Here is the copy from my blog to the forum - I appreciate your input and actually did take her to a local vet on Thursday who said she looked fine. Although they didn't do any testing.

Well, I figure I would just start from the beginning. I can’t say how glad I was to find this site, for walking down this road with a loved one is so, so hard.

We have a Rottie named Shilo she just turned 6 years old in June. 2 of my good friends have her sisters and for the most part they have been intwined since birth. At 3 months of age her sister Cheyenne was diagnosed with Parvo, even though they had all received their shots. She had a tremendous struggle but she made it and is with us today. Her other sister Shadow has had a great life of having a couple litters and just being a typical rottie has been in good health.

Shilo was the cleanest in health, spoiled and always an intricate part of our family. We got them when they were 8 weeks old and they have all 3 been with just 1 family. Loved, cherished, and spoiled they have all become one of the kids.

It was mid August, my brother had come over for a visit and we had noticed Shilo had a bit of a weird gate. We checked both front feet but couldn’t see anything visible wrong with either one so tossed it off that one of the kids must have stepped on her. Within a week the favouring of one front leg was becoming more noticeable and so a more in depth search as to the reason was insued. We still couldn’t see anything so tried to get her to rest it thinking maybe a pulled muscle or something else was to cause.  By Aug 28th we began to notice a small lump on her left leg, ankle area and by that night I did a google search. Limping, lump, leg and what came back shocked me – Bone cancer?

Of course the next day I started a phone calls to vets to get her seen, sadly it was a weekend and the soonest anyone had the availability was Monday mourning. We got her in to a vet who ran the x-rays and we came back an hour later. The vet said that although it didn’t look like the typical flowering of the bone that osteosarcoma has it did show that the bone densisty was extremely poor. That the hollowing of the bone did indicate the most likelyhood that it would be osteosarcoma but that we should follow up with Oregon State University. We set up an appointmen for that Friday.

By Friday she had quit using the limb all together and the tumor started to become more noticeable. The Oncologist at OSU through a biopsy confirmed the likelyhood of cancer and so we were given the bad vs. worse options.

1. Do nothing – 30-45 days survival

2. Amputation only – no pain and 30-45 days survival

3. Amputation & chemotherepy – up to 1 year survival or more

4. Radiation – 4-5 months on average

We wanted her to have a chance and to have the most quality of life and so we choice the amputation and chemotherepy. Our hope was that maybe since we were so early in detection that she could be of the 15% that was caught before the spread. So, we scheduled the amputation that next Tuesday or so we thought, we were also told it would run around 1,100.

Tuesday we showed up only to be put through the rigamaroe that we went through Friday, we said we already made the decision Friday why are we rehashing this? Why are you showing me tapes of 3 legged dogs? It felt more like a sales pitch then quality of life for our pet. But, we followed through – the alternative we though wasn’t an option at least for us. We went to take the Shilo back, then found 1. the surgery wasn’t scheduled until wednesday mourning (we were angry!) and 2. the bill they drafted went from 1100 to 2000-2500. We were shocked and angered, and we felt a bit taken advantage of. But choices being limited we were at their mercy to save our baby girl. The last thing we thought was that it would make things any worse……

Wednesday 9/9/09 I was frantic, and pacing my home waiting for the vet to call. They promised to give her high priority and that she was suppose to go in first thing. They were suppose to call at the latest by 3pm to give an update. I called at 4pm and was told that she got bumped and that they were just finishing her up. Someone would call me in an hour or so. Angry again I waited and wondered what was higher priority then a dog who has cancer?? 4 pm the assistant called and let me know that she made it through with flying colors, that although they were concerned that she hasn’t eaten since she had been there they would give food that night, take her off the pain drip in the mourning and she could possible go home Thursday afternnoon. Her dad and I planned to get her no madder what they said, she had never been away from us and we knew she was scared and that she wouldn’t eat from strangers.

Thursday mourning I got the call that she was doing great and had gotten up to go potty. We couldn’t wait to go get her and so by 2pm we were at the hospital. They brought her into the room and we were severly shocked, no one warned us. Shilo walked in visible, extremely depressed! She didn’t even wag at the sight of us, she just laid there. Her spark gone. At the first sight we were so dispared but, realized it wasn’t even 24 hours since surgery we needed to be positive.

