Hello, any thoughts or ideas welcome and appreciated for this very scared and worried mommy. My baby boy is a 9-10 year old, 75 lb Rottweiler who had his front leg amputation surgery for osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in November 2014. Besides phantom limb pain after suture removal (which was quickly resolved with tramadol and gabapentin that the vet prescribed), Tyson had been doing wonderfully since. Running, jumping on the bed, playing tug, happy personality.

Around mid January 2015, I noticed a few random times that it seemed a back leg might have been shaky while doing his business. It was so slight that I assumed it was insignificant, attributed to still adjusting on three legs. I was totally wrong because a week or so later, he began experiencing some pain in his hind area/rear legs. Overnight, he could no longer extend them and walk without excruciating pain. If they were "curled up" he was ok. Which meant he could lie down, and even sit up. But as soon as they were extended, it was a pain he had never experienced before...even more than his osteosarcoma. My first thoughts were a slipped disc, pinched nerve, something out of socket, along those lines...since it seemed so sudden and violent. I took him to the first vet that could see him (his surgical vet) and she was convinced it was metastasis to the hind legs. I was not able to get x-rays (too painful for him, cost prohibitive for me at the time), but she and my regular vet ruled out my theories and mentally prepared me for metastasis...and limited time with my boy. She prescribed him prednisone, informing me that the side effects would be increased thirst and therefore increased urination. I was more than ok with that if the drugs would relieve him of the pain.

About 1.5-2 days of bed rest with the prednisone...and he was back up again as normal. No more jumping on the bed or laying flat on his back for belly rubs...but walking fine. I am no doubt grateful that it helped him but in the time that has passed, I've learned much more about prednisone side effects via researching online, joining discussion groups, asking questions, etc. Although the prescription tapered him down from 40mg to 20mg, I requested to taper even further with the ultimate goal to come off completely, due to the information I gained. Both vets were concerned that if I lowered the dosage any further that he could relapse. I also persisted in asking if there were any alternative medications to prednisone, and the answer was no, nothing that could manage pain as well. I even threw out use of curcumin/turmeric as a natural anti-inflammatory along with a lowered prednisone dosage, but was advised that could cause more damage.

Present day, the prednisone (I'm convinced), has wreaked havoc on my boy's body. Bloodwork, urinalysis, and X-rays a week ago show an enlarged liver with numbers off the charts, and a stomach/esophageal ulcer. He also suddenly lost muscle mass in his head to the point where the areas above and below his eyes are sunken and the bone on top is protruding. Liver issues, ulcers, and muscle atrophy can all be associated with steroids/corticosteroids. And it changed his personality as well - he is incredibly lethargic now and doesn't want to be as close to me as he used to. I'm sure there are multiple factors involved, but I still hold to my gut that he would have been better off long-term without the prednisone.

Here is where I need help: My vets now agree that yes, he should be weaned off the prednisone, as it is causing harmful results. I am thrilled to be doing so but am also terrified that he will indeed relapse. I still haven't figured out what the issue was with his hind leg pain back in January. The vets did not see any tumors in his back or rear leg x-Rays (or even in the lungs for that matter). There was start of spondylosis and hip dysplasia however.

Questions:
1. Could spondylosis or hip dysplasia cause extreme pain like that so quickly? Is there a way to determine? If so, what are my options to prevent it in the future?

2. Could this pain have been caused by a diet deficiency? I've looked up everything from myopathy to posterior paralysis and am overwhelmed with data.

3. Has anyone else successfully used alternatives to prednisone? In case we need it in the future... (He is still on tramadol and gabapentin for preventive measures).

4. Has anyone experienced the same side effects from prednisone? If so, how did you manage and how long did it take for your pup to recover?

Since his diagnosis, his ravenous appetite has never wavered, he's never had diarrhea, never thrown up (except once due to the ulcer). Knock on wood. Any thoughts, theories, recommendations, guidance, resources etc etc would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!