My rottie JD was diagnosed with Histiocytic sarcoma in Feb 2013, he had some ups and downs during the first month after his right front amp but otherwise has done very well. He became picky with his food and started to lose some weight with some adjustments including a raw diet he was eating his meals. His last chest x-rays were clear and blood work good, we all assumed he was in remission. 

Unfortunately, this was not so. On Monday I took him out for a walk with my other dog, they saw a cat got excited and then JD was sniffing a pole I pulled on the leash to get his attention he tripped and fell. He attempted to get up but was not able to, I rushed him to my vet and x-rays showed a spiral fracture to his left back leg, otherwise the bone looked normal. They decided it was best he see the specialists two hours away, I left him there sedated and on Tuesday drove him to the specialist. The x-rays done there did show cancer to the bone indicating it was a pathological fracture and the bone would e too weak to hold a plate. I saw his Oncology nurse (thank god I familiar face who knew JD, his Oncologist was out for the week) and she said it probably was not Histiocytic but most likely osteosarcoma. Since there was nothing left to do I decided to bring him home. His Oncology nurse pulled some strings put in a urine catheter and sent us home with injectable pain meds to keep him comfortable for the night. That night he spent some time outside friends and family came to say their good byes, and we spent our last night together "camping" on an air mattress in the living room. He would wake up when the pain meds would wear off and I would turn him to his other side wait as long as I could and then give him another needle. He constantly wanted to be touched, and would cry if I was out of his sight. That morning I took him outside, removed the urine catheter and let him enjoy the sun, he was a tough guy and tried to get up a few times even though his leg was broken. I took him inside on his bed, two of his vets came and put him to sleep. It was very peaceful and he passed away in my arms in his home, I couldn't ask for a better way for him to go just wish it wasn't so soon. I`m thankful his leg broke where it did in front of a friends house, when I was walking him versus when we were hiking in the middle of no where or when I wasn`t home. 

I am still grieving and the house feels so quiet, I miss his random barking, his wiggling bum when he would great me, his whining when he wanted outside and everything about him. He was more than just a dog to me, he was my best friend, my main man, my confidant, my protector, running, jogging, hiking, snow shoeing partner, my saviour and my constant for the last seven years. Thanks to him I did several things I wouldn`t have done. He taught me lessons about loyalty, trust, strength and resilience. He will always be in my heart. 

I would like to thank the tripawd community, I wasn`t always on here but when I needed comfort or advice someone was always able to help me. I last came to you when I was questioning whether to adopt another dog. Thanks to the advice I received I did and am so thankful that Takeela was able to know JD, encouraged him to play and comforted him in his last hours. She is now forcing me to get up out of bed and feed her (all I really did today for her, hoping to be able to do more for her tomorrow). Everyone helped me so much this last 15 months (he passed 15 months to the day of his surgery) and I can't thank you enough. I wish you luck with your own pups, please cherish the time you have, spoil them with ice cream and cheese burgers.