr. Mak looks up at me and says "I think she might have bone cancer, are you in a hurry, I want to see if we can get a quick X-Ray."



So, ten long minutes later he comes back and shows me how the bone is nice and dense and even, along with the periostium, right up until the end of the radius where the bump is. I can see the change in color tone on the x-ray and the slightly mottled look. The periostium is smooth and even, looks like uniform thickness up the this point as well.

The look on his face says it all. We talk about why it can't be an infection, and the what are the next steps. I wasn't prepared for this.

She's going for more x-rays on Thursday to see if anything shows up in her chest cavity, etc. I think that will determine the next steps, which may include a bone biopsy at Tufts or New England Veterinary Medicine.

Have to tell the wife when she gets home from work this afternoon, not looking forward to that conversation.

I am going to spend the afternoon searching the internet for whatever I can find.

Any word of advice? Options? Experience treating and beating this?

[Seahawk]

I love dogs...I have raised and nourished many, but there is always a moment to let go.

I lost a Black Lab, Earl, last year, similar circumstances to yours. He was my farm buddy for 14 years, never left my side. I think the hardest thing I have ever had to do was leave his side, but he was in pain and while I cried it was for the best.

He died in my arms, the best place for both of us.

Good luck and I hope a miracle awaits for both Chloe and her family.

[Rikao4]

if it's cancer, do the right thing.
As Hawk stated..this is about Chloe, not what you want or can handle.
If you have human friends that did Chemo..it's misery & maybe.
now think like a dog..they don't understand why your doing all this.
It really depends on how fast / or where else they find cancer.
Going against Chloe & you.. her size and weight.
Sorry to hear ,

Rika

[goat]

Very sorry to hear about Chloe.
I lost a dog to cancer a while back. The cancer was a mast cell tumor that spread to the lymph nodes
Very bad.
I chose to do chemo for him, in the end he lost the fight.
Chemo was very new in the dog world at least it was when my dog went through it so maybe things have changed. If you do go with chemo meet with the specialist that will be administering it. Have him tell you the odds of survival then you have to choose what to do, you can start and it there is no improvement you have to decide when to stop.
The Chemo was as hard on me as it was the dog. When it finally hit that the chemo was not working he went very fast. The prolonging what was going to happen made 8 months of my life very hard, and his too.
Tim.

[the]

Like most of us here, I am a huge dog lover. But I agree with the others, get good diagnosis on what is going on, what the realistic chances are, and be prepared to let go if necessary. Do what is truly best for the dog. Because other than in the very short term, that's what's best for you, too. Best wishes.

[tcar]

Friend had same thing happen w/ her dog. Amputated the leg, she was fine for another 5 years. Irish Setter. Could even run slowly.

But, I think a dog as big and heavy as a SB would have a hard time getting around on 3 legs.

[deanp]

Thanks all for your responses so far. We're digesting what we've learned and my wife and I are in agreement that we're not going to prolong her life for our sake, as hard as that is. I think the x-rays on Thursday will be telling, if the cancer has spread, then there is no question about the right thing to do.

I can't see putting her through chemo or targeted radiation or even having the leg amputated. She is too big (156lbs) with a big deep chest to carry that weight on one leg, especially when she is already getting old by Saint standards.

We were prepared for the average of 10 years, but this came as a total shock given how healthy she's been.

[Jandrews]

I feel your pain deanp. I recently put down my Rhodesian Ridgeback, Mason, who was very suddenly diagnosed with cancer. I noticed him one day while I was cutting the grass...he looked a little (or a lot) bloated. I knew bloat was dangerous for dogs, but I had seen him eating some grass and thought he was just gassy or having a gastro issue. Emergency vet said he had a tumor on his spleen the size of a grapefruit, and at least 15 tumors on his lungs. The bloat was actually the result of his abdomen filling up with sirus (sp?) fluid trying to combat the foreign cancer cells. The vet said, "try to make him comfortable". In the ensuing three weeks, I took him in three different times to get his abdomen drained. Each time, they drained over 7 liters of fluid off of him. He would seem to be a little more comfortable after each draining, but eventually he stopped eating. I knew that was the end, and I didn't want him to go two days in a row without eating. I intervened, brought his wonderful vet to our house, and had him put down while I held him in my arms. I cried like a baby. Then, as a final symbol, I told the vet I did not want him transported in a trash bag. I had the local shelter come to my house, carry him away on a stretcher covered with blankets. They then cremated his remains and actually bury his ashes in the cemetary operated by the shelter. That was the most dignfied way I could think of as a final send-off for a true friend. As you can tell, I did what was right for Mason. It killed me, but I now know that I did everything I could and thought of him first.

I hope this doesn't sound too gloom and doom, but I wanted to share with you a similar recent situation that I had and how I dealt with it. I have no regrets, and I have the fantastic 10 years of memories that Mason gave to me.

Best wishes for the best possible outcome for Chloe and your family.

JA

[Jim727]

We went through a similar surprise with a pet. No fun - wish Chloe and you the best.

[speeder]

So sorry to hear this, but in times like this you must look for the silver lining. (No matter how difficult). It sounds like she has made it to 80% of life expectancy in good health and in a good home + will end her life w/o any suffering, whenever it occurs. I'm a huge dog-lover and had to put down my German Shepard last winter, it was awful but I did the right thing. I always think of what would happen if these animals were out in the wild instead of in our houses w/ no vets or healthcare. It makes me shudder and think differently about life's end for them.

You sound like a great pet owner and I'm sure she's had a super life w/ you. Just remember, no suffering and the animal should not even know what's happening. Good luck and thanks for sharing with us.

[widgeon13]

Sorry to hear the sad news, hope there is some good news to report after Thursday. Give her an extra dog treat tonight. Hope she is comfortable.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by deanp

or even having the leg amputated. She is too big (156lbs) with a big deep chest to carry that weight on one leg, especially when she is already getting old by Saint standards.

Aggh, sorry, I missed that it was a FRONT leg.

That's pretty difficult. Carries more weight.

[rammstein]

These threads make me so scared for the day when I have to deal with this. Hopefully you'll still have some good time together. When the time comes, I think you'll know it. Give your dog a hug for me.

[Ronbo]

We went through this with one of our first Great Danes. He was about 7 years old and otherwise healthy. We had to restrict his movements (no stairs, absolutely no running) as the vet told us there was a chance the bone could fracture. It was so hard keeping him to one room and going out for slow walks around the yard. We moved our mattress downstairs to sleep there because he would cry at night because he couldn't come up. This was about 10 years ago and it still hurts to think about it. Make the best of your time with Chloe. It's never easy.