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'Tis but a scratch

It’s Offical

This is how she would lay down in the weeks leading up to surgery. Her leg was so painful she'd hold it up in the air so there wasn't any pressure on it.

This is how she would lay down in the weeks leading up to surgery. Her leg was so painful she’d hold it up in the air so there wasn’t any pressure on it.

Today marks one week post-surgery. Quick recap. We only found Ruby’s tumor when her x-rays were done pre-op for what was supposed to be an ACL repair.  I had the option to do a biopsy, wait on the results, then still potentially amputate based on what they found. Or we could go directly to amputation.  The latter was my choice based on how much pain I knew her to be in, and what I saw on that x-ray. Since we didn’t biopsy before the surgery, they did the biopsy after her leg was already removed. I’ve been waiting for the results to come back from pathology for a week now.

Well, the vet just called. It’s just what I feared… osteosarcoma.

A quick Google search of osteosarcoma in dogs and you’ll see that it’s not a matter of if it will come back, but when. Ruby’s likely only got a few months left. Maybe we’ll get lucky and make it to a year, but the odds aren’t good. My poor dog that only started with a tiny limp a little over a month ago probably won’t make it to her 5th birthday.

Ruby collage

I know I made the right decision now for amputation. We removed the source of pain, and she can get back to being my little Wiggle Butt. Chemo and radiation are an option, but given how quickly her leg tumor progressed and how aggressive the cancer is… it wouldn’t be curative and would likely only buy a little bit of time. I’m not sure if it would be fair to her.

So, my little Rougarou and I are going to live life to the fullest. That means lots of riding in the car (“I love riding in cars!”) to get McDonald’s ice cream cones and Starbucks puppuccinos.  And lots and lots of extra time over at her favorite place, my parents’ house. Where she can get “scritches” from PopPop and help him clean up when he “accidentally” drops food, bark at my brother, and get cuddles from the kids.

My sweet girl.

My sweet girl.

6 Comments

  1. Leslie Cline

    Hey, I just happened to see this post on the tripawds Facebook page. I’m so sorry for the diagnosis. I want to throw one other option out there. Talk to Dr Loops out of NC. He’s a homeopathic vet and he does the majority of his business over the phone. I live in IN and he treated my Roxy for 6 years. Now, Roxy didn’t have osteosarcoma, she had Mast Cell Grade III. So I don’t know what he’ll tell you about OS. But it’s worth a shot!! Statistics showed 94% of dogs with grade III MCT were dead in 2 years. Roxy lived 6 and it wasn’t cancer that took her. I completely credit Dr Loops for this. In June 2014, 4 years after amputation, she had another tumor pop up. I called Dr Loops, he changed her remedy and the tumor was gone in 2 months. I’m a firm believer in the possibilities of homeopathic treatment. And best of all it has absolutely no side effects for your pup at a fraction of the cost.

    Best of luck to you and your sweet Ruby.

    Leslie

  2. juliedarling

    OMG, i’m so sorry for the diagnosis.

    Just went through this with my boy. You are right, the prognosis is generally bleak. You are doing all things right. Get that leg off and get on with living! Rougarou is living in the moment and you should too. Easier said than done but you are already doing it. We are here for you whenever you need us. Rougarou is too cute for words!

    Be more dog
    xoxo
    Julie and Spirit Buddy

  3. benny55

    Okay, not what anybody wants to hear. But once you get over hearing the news, you’ll realize that statistics don’t mean much to those of us who have been here for awhile!

    Thankfully, “statistics” do not compute in the world of dogs! Days on a calendar don’t mean squat! ‘And no e of the dogs here have timeframes stamped on their butts, including Ruby’s butt!

    And thank goodness my Happy Hannah didn’t kisten to any Vets and their “diagnoses” and “statistics”! Her “prognosis” was not very good because they thought she had lymph involvement. Well, my Happy Hannah proved them wrong! It wasn’t until one year and two months later that she decided she would head on over to the Bridge!

    Thank goodnees Cemil didn’t listen to “statistics”! Shes still going strong four/or is it five) years later! Well, she is a vig dog senior so she is slowing down. And we have Pug Maggie who was only given months. Four years later she passed!

    Oh, and btw, six months in dog years is equal to three plus years in humans!

    And really, the list could go on and on.

    But you already have the lesson. You already know what’s important! You are already BEING MORE DOG! You are already BEING MORE RUBY!

    You are focused on the NOW! You, like Ruby, are living for today with no worries about tomorrow!

    All Ruby cares about is being pain free (that picture of her holding her leg up..OW!) and being by your side and soaking up all that loving and spoiling!!

    I read her first blog and saw how very lucky she was to have picked you and her Grandpa for her furever home! Regardless of whatever happened in her life, it was all worth it to her to be loved by you 🙂

    I absolutely love looking at her beautiful family album!! And yes, she was pitiful looking at the shelter, but she soon blossomed into the pup she was born to be…thanks to you!!

    Remember, NOTHING has changed in Ruby’s world. Neither you, nor she, will let anything interfere with your time together!!!

    After all, ’tis but a scratch!!!

    Lots and lots of love! Give Ruby a big dish of ice cream on me!

    Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

  4. benny55

    LESLIE! So glad you saw this! There is someo e else who just posted a week or so ago a d is having great results with Loops also! Dang if I can ever figure out the SEARCH here. I’ll keep looking!

    Yes, many here have used Loops (North Carolina) or other Holistic Vets. Definitely something to consider…or a combo of both

    • mysweetted

      It was the Greta update earlier this week…

  5. Michelle

    Sally gave some great advice. Statistics is just that. There have many dogs that have lived longer than those stats & some that don’t. Sassy had Osteoscaroma too. It is devastating to get the diagnosis. Feels like your world is crashing down around you.
    we are all here for you

    hugs
    michelle & Angel Sassy

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