Thanks for the encouragement. Despite the vet, who is very fond of him, I am cautiously optomistic. No visible mets as of two days ago anyway. I hadn't realized how important it was for him to be a free agent, since most of the time he's lying at my feet while I work on the computer, but we can see that he's a working dog and he needs to feel useful as well as greatly loved.

And thanks for the Tape idea! That will do it. Later this morning he figured out how to get in and out of his pool safely, but since a squirrel may appear,  I'll add the tape and he can enjoy cool feet in the hot weather.

Yale just opened up a new group of clinical sites, so in the Northwest, BARC, the Bridge Animal Referral Center in Edmunds WA near Seattle opened for appointments on May 23 in addition to Washington State which is in far Eastern Washington. We were lucky to get a July appointment as people drive from all over. If someone is interested, I would suggest calling. They'll need an oncologist consultation. I am not clear whether they would have taken just an aspiration, which is all I was willing to do given the state of his bone, but we'll have clear proof of osteosarcoma after amputation. The immunization therapy is for mets, not the primary tumor, and they encourage standard care as well. It takes a while to kick in so sooner is best, can be done along with chemo. It's very easy on the dog, just two shots three weeks apart. But of course it doesn't work for every dog. https://www.ccr.....ale-status

Here is a picture of Nicholas just before his birthday. (No lump that I can see, it appeared just a week or so later.. Sorry,  can't get the image to load correctly from my website,(although the link works)  I'll set up an image blog later.

Thanks for your messages. They meant a lot last night when I was worrying about what the morning would bring. However, Nicholas looked great when we picked him up, He hopped in the car, hopped out with the backup sling, peed, hopped around the house to his favorite spot on the stone and is now taking a rest. He's peeing, eating a little, looking around some, He seems less restless now that the pain is gone, cooperative but not very outgoing yet and who can blame him!.

The stitches will be absorbed and I'm to call back in a week. The doctor says he should be confined for about 5 days, then gradual exercise times. He's on gabapentin, amantadine, and rimadyl, same dosage as before amp, with clamavox as antibiotic Everyone's situation is different, but I am really glad I went with his own vet rather than OSU oncology Everyone knows him here. He feels at home. and they serve farm animals as well as pets, so this large animal fits. His doctor is very experienced and skilled, as well as having Nicky's personality figured out to a T! Anyway, it worked for us ...And the first steps are over. 

(To Newf owners, our guys have so much messy fluff and hair, and that remaining leg is so sturdy, the amp really doesn't stand out that much)

Here's a picture of Nick right before his 8th birthday, one from today, day after amputation, and one of him at 5 weeks examining a shoe, for cuteness. He's always been a thoughtful guy. He's loving the ice packs, just stretches out and relaxes, not so interested in eating and thus pills, although he'll take them by hand from my husband.