Nindri, sorry to hear of your great dane's diagnosis.
Osteosarcoma is very aggressive and brutaly painful.

Without amputation, the dog would have to be on pain meds, gradually heavier and heavier pain meds until no more pain meds can be of any help any more.  In some cases, the bone, gradually eaten away by the cancer, could break very easily.  By then, the decision would still have to be made.

Amputation is not a cure, the primary reason to do that is to get rid of the pain from the tumor site.  Hopefully leading to some more pain-free quality months or even years.   With amputation, the dog is at least given a chance to fight.

Statistically, when a dog starts to limp becuase of OS, the cancer has already spreaded, lungs are the most common place where it would spread to.  Microscopic spread sometimes might not be shown on chest x-ray.  Chemotherapy usually follows in hoping to kill the remnants.

Most dogs do very well recovering, but the first two weeks post-op is always a challenge.  Once they get over that hill, things will be looking better and better.

There are quite a number of giant breed tripawd members in this forum.  They will share their experience of caring their big dogs after the surgery.  Hope that you will get enough information to help make the decision.

Hugs.

Oh what a face!!! She is beautiful. I agree with everything that Genie and Kim had to say.

I had a very difficult time making my decision as well. I received the diagnosis on Thursday evening, April 3rd and it was confirmed by an oncologist on Friday with the options that you have been given and Genie spelled out (what will happen if it goes untreated).

For 3 days, all I thought about was this. I exhausted internet information and other resources (my best friend is a vet and another dear friend is also a vet). By Sunday night, I still didn't know what to do but I was told that time was of the essence. So...I asked Zeus. He was laying on the bed and I explained the situation to him - on some level he had to have understood me. After I explained it all to him and asked him what he wanted to do, he jumped off the bed, chased his tail around in circles, grabbed his favorite toy and whipped it around a bit...went to the window and starting barking and then looked back at me as if to say, "I want to live". We amputated that following Wednesday on April 9th.

Almost 7 months later he is happy, alive, pain free and enjoying everything he used to except hour long walks. I would do it all again. I have learned so many life lessons from him...the time has been priceless and worth all the fear, struggle and financial cost. That's my experience though...my purpose in writing this to you is to tell you to listen to your heart and your sweet girl. Get quiet with her and tell her what is going on...then pray and your answer should come.

If amputation is not the right path for whatever reason...that's OK, only you can answer this question. Keep her comfortable and pain free as long as possible and enjoy each moment. If you decide to move forward with amputation, it will be a difficult 2 weeks after the surgery. Read the stories, ask questions...we will be here for you to help you on this journey. Whatever you decide...have no regrets.

Many prayers and much love,

Heather and Zeus

Hi and welcome.  We are in the UK (Manchester area).  Where are you?

Darcy celebrated her 1st year ampuvarsary on 16th of this month.  We took the chance and it's paying off so far.  The statsistics (as you know) show that it will come back but I do know of some dogs who have had osteo and have lived up to 6 years, died old happy dogs and their death was nothing to do with cancer at all.  I just always try to remember the fact that some dogs will do well and I hope and pray that mine (and yours - and everyones here) is one of those lucky ones.

If you want to chat on the phone, I'm happy to do that.  If you go to my website http://www.dogsndubs.com and click the contact us button, send me your landline number (if you have one) and I'll give you a call

(Linda and Alfie - if you are reading - don't dare laugh - and don't dare tell anyone that we've both been trying for more than a month to actually have a telephone conversation with each other!!  LOLOL).

Just make sure that if you amputate, you fully recognize that this is not a cure.  Amputation for the most part will temporarily relieve your dog of living in pain, but in the majority of cases, the cancer is going to return and take your dog.  The choice is whether you want to live with your dog for another 6 months to 2 years or so.  Your dog's life is going to be severly limited compared to what it was before the amputation.  Don't expect miracles.