Damn, that's harsh news. I'm so sorry, Boomer's Dad. You must feel like you've been punched in the gut after all the reassurances you were given prior to surgery. Go easy on yourself though about the guilt - you made the best decision for Boomer based on your love and the information given. It may not be helpful but medicine really isn't an exact science and sometimes throws us nasty curve balls.

There's no two ways about it but cancer sucks.

Boomers dad, sorry about your dilema.  I hope I can help , when we had Gus' first x-ray, the vet thought we had caught the cancer early and his chest was clear. At that time I said no chemo, I wasn't going to put him through anymore pain or suffering if he was to have side effects. Once his healing from surgery was over, he was as good as before he had the cancer. Unfortunately we found out about 8 weeks ago it has gone to his lungs along with a lump on his neck, so I started the metronomic therapy, mostly to hopefully slow the growth of the cancer, but he has had a great life since amputation, and if it all ended tomorrow I have no regrets because I gave him the best life I could for what we were dealing with, and if I hadn't done the surgery, he wouldn't be here today, so don't beat yourself up about having it done, you did what you thought was best at the time and you can't change that. I don't know how long we have with Gus, but each day is great because we still have him, so we just take it one day at a time. Remember, Boomer doesn't have a clue what cancer is, anything about test,  prognosis, etc, so just treat her the best you can and know you did what you thought was right for her. Gus and Dan   

Oh gosh....I can see why you are upset...BUT, I will add my voice to the others...getting rid of the leg got rid of the pain and if you hadn't she would have suffered and most likely eventually suffered a broken leg....

Magic had his surgery with clear everything....short weeks later lung mets appeared, then tumors in the kidneys....we KNOW when the amp occurs that even if it doesn't show, the cancer cells are there, they just make an appearance at different times for different dogs.

You have options and one of them is to do no chemo...there are lots and lots of folks who opt for that and do just fine.  Others (like me) do everything we can get our hands on and it does no good because the cancer is so aggressive.

Enjoy every minute you have, and rest assured you did the right thing for your baby....

Hi Boomer's dad; 

Just to add my 2 cents to this discussion .... 

I felt the same way you do. We did all kinds of tests prior to going through with Sophie's amputation - particularly because of her age (she's a 12 year old golden retriever), and the fact that her particular kind of cancer as Karen said above, was not a terribly painful one like osteosarcoma, but rather, a soft tissue sarcoma. Hers would have eventually burst through the skin and left an ugly, painful sore. After getting an "all clear" sign - we went ahead with the amputation - and were told immediately after the surgery that they suspected the cancer had advanced to her lymph nodes, and then only to be told 3 short weeks later that the cancer was in her lungs as well. It has now been almost 5 months (February 25, 2010). We started in on the chemotherapy - got through 3 treatments - and have just now decided to discontinue chemo because it is making her sicker than the cancer did. For us - that is the bottom line. The treatment cannot be worse than the disease.

So many others have posted above about how the dogs don't know that there is anything different about them - whether they have mets or not. That is so true. They are still the same as they were 30 minutes ago - prior to you reading the results of the pathology report, or hearing the vet say those awful words.

My advice - for what it's worth - go for quality days. As long as Boomer is having more "good" days than "bad" - no matter what course of treatment you chose - chemotherapy or holistic or nothing - live in the moment and enjoy your dog. It's an old cliche for sure - but they really DO tell you when their time has come. Until then - as others have said - live in the moment, LIVE with cancer. Boomer will do fine with 3 legs. Really - it is amazing how well they do. If only people could adjust so well. But Boomer will need to feel your confidence that everything is as it should be - no matter what the pathology report said. 

Use this discussion forum - ask all the questions - vent when you need to / want to. I doubt that there is anything you could say or ask that someone here has not already gone through and can offer some perspective - or a sympathetic ear. 

Keep strong, Boomer !! You still have some living to do ! 

Sophie and Tana

Hello Boomer's Dad -

I can fully understand your feelings!  Totally.  But as others have said, you DID get rid of a horrendously painful leg for your dog.  What's done is done...live in the moment for now.  Don't go to the past.  I also have problems with doing chemo for my dog so I opted to do homeopathic treatment for my dog with Dr. Charles Loops in NC.  I live in Maine.  This all can be done over the phone with him.  He is widely known as a cancer specialist in homeopathy.  I encourage you to give him a call.  My dog has been on his protocol since December.

Good luck and stay strong for your pup!

Tracy, Maggie's Mom