Glad to hear from Alexei!

Good news from the pathologist.  Tess' tumor is not an osteosarcoma.  It is a sarcoma but they are not exactly sure what type.  The pathologist is calling it anaplastic, essentially meaning they are not sure what type.  My vet thinks it may be a fibrosarcoma.  The mitotic rate in the biopsy was extremely low so it does not appear to be an aggressive tumor!  My vet is going to discuss it further with an oncologist and see if chemo is recommended, but good news all around!

I took Tess back to a local vet today because I had some concerns about the wound (it is fine), and it was an interesting experience.  First Tess nearly ran to the car, obviously excited for a ride.  At the vet's office every human looked at Tess and said "Awww...the poor thing."  I was really taken aback as I had never felt sorry for her because she obviously doesn't feel sorry for herself.  I kept having to repeat - "She is really doing well..."  In the meantime Tess is stopping to sniff at stuff and generally acting like a content dog.  A woman came up to me looking like she had tears in her eyes and asked how such a large dog could handle an amputation.  She went on to tell me she still regretted not amputating the leg of her greyhound with sarcoma.  The dog had a pathologic fracture and it sounded like it was a horrible experience for her.  I tried to reassure her, saying it is never an easy decision and nothing is guaranteed, etc...but I felt terrible.  She kept saying "I didn't know what to do" which reminded me of how fortunate we are to have this site and this community for support and information.

But Tess is fantastic. She even got down off the couch by herself last night!  It used to be called the dedicated quadrapawd couch but now it is the Tripawd couch!

Thanks again for all the great support!

Yes, Alexei, one of the good side effects of Tess' surgery is that I no longer have to lock the garbage or the freezer (she cleaned it out once).  And the empty cat food cans are no longer disappearing from the sink!

A happy Tess update.  I had to go away for a few days and left Tess in the capable hands of my housesitter.  I came back this morning and was greeted by an upright Tess!!  She no longer needs help to get up and down or even to handle the two small steps on the porch.  Less than two weeks after surgery she is back to her old self, just minus one leg!  I laughed and sobbed at the same time and truly have never felt such joy.  She just amazes me.

The other good news is that the final pathology from her tumor is a low grade soft tissue sarcoma that was invading into the bone of her leg.  So she doesn't need chemo, and the surgery most likely cured her!!!  Yeahhhh!!!