The recovery really isn't that long.  The first two weeks are intense, but then most dogs really perk up.  Ultimately, they get back to doing pretty much what they had been doing before, just perhaps shorter walks.  My Otis also had osteo - we only had about 7 months post amp., but they were great in terms of his quality of life.

Hi Susanne and welcome to the Tripawds site! I am sad to hear of another golden with osteo. My boy Fionn is 7, too fat at 85lbs and 2 months post op today. He is currently napping after a lively round of "chase me and sniff my butt" at the dog park .Size does not seem to matter much with tripawds. There are LOTS of big dogs who are successfully navigating on 3 legs. Fionn is my 4th golden and all have had different cancers. The others were older so this diagnosis was a surprise, especially since I rescued him only last year when he was 6. I spent a few weeks before surgery making the decision, largely because I was hoping for an opening on the vet student schedule at UC Davis. Are you near any vet schools? There is a current clinical trial for this cancer that will help pay for surgery and all of the chemo. I think some larger vet hospitals are part of this trial too. Here is the link to UC Davis. If nothing else, you can call them to see if there's any place participating that is close to you http://www.vetm.....cology.cfm

The surgery was MUCH more expensive at the regular vet hospitals that offered it here in Sacramento. UCD had 2 prices (both less than the local prices). $3000-$3500 for a specialist and $1200 for a student to do it (supervised of course). I am a single parent with 2 daughters in college and no pet insurance. Basically, this was a financially devastating diagnosis, but I just couldn't face euthanizing and otherwise healthy dog who was still smiling his typical golden smile! We lucked out and got a spot on the student schedule and they did a great job! My other goldens all had cancers that I could do nothing about and the choice to euthanize was, not necessarily easier, but more obvious. I can't tell you what decision to make. I know people who think I was crazy, but both my girls were willing to give up Christmas so Fionn could be given some more time. Unfortunately Fionn did not qualify for the trial and I am paying for everything including chemo. The chemo gives them a chance for a longer survival time and I decided I wasn't going to do the surgery if I wasn't also willing to pay for the chemo. That is $300-500 per dose for 4-6 doses. Lots of people have chosen NOT to do chemo so, again, the choice is yours.

Spend some time on the site and reading the forum posts and blogs. Please read my blog (link in my signature below). I documented every day of the first 2 weeks post op so others on this journey could have an idea of what to expect. Not that Fionn's recovery was exactly like any other's, but it gives you an idea. Some of it was pretty funny actually Warning, there are graphic incision pictures every day. Not for the squeamish, but necessary to look at and be prepared for. Being a golden, your dog's incision will be covered with hair in a heartbeat!

Best of luck with your decision. The "right" decision is the one YOU make. Do not beat yourselves up if you choose not to go down this road. We are all here to support you no matter what you decide.

Hugs and golden smiles from Fionn and Nancy

A p.s. on my already long post:  recovery means 2-3 weeks to back to normal life, and six weeks after surgery Johnnie was swimming as if nothing had happened.  Johnnie´s journey was similar to Murphy`s and so many others: he limped for many months until we finally had the diagnosis. 

Daniela