Ok, please listen for a moment. Some people go the chemo route, some do not. That doctor DOES NOT...let me repeat NOT know how long your Sammy has. NOBODY can answer that question. There have been people in here with poor prognosis that have done wonderfully! There have been the opposite as well. There is always a risk with surgery, but you are giving him the only chance he has and you are taking away his pain!!!

He may live 2 years and cross over because of old age.. it was wrong for that person to just throw that at you. Some people are SO insensitive!!!

Right now, focus on the surgery. Focus on your boy doing well and making a smooth transition into recovery. Chemo is NOT a must, it is an option. Many in here have chosen NOT to do chemo and have done really well. 

I am so sorry that this happened to you right now at this moment, it is the last thing you need.

Hugs,

Jackie

I am leaving work, you are in good company. I will check back later on. You are going to be ok, and you are in good  company here 🙂

Don't worry about him being "foggy", that is not always a bad thing. This is major surgery and he will need to stay still and quiet for a while afterwards. Eating (sometimes by hand), drinking (important), short easy breaks for pee and poo (poo might take a while at first), and lots and lots of tlc and sleep. That's it. No stairs, no up on things like beds, no running around in the yard or walks. Just rest, food, meds, elimination. 

Most of our furbabies stay on medication for pain for about 2 weeks. They usually come home with tramadol, rimadyl, and gabapentin. Huckleberry had a long acting antibiotic injection and his meds were different being a cat. Although the pain meds were different, gabapentin is important to avoid phantom limb pain. 

Traction is also very important. Some of us use yoga mats, puzzle mats, throw rugs, anything to make sure they don't slip on slick floors. If you have carpeting then you don't have to worry about that. Stairs should also be slip proofed. 

Make sure he has lots of yummy foods to eat. The drugs will likely put his appetite off, so whatever he will eat.. canned food, chicken, hamburger, scrambled eggs... whatever it takes for him to want to eat. 

Wishing you lots of luck for a smooth procedure without complications. Will be looking for your progress.

Jackie and Huckleberry 

Hi Liz, sorry to meet you here, but I'm glad you found us.

By now, we're all waiting to hear that the surgery went well and that Sam traded that awful osteo pain for a new pain that's going to get better.

FWIW, we brought Casey home the evening of his surgery (left arm), and he did great.  He came home as a 54 pound Golden and had no noticeable pain issues.  He took 200mg Gabapentin and 200 mg Tramadol three times daily plus 50 mg Rimadyl twice daily with meals.  He was able to roll in the snow, stand up on his own, and trot to his mom when she called him 36 hours after surgery.  We tapered the Gabapentin down between a week and ten days after surgery, and the Tramadol a week later.  He still takes the Rimadyl as it can suppress new tumors.

We bought several harnesses for Casey and then didn't use any.  We used a pillowcase as a strap to help him stand that first day, and possibly to help him on the stairs for a few more days, but after that, he just wore a T-shirt with a hair tie on the top to create a top knot.  We simply grabbed that top knot to help him on stairs until he had them mastered.

One thing to look for . . . did they test Sam's ALP (alkaline phosphatase)?  Low ALP levels indicate a better prognosis.