Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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This question is in reference to Buster's diagnostic report which was recently found on the CD which was sent to me per request from the Univ of Penn:
If you could explain ? None of this was explained to me at the time….
1. some of the lesions appear cavitary?
2. progressive remodling and spondylosis of the 4th and 5th sternebra with unchanged soft tissue swelling?( is this due to the amputation ) Is this painful ?
3. 2 large opaque masses are seen at the 8th and 10-11th ribs
4. thoughout the lungs well defined, soft tissue nodules measuring 2-3cm (as of 12/18/08)
My poor baby, Buster… we are off to the park to enjoy the day.
thank you so much…
Kim & Buster (unable to open actual x-ray due to software)
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
OKim1 said:
… we are off to the park to enjoy the day.
Doesn't sound too poor to me! 
Remember... it's good to be educated but too much information causes anxiety. A day in the park is sometimes the best therapy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kim,
1. Cavitary masses just means that there may be a "cavity" or pocket. I'm not sure if they are referring to the actual lung mets, in which case there may be some fluid or blood inside. The only way to tell this is if a CT or ultrasound is done but it is really an academic point as it won't change treatment.
2. Spondylosis is a common finding on chest rads and means that there is degeneration or arthritis of the vertebrae. The sternebrae are on the chest (think "sternum" on a person) so right about on the point of his chest he has some spondylosis. Usually not painful but an incidental finding on older dogs.
3. There are 2 larger lung mets between the described ribs.
4. Most of the mets are very small but disseminated (spread throughout all lung lobes).
This is not that bad of a report. He is feeling fine because his mets are very small, and even the 2 larger ones are not what I would call big. Follow-up rads should tell you if metronomics or artemisinin are doing anything. I would wait 2-3 months unless he is having issues. Jerry's lung met was much bigger on his rads and he did very well on metronomics so even if Buster's mets don't shrink but just stay the same then that would be great.
Have you seen Dr Clifford at Red Bank? I pulled his metronomics info off of VIN (Vet Info Network) and noticed that he practices there. He is very well known and an excellent oncologist so I decided to follow his plan (I just substituted Metacam for Deramaxx because of Tazzie's liver).
Pam and Tazzie
Buster has sent us this letter he received from his doctor, Jennifer Wiley, DVM, at the University of Pennsylvania's Oncology Department. This letter explains their findings from canine chrondrosarcoma metastasis or remission cases they have seen from 2000 to 2008. Please click here for the letter.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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