Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My pup is almost a month post amputation. Originally they thought osteosarcoma. Then they thought it was bladder cancer that has spread to the bone. After tests ruled both of those out, they said that they are unsure where the primary site of the cancer is but confirmed it’s carcinoma from the biopsy. They said that they would be able to come up with a better treatment plan to target the specific cancer, but since they can’t find the primary site, they will most likely have to generally treat it. Has anyone had any experience with a similar situation? I just find it odd they can’t find what kind of cancer this is. Any advice would help!
Hey Jeremy,
Sorry that they couldn't come up with a positive diagnosis. It's happened quite a bit over the years and isn't all that unusual, as hard to believe as it is (here are some examples for you). But since these are two very different cancers suspect, I would ask for another opinion from a different pathologist and oncology clinic if you are opting for chemotherapy. I'm not a vet, but generally treating it sounds like throwing darts with a blindfold on.
Your vet can have the slides sent elsewhere for a second opinion. Does your dog have bladder cancer? That is fairly easy to determine and if so then there are certain chemo drugs such as carboplatin that work better for this type although it does not typically go to the bone. If your dog has not already had a full abdominal ultrasound I would have that done by a radiologist to also check local lymph nodes.
Osteosarcoma is not common in smaller breed dogs.
Pam
Thank you Dr. Pam! They’ve already started her on the carboplatin. She has her second treatment on Thursday if her CBC comes back normal tomorrow. It was low last week when the wanted to give her her second round of chemo. I actually asked my oncologist, and this is the second oncologist I’ve been too, to do a CT scan. They did it and all they found was two lymph nodes that they think have the cancer in them, a small spot on the lung that they believe is actually benign but they are going to keep an eye on it, and “something going on” in the bladder that they can’t tell if it’s bladder cancer or something else. So we are doing a cadet braf test on Thursday to determine if it’s bladder. The also saw something “thickening of the stomach wall” that my oncologist was worried about and she had the radiologist take a look at it and they determined it wasn’t cancer. This has been an emotional rollercoaster!
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