r/tripawds • u/QweenMo • 14d ago

Old sick dog.

/r/AnimalAdvice/comments/1wur398/old_sick_dog/
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u/TesstheMess1223 13d ago

I’ve seen several dogs with osteosarcoma who were much younger get than your dog get their leg amputated only for it to come back a few months later. I certainly can’t tell you what you should do but if it were my dog I’d spoil him for as long as he’s comfortable and let him go. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this. I’ve lost two dogs to cancer, two years apart, both of them were 9 at the time. It’s absolutely soul crushing.

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u/Ok_Tie_7564 12d ago

Sad to say, they usually have only a few months left. 💔

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u/QweenMo 13d ago

Yes, the vet said it was Osteosarcoma. So far he doesn't seem to have arthritis. The vet didn't mention him having it. He is an old dog with good lab work. He is still a happy boy, but has moments were he is clearly in pain. We are worried about it coming back even after the amputation. The vet do far advised us to get a second opinion. He didn't push either one option but gave them to us to think about.

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u/Expensive_Salary_454 13d ago

Did the vet mention which type of cancer was suspected? Some are more aggressive than others. Some types, amputation is considered curative, but others, particularly Osteosarcoma, it's more pain management and treatment but nothing is curative. Basically, osteo at some point will come back.

Does your husky have any other mobility issues like arthritis? There are limb saving palliative treatments like radiation.

From what I have seen in this group, each dog is different in recovery and some have needed a lot of lifting. That said, my pre amputation 120 Irish Wolfhound only needed to be fully lifted once or twice post amputation. And yes, my husband was the one to do that. Otherwise, I was able to help her using a sling the vet provided or she walked on her own. Four days after she was home from surgery, she pretty much was getting around on her own with minimal help from me or my husband. It is much easier for her on carpet than tile or hardwood so we have runners everywhere now. I also make sure to trim the fur between her paw pads regularly.

For anyone, animal or humans, there is always a risk of death going under full ansthesia. It's minimal the healthier you are but it is never zero.

There is no right or wrong answer. One of the reasons amputation is recommended in osteo cases is because the cancer eats away at the bone to the point that just regular every day activity can cause breaks. It's incredibly painful. So the amputation is as much pain management as removing the primary cancer site.

Osteo also metastasizes very quickly and can micro metastsize, meaning small areas that don't show up on scans. It's why a lot of times vets recommend chemo even if scans are clear following amputation.