I took Ruby to the vet for surgery in 2016 for what we thought was a torn ligament. They did an x-ray before surgery and found it was a large tumor instead. Since she was already prepped for surgery, and the chest x-ray was clear, we went ahead with the amputation immediately. The post-amputation biopsy came back positive for osteosarcoma. Ugh. All my research said I’d be lucky to have another year with her.
August 2017, we celebrated her first ampuversary. She was still doing well, but I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. All her checkups were good, and she was just my happy, hoppy, wiggly girl still. So we kept going.
1st Ampuversary – August 24, 2017
Suddenly, it was August 2018 and we were celebrating her second ampuversary! This was about the time I started to think we were in the clear. She surpassed her life expectancy by an extra year! Maybe we’d caught it in time, and the amputation was enough to keep it from spreading.
2nd Ampuversary – August 24, 2018
Then, late in September she stopped eating her kibble. I thought maybe she was just over it. So I switched to something different, softer. That worked for a few days. Then she stopped eating that. I started to notice she was losing weight. She was still interested in “people” food so she was getting snacks when I would share. But one day, I gave her a piece of my string cheese, which is her absolute favorite. I’ve never eaten a whole string cheese while she’s in the house. But she wouldn’t take it. I set it down in front of her and she turned away. I called and made a vet appointment right away.
The vet checked her out and everything looked OK, other than the weight loss, but she wanted to do an x-ray “just to check.” My vet, admittedly, doesn’t have a poker face. When she walked into the room I knew it wasn’t good. She’s got 3 spots on her lungs, one large one on her spleen, and her liver and spleen are enlarged.
So, there isn’t much to be done now. I had decided against chemo after the amputation, and I’m sticking with that. I just know it’s not right for us, and the vet concurred that there wouldn’t be much benefit from chemo at this point. She gave us some medicine to help with nausea in case that’s why she wasn’t eating.
I know I’m incredibly lucky to have been blessed with two more years with Ruby after her osteosarcoma diagnosis, and knew this was coming… but it still sucks so hard.
For now, I’m just keeping her comfortable. Feeding her whatever snacks she wants (lots and lots of chicken!) She’s getting lots of snuggles and spending time with her favorite people. I’m just waiting for her to tell me when she’s ready to go… and hoping I’m able (and willing) to recognize the signs.
Yes, I did dress up like Ruby (for a scavenger hunt). We like to stare off into the middle distance and contemplate the meaning of life.
Ruby Rougarou and momma, I’m so sorry. The mets diagnosis is such a blow, it hurts as much as the day we were told our dog has osteosarcoma. I’m really sorry. There’s no easy way around this.
All I can say is that in August 2016, you thought she only had a few months left. But Ruby didn’t catch that news. She’s beaten the odds so spectacularly, that who knows, maybe she can do it again this time around. Your girl is such a champ, and so full of sparkle, anything is possible. I would sure love to think that she can do it again.
If you want to talk, we are here for you OK? You have such a close relationship with her (I mean heck you two even look alike! 😉 that I have no doubt you’ll read her “I’m ready” signs when they appear. But if you ever need a sounding board, we are ready to listen and do what we can to help.
Much love & many hugs coming your way from all of us.
I have to say, as immersed as I was in every single word and concerned as I was reading, I broke out into an audible laugh when I got to the picture of the TWINS!!! I loooove that photo!! Just more proof that you and Ruby are “one” in every sense of the word!!
Ditto Jerry. Ruby is one special gal. Two years and still moving forward, Ruby-style. 😎 Ruby is our hero! She has shown is all that statistics don’t matter here! A other dog recently celebrated a two year AMPUVERSARY without a chemo treatment. I always like to point out dogs like Clyde and Ruby for reassurance when people don’t want to necessarily pursue chemo.
Yes, continue to make every moment count and continue with massive spoiling and any junk food she wants!!! I do believe a scoop of ice cream a day is a good idea!
And we would love more pictures!!! She’s so darn cute!
Lots and lots of love to you
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!