We got her into the car and on our way home we went, we stopped to get a burger knowing she hadn’t eaten. We had to hand feed her and she snubbed her nose at her once favorite meal. She ate it reluctently, she ate it to please us. It broke our hearts and so we went home wondering if we made the right decision after all. Getting home we had to figure a way to get her out of the car, it was done by her dad having to pick her physically up and get her out. We tried to get her to walk in but she got to the porch plopped down and refused to get up. We got a blanket and her Dad and I carried her in. Within a few hours we noticed that she was acting very strange, staring off. Jumping up and staring at walls, walking into parts of the house she would never go before. I knew it was probably the meds but, controlling the pain was a top priority. By the 2 night she was eating chicken off a plate(not much but she was eating).

By day 4 her  food intake went down, she hadn’t pooped, and was decreasing her water. I called the vet and she said to stop the Tramadol continue the Rimadyl and call in the mourning.

Day 5 Food intake was nothing, still no bowl, and took us handing her water for her to drink. I called the vet, she said to stop the Rimadyl and put her on OTC Prilosec and call tomorrow.

Day 6 Food increase slightly, finally a bowl movement, drinking increased. She is getting around much better today. No excitement, and sleeps a lot. Update to vet, said to watch for pain and continue Prilosec for 3 more days

Day 7 Food minimal, water intake good, getting around great. Gets a little winded with walking, still no normal activity.

Day 8 Got her to eat more then I have for awhile chicken breast, roast beef, and cheese. Water and walking good.

Day 9 Still no activity really, no wagging and such. Food about the same. It is noticeable she has lost weight. Vet called left message saying the limb came back from the lab, 100% was osteosarcoma and that it was very aggressive.

Today day 10 again no activity, I did get her to eat some roast this mourning. Won’t do anything that she normally would, just lays around and stares off.

I don’t know if we did the right thing. I am hoping that someone out there has possible went through something similar and can offer me some hope. The vets say her appitite should have come back, she goes in this Thursday to get the staples out, I am going to have them do another x-ray to confirm it hasn’t spread before doing chemo.

We just wanted to give her some quality and I am not so sure that we have……..  We are also looking to do the carboplatin(?) what are people results with this treatment?  We have looked to do dietery as well, any input on this would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thank you all for your posts of suggestions and support. We all do really appreciate it, I am glad to hear that we as her caregivers can affect her mood in a positive light and we will continue to push forward with positive thoughts.

In regards to the vet we did take her in on Thursday to have her checked and they thought she looked good. Of course this was a local vet and not the hospital, I am not sure she is going to be so cooperative with the vets anymore. When I took her in they muzzled her for the first time ever, she growled at the vet the minute she walked in the room. She had never done that before and so I didn't blame the vet for muzzling her, I would have done the same.

They thought she was doing very well, even though she had taken a couple of her staples out.  (grr...)

Hearing stories of others has given us much strength, thank you so much.

Dear Shilo and Family: We're so sorry you are having a hard time. It sounds like the whole process has been difficult which is unfortunate because of course the cancer and decision to amputate is difficult enough. Romeo had his surgery on August 17.

We too noticed a lump that seemed to come out of nowhere. Romeo was acting normal, no limping, so we were completely stunned when they came back with the xrays. It's been almost five weeks and Romeo is doing really well---running and playing---but the first two weeks were extremely difficult. There were a few bright moments, but basically he slept for the first ten days. It sounds like you are extremely vigilant (and devoted and caring of course) and I think that's good, especially since Shilo has had a rough time. I think our dogs really need us to advocate for them (of course that's why we've all found our way to this site). I did ask for more pain meds for Romeo

a couple of times. I wonder if Shilo is still in pain and feeling very vulnerable if she never growled at the vet before? 

I completely empathize with your concerns about appetite and potty. Romeo is completely food driven---before surgery he wanted to eat about thirty times a day! I had to bring him food the first few days and he didn't eat much. It slowly progressed, although he has definitely lost weight. I would say every week he's wanted to eat a bit more---he's almost back to his regular appetite and he's back to begging at the dinner table (and he's always successful!). think your strategy of special foods is a good one. Romeo didn't poop for almost five days after surgery which the vet said was pretty normal. I remember he had the surgery Monday and they said if he still hasn't pooped by Saturday call us ---luckily he pooped Friday night!  

Bob is right about treating the spirit. Is there anything Shilo particularly loves to do/go? Romeo was really cheered up by visiting w/

neighbors and their dogs. He loved just to hang out in the yard w/ his friend Maizy---a puppy (well 2 yr old) who ironically seemed to get on his nerves before! He was also happy to go the barn where I work---just to hang out and enjoy all his favorite smells. And yes, we took him out for ice cream!

