We are still worried that we are doing the right thing.  There just don't seem to be many "good outcome" stories for dogs with Osteo.  Is it right to amputate when he may only live a few months? (We are doing Chemo too)  Just curious about other people's experience with Osteosarcoma. Thanks!  I'm a nervous wreck.

It's hard not to worry – you worry that the surgery will go well, you worry about how much time you'll have, you worry about how advanced the disease might be. BUT – don't worry whether or not you are doing the right thing. As Gayle said, you are taking away the pain for your dog. Some might choose not to amp if their dog is older or has other health/mobility issues, but you know your dog best. If your dog (what is your dog's name btw?) still has that will-to-live spark in his/her eye, then you are most definitely doing the right thing.

Not gonna lie – the two weeks post amp are tough. Definitely consider the ebook mentioned above so you know what to expect. You  might get sleep deprived. You might wonder if you did the right thing. But once you get through that 2 weeks and once your dog is off the pain meds and fully recovered, then he'll begin to amaze you. 

We are almost one year post Dx/amp and it's been wonderful. Even if you only have a "few" months – that is extra special time that you'll have with your pain-free pup.

You have definitely come to the right place. This is the site no one wants to join but everyone is glad you did.

Please let us know some more about your pup and definitely let us know how the surgery goes! We'll all be here pulling for you. I'm pretty sure you won't find a more supportive group on the Internet anywhere!

Hang in there,

Jackie, Abby's mom

Yoda only had a few months following his amputation, but they were so high quality that I certainly didn't have any regrets!  (Though it's totally normal to struggle with serious doubts in the two weeks or so following the amputation when they're really wigged out on painkillers and doing some major healing – so don't be caught by surprise about that).  Yoda (a doberman mix, by the way) re-learned to do everything on three legs that he loved doing before.  Though, chasing his tail again took him the longest – about three months, haha!  (Everything else took him closer to three weeks).  He caught a rabbit in the back yard, even after his cancer had come back strong (alas).  But for most of the approximately 4 months he had post amputation, he was even more outgoing with people and other dogs than he had been before and he still had a grand time at the dog park. 

As Charon touched on, osteosarcoma tumors are very painful.   Some dogs can really hide that, but once the tumor is gone your dog's relief becomes obvious, even if they were on a lot of pain meds already (at least, that's what I saw with Yoda).  And there is the potential for what they call pathological fractures, which from what I hear (Yoda was lucky enough not to have any that I'm aware of) are really scary to see your pup experience and can occur during very normal physical activity.  So, in my opinion, the amputation is really immensely practical because of the risk of pathological fractures that may just lead you to need to amputate later anyway.

Remember – cancer is the evil one.  Take it easy on yourself.  You're gonna do the best you can for your boy, whatever that is.  Nobody can do it better.  Nobody here will judge you for your choices on his care – whatever they are.  Tell anyone who tries to take a hike 

Oh, and ask your vet lots of questions!  Bug 'em lots.  It's good for him/her and way better for you then letting questions/worries stay bottled up inside you.

Spirit Yoda will be watching out for your boy tomorrow and he probably won't be the only one of our tripawd angels doing so… (Sorry if that was too cheesy for ya, but I feel it strongly tonight )

Thanks Everyone!  It feels good to have made a decision.  We have been going back and forth and listening to everyone's "opinions" for a couple months actually.  Levi had his left front leg amputated today.  He is a 6 year old Blue Doberman.  The surgery took about three hours but it went well.  We pick him up Sunday Morning.  I think he is going to do better than some because he is used to being on the pain meds, used to using three legs (mostly), and used to shoulder pain :(  at first we just decided to put him on pain meds and wait til he was in too much pain, then let him go (he was really happy until a few weeks ago)…this seemed to be everyone's "opinion" of what to do.  But then suddenly this week I decided to act like my normal self and quit worrying about what everyone else thinks and do what I want to.  So here we are- and I appreciate all of your support!  I need to read the ebook.  we have a 9 month old Doberman Puppy that we are going to have stay somehwere else the first week…  It is going to be so nice when Levi is healed and him and Koa can finally play together without me FREAKING out that his leg would break.  Levi has been my jogging partner for years.  We ran 14 miles together this April (He was ready for more.  I was exhausted).  I'm hoping we will be able to get a few 2-3 miler trail runs in together after a few months??  That's our story!  I feel like I'm ready to pick him up Sunday.  We will see.  I know it's going to be shocking.

Yay for Dobe power!  

Someone may have already said this, but it's one of the best pieces of advice we give here, I'd say:

Try to take advantage of this time while Levi is at the vet and get extra sleep and take extra good care of yourself in general cause it'll be all downhill from there once you get Levi home.  Levi won't necessarily need you to stay up nights fussing over him, but it'll be hard to help yourself.  

(By the way, I'm also YodasMom)

Take care!  Best wishes!!  Levi's going to do great as a tripawd!!!