Bone cancer - need a second opinion in Home Counties area

[bluegreyhound]

My poor blue girlie Eva has been diagnosed with bone cancer. She started limping before Christmas, was given some anti-inflammatories, got slightly better over Christmas but then got worse again, so she went in today for X-rays.

She has been diagnosed with cancer (my poor boyfriend went to pick her up, and had the chat with the vet, and can't quite remember what type the vet said, but I suspect it was osteo). The point of pain is quite high on her left hind leg.

I was a little disappointed when my boyfriend said that our vet had said that he didn't think amputation was worth doing, because by the time they've learnt to walk again the cancer has turned up somewhere else. Apparently the vet is getting a world expert to look at the X-rays on Thursday, and we have an appointment with him on Monday evening. In the meantime Eva has some stronger pain killers (I am also slightly annoyed because we took her in on Thursday, when she was very lame, and he didn't give her any stronger pain killers then, even though he thought it was likely to be bone cancer).

I have been looking at stories on here, and on the Tripawds forum, and I know that amputation is painful and the dog can die because of complications connected to the surgery, and that the dog may die within weeks because of the spread of cancer anyway.

However, we are currently faced with a dog with a very sore and painful leg. She is still eating, still wants cuddles, still roaches for cuddles, and is reasonably alert. I don't think she's ready to go yet, but I don't want her to be in pain, and from what I've read bone cancer is very painful, so if it's possible to amputate I would certainly consider doing so.

I think I need a second opinion - has anybody got any recommendations?

[samburns]

Oh no my heart absolutely goes out to you and poor Eva


The current statistics I have seen are that the average life expectancy post-op (with chemo) is 12 months.  After about a week post-op with Dickie we knew that however little time he might have it would be worth it....every single minute.

I don't know any vets your way.....maybe see who Liza uses, she is quite close isn't she?  I wouldn't want to wait a week in all honestly.  I wouldn't want to be hanging around one minute longer to get her leg removed....

If you want to have a chat, I'll PM you my number

[samburns]

I don't suppose he did chest xrays did he?

[bluegreyhound]

Don't think he did chest x-rays - my guess is if he's not pro-amp he would't bother.

[samburns]

No that's what I was thinking

[bluegreyhound]

Have you got Liza's number? I used to have it but must have lost it when I changed phones.

[samburns]

PM'd you x

[kizzeysmum]

So, so sorry to read this about Eva.

There is an excellent orthopaedic vet at Hall Place Veterinary Centre near Maidenhead called Stuart Butler. I don't know whether he does work in osteosarcoma but it would be worth contacting them to find out. I can highly recommend him as he did great work on my Joel.

[bluegreyhound]

Thanks - am going to call Hall Place in the morning.

[greybeard]

So far I haven't had to face this.But I know how agonising bone pain is for people.Thinking about all the amputees on here - no leg the pain improves.But chest x rays are crucial.So many vets seem so negative about this - but look at Dickie and Herbie etc.They had a chance - put their owners through hell but they were worth it .And yes - if it was Perry and his chest x rays were clear I would't hesitate - Cath

[leanda]

Stuart also operated on my dog, Custard,last Friday. I've known him for quite a few years and I highly recommend him.Good Luck Leanda

[gilli176]

In a heartbeat I would say yes to amputation again if in that position if I thought my dog would cope. Dizzy is 2 years 7 months clear. We were fortunate and our vet was great no messing no waiting for test results She had an xray he saw a tumour called us while she was under anesthetic her chest was clear so she had her leg amputated. The vets weren't sure chemo was worth doing but we discussed it and said we wanted to go for it, so glad we did.

[julies]

I'm so sorry to hear your news, my only advice for you would be to change now to a vet who will work with what you want and is best for your hound ... I've had great vets when mine have had cancers and they have looked out new treatments, pulled strings and referred us on very quickly - time is of the essence. When my lurcher had radiotherapy years ago he was there with a 14 yr old collie who had a tumour across his gums .. his vet had seen no point in treating it but his owner had found Davies Specialists and he was having radio too - his tumour was shrinking so it had to be worth trying. Are you close too to Noel Fitzgerald's practice ... another option?

Best wishes and good luck, cancer's not the death sentence it was but you need to be very quick with it...

Julie xx

[Milothemonster]

My vet had a similar opinion to yours... he also thought that as Herbie was an old dog then amputation was probably not in his best interests as he didnt think an older dog would do well. So he bascially told us to give palliative care.

But we argued for amputation and so then he agreed to that to spare Herbie the pain from bone cancer which as you say is suppose to be the worse pain ever. Most dogs who do not have amputations are pts within weeks because the pain becomes unbareable.

But then we also wanted Herbie to have chemo and again my vet was quite negative and said he would suffer terrible side effects which he hasnt.

The oncologist treating Herbie told us that a lot of vets who have this negative opionion on chemo base their thoughts on the old style therapy ie they havent kept up to speed on how quickly chemo has advanced and the drugs and outcomes have improved etc.

We were told this by the oncolgist at Leahurst vet hospital which is currently the best for chemo in uk.

Do nothing and the dog will die within weeks due to being pts as the pain would be excruciating.

Amputation only and the dog may survive up to four months with luck.

Amputation and chemo and most dogs survive up to 12 months and others do a lot longer as we have seen on here.

I really hope you find a vet who is much more informed about it all and that you get the amputation done quickly.

I wish you and your girl all the luck in the world and please let us know how she gets on.

[allthehounds]

I'm so very sorry to hear about Eva, you must be devastated. I've been through this twice and I'm afraid to say that amputation is the only way to take the horrendous pain away. I wouldn't wait if that's the route you want to try because the leg could break in the meantime and you don't want to be in that situation. Despite what statistics say every dog is an individual and our first dog lasted just 6 weeks after diagnosis and our second 5 months so I'm afraid there's no guarantees that amputation or amputation combined with chemo will prolong life. Also our girl's chest x-rays were clear but it didn't stop the cancer coming back in her spine so chest x-rays aren't everything. Our vet also says that the lung mets are often too small to pick up on x-ray so early on but they are quite often already there. You know your girl best though and if you don't think she's ready to give up then try and get a date for her surgery booked and get the first step out of the way. Once she 's home and recovering from the surgery you'll have time to consider what you'd like to do next but you do need to get a good vet who you're confident in and who will support any decisions you make as this is such an emotional time and you don't need any conflict. As you've already discovered there's lots of support and information out there and of course within this group so any more questions you've got or you just need a shoulder to cry on please feel free to contact me anytime. Sending a million good thoughts for Eva and hugs for you all, please let us know what you decide to do next.

Sian x