I would definitely wait until Shilo has her strength back for chemo. She sounds like she may need a little extra time to recover. We were initially going to do chemo, but changed our minds. We are treating Romeo with acupuncture, Chinese herbs (grown in Canada!), and supplements. He has so many GI problems, we decided chemo was not for him so we are just going to go for happy and healthy as long as possible. I know those statistics are scary, but there are quite a few dogs on this site who have lived much longer than projected w/out chemo.  Hopefully we will be so fortunate.

My heart broke for you reading your blog. This recovery process is very fresh in our minds. We are so sorry you are sweet Shilo have to go through this. We send love and strength your way! Take care, Eve, Romeo, and family 

Thank you all for your stories of encouragement. I have went through many of the other forums to get ideas on what to do from here. I think like you said we will wait until she is a bit stronger and eating a bit better before starting chemo. If it makes her too sick we may just go the diet and supplements.

Update - after reading everyones thoughts and reading the support to my family it must have changed all of our spirits. Shilo ate much better then she has since surgery, and she even chased a ball for my daughter(her sister ). It was soooo nice to just see that spark, even if for a moment.

I will keep you all posted on our progress and hope like you hugapitbull that we will be here with a healing & fighting attitudes in 10 months as well. Congradulations!

LOL... That sounds like deja vu...  I accepted the amputation better then my husband did, but chemo he seems to have the better handle on. He is certain that chemo is the way to go.. I was at first but, then I started to read about all the side effects our babies can endure and so I started to pull back from the idea.  But with his insistance I said we will try and see. I am though giving him all the information of alternatives too. 

Of course once again the vets were not clear as to what we were getting into financially with all of this - like it would matter anyway (we would do whatever it would take).  Honesty would truely be appreciated from these bigger hospitals. I still have not heard from them what the cost is going to be for the Chemo, we will find out when we get her staples removed. I got a rough idea just checking around on-line.  Our small town vet is amazing, as well as one of the students at the hospital was a God send for me. The student was the one who kept me posted and sat with Shilo the whole time. Shilo puts up with a lot of people and loves very few... But from the first time Shilo saw her she got a huge lick up the side of her face. I did talk to her about the experience we had and she was in the room when it happened.

In any event Shilo's  Dad is selling some of his toys to make sure we have the ability to follow through with which ever road she takes us down. For me, like you I just want quality for her and time for us. She is one of those once in a lifetime companions. We can't have any regrets!!

I have read a little now on starting mushroom powder while doing the chemo to help with the side effects?? Does this help with the stomach issues?? This is my biggest worry since her stomach did not handle the pain meds she was on.

Hi Shilo's mom,

I am familiar with what you are going through, particularly the issues with bad reactions to the pain meds, early withdrawal of them, and the issues with not eating. 

First thing to sort out is why Shilo is not eating.  This is so hard to do right now because of all that is going on.  Is it meds, pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, constipation, all of the above?  Something else?  How do we tell?!  So frustrating!  Hopefully your vet is having these conversations with you and discussing a plan to get her back to eating.  They need those nutrients.  What's your gut instinct on it?  You know it's not the pain meds because she's been off them, if I read correctly.

It's also important to be specific as you can about how much she is eating, if anything.  Is it two scrambled eggs one day, a half a can of wet food the next, then nothing, then a half a chicken breast?    When people say not eating, there can be a whole range of what people mean by not eating and you have a bigger pup, so what your pups needs is of course different than what small dogs can get by on while they are recovering.  You sound as if you're keeping a diary of sorts, so if you haven't been specific with the vet, it's not too late to start.

It is possible that Shilo is in pain and needs to be back on some pain relief.  The growling at the vet's office may be a sign of that in addition to other things like not eating and less activity.  (Hard to sort it all out when they've just gone through major surgery and a cancer diagnosis, so all we can do is arm ourselves with information and then do the best we can.)  Boinka also had a bad reaction to Tramadol similar to what you describe.  Here is a link that I found helpful in sorting out some of this pain medicine issue, at least from the perspective of thinking about what's going on there and suggestions on how to approach the problem. 

http://vettechs.....saids.html

I'll look for some threads that might go into the not eating issue in depth and post them if I find them.

Hugs to you and Shilo,

Mel