Aw, Denali. So sorry to hear about the possible diagnosis of osteosarcoma, but I think you and your mom will be glad you found this site. I understand your heartache; been there with our Catie who lost her right front leg on January 13.

Armed with xrays from our own vet, we saw the specialist/surgeon on December 28. From examining all the xrays he was almost 100% certain she had osteosarcoma. Because we too wanted to be sure before we proceeded with what we thought at the time a barbaric and mutilating procedure - the dreaded amputation - we asked for a bone biopsy. It came back cancer free. The surgeon was stumped and suggested he could do another one. We allowed that one too; that procedure showed definitive cancer cells. The two biopsies we submitted Catie to were the only procedures, looking back, that I regret; added to the pain from the cancer, the biopsies only greatly added to her discomfort. 

I don't regret proceeding with Catie's amputation at all. I won't say it was an easy decision to make but once we had committed to it, I felt at peace. The ambivalence of what to do was soul draining. The wisdom and open-hearted support I found on this site helped me immensely, as it will you.

Having faith in your vet is very, very important.

It's not an easy journey but so many of us have gone through exactly what you're experiencing right now as you struggle to comprehend this unexpected turn on Denali's path.

Sending many warm wishes and hoping for cancer-free result from the biopsy. In the meantime, hang in there. Please keep us posted.

Carmen 

Welcome to our family and I hate that you have to be here.  I was grabbed by Denali's name!  I had a wolfdog whose aunt's name was Denali…so now we are almost related.   (and the people who had THAT wolfdog had a dogdog named Loki!!)   And we are related through these awful circumstances.  My wd Magic was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left front leg in March and lost the awful cancer ridden piece of flesh on March 11th, freeing him from that agonizing bone cancer pain.  Unfortunately, we did get lung mets five weeks out and he also now has it in at least one of his kidneys (and probably the other since his cancer is unfortunately very aggressive and responded to none of the various chemos). 

I am sure Denali is huge, probably bigger than Magic who went into surgery at 114 pounds and has lost quite a bit of weight since (some of which was weight we have been trying to take off)….please if you do nothing else, get a Ruffwear Harness or another like it (although I love the Ruffwear…but have nothing to compare it with) to help you help her after the surgery.  Check with your vet to find out when you can use it…many vets say after stitches come out, my vet said go ahead and use it when you get it, but the incision in our case was wrapped so there was no rubbing on the actual incision.  This harness allows you to give them a bit of help in and out of vehicles, up and down stairs, maybe getting up in the very beginning.

I noticed you mentioned Denali went sliding across the floor…the next absolute must have are non skid runners for the pathways she travels …. it is likely she will be able to gain her footing on smoother flooring after she has had some practice (I have runners at home everywhere there is not carpeting, but Magic seems to do fine at the vet on the lino floors)

As someone mentioned, the first two weeks are hell weeks and do keep an eye on how she does on tramadol as some of us have had not great experiences with that pain med but there are others to switch to if need be.

the thing to remember, tattoo it on your forehead (backwards so you can read it in the mirror), embroider pillowcases, paint it on the walls….the dogs do fine on three legs….us people are the ones who have a bit of trouble adjusting.  I didn't see how an 11 year old, fairly sedentary wolfdog who would rather snooze than play these days and   whose exercise was our daily hour walk could possibly make it with three legs.  Boy did he prove me wrong.  Prepare to be amazed at your dog's ability to go, hmm, I'll just move this leg here and that leg there and off we go.

We like pictures  so we can put a face with a name, so will eagerly await those.  And remember, almost all of us have been where you are now (except for accident victims and Comet who was born with a non functional leg) so when we say we KNOW what you are going through, trust us, we do.  Ask questions, read everything on here you can read, don't get overwhelmed but ask many many questions.  Tripawds saved my sanity when Magic and I started this journey and bless each and every one of them, they will hold your hand and paw as you walk the same path.

Hello Denalis' mom, if it would help you make some kind of decision,  I live down by Seville in Medina county, so you aren't very far from us, we are only about 5 minutes off of 71. If you want to come meet Gus and see what you might be dealing with, e-mail me at cousinpepper@hotmail.com and we'll get together. I can't imagine what he'll look like when they shave him, man, thats alot of hair!!!!Paws up, Gus and Dan