Falgall Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Wags leg was doing very well, short walks building up his leg etc. We came home Sunday and his hock was very swollen and he was limping badly. Off to the Vet. He had X-Rays, fluid drawn from the swollen area and a lump identified actualy in his muscle. The results have just come back from Pathology and he does have cancer of the connective tissue in his muscle. I know have an appointment with Max (canine oncologist at Gladesville) this afternoon. Yes this is the same dog that just went through all the Fistula ops. I cant stop crying as the Vet says there are a few options but it is likely he will lose his leg (RR). Has anyone been through this? How did your dog cope?? I feel like a jinx with dogs - Wags fistulas now cancer and Mia with mange (so far 5 months of treatment). Any advice or experiences greatly appreciated Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Hi Karen, So sorry to hear of this news about Wags. It must be a terrible shock for you. The dreaded C word is always a terrible situation. I haven't had any experience, but there have been many dogs that have had a leg removed and gone on to many happy healthy years. I guess you just have to weigh up the odds and possible outcomes and do the best thing for Wags. But I always think everything is worth a shot to save our little friends. Don't feel jinxed, these things happen unfortunately. They are lucky to have a mum that cares so much for them and wants the best for them. Keep your chin up until you know all your best options and can make a decision as to the best course of action, and give Wags lots of love and care... All the best wishes to you and Wags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Hi Karen, I am so sorry for Wags. If you are going to Max Zuber, you are in the very best of hands. I cannot recommend Max and his team highly enough. Max has treated my dogs for many years and has done major surgery on a few of them over the years. My 9 year old schnauzer had Grade 2 mast cell tumour near his thigh muscle last year. Max put him on chemo prior to surgery and a few weeks later operated. He has recovered remarkably well and is back to walking kilometres each day. Best wishes with Wags. Let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Karen, My heart goes out to you and Wags... Ollie is having chemo (and holistic treatment) at the moment for grade 2 mast cell cancer, that has shown up in his lymph system... It is a long haul, with plenty of ups and downs, but it is worth it... Ollie's was in his rump, so removal was not an option for us... But from what I understand, dogs usually recover from limb amputation quite well... Little troopers usually bounce back from just about everything... We use Rod Straw and his team in Sydney, as well as Sue and Barbara from All Natural Vet Care in Sydney... Our vet, here in Canberra, liaises with them... We are so lucky to have such a great team behind us... I have heard many accolades for Max Zuber, if I am not mistaken he is the top veterinary oncologist in the country... So you and Wags will be well looked after... Don't lose hope, there are plenty of others here to support you and Wags... Hugs Jodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Falgall, Just popping in to wish Wags the best. My Lucinda is a 3 year + survivor of MCT grade 3, no clean margins. Lucinda is holistically treated by barbara and the team at All Natural Vet Care ( same as Ollie). Despite the dreaded C word being mentioned..alwasy keep in mind that Wags will always live his life to the fullest despite obstacles..it is one of the greatest lessons these fur kids teach us. Will put Wags on my prayer list. Hugs Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falgall Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 Well we are just back from Max Zuber I am a bit confused still The inflamation has gone down slightly and Max is not 100% sure it is a tumour despite the Pathology report (stating most likely malignant connective tissue tumour - followed by 3 very long words Osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma). Wags displayed no pain despite vigorous manipulations. Max did not expect this either. It is also strange that it flared up so quickly. But I am trying not to get my hopes up. So we are having an ultrasound done on Wednesday followed by a biopsy. These results will confirm the diagnosis. Max did say if it is a tumour his leg would have to be removed as all the muscle in the lower hock area needs to be cut away to ensure the tendrils of the tumour do not reoccur. Naturally this would impede movement. Max even ducked when he said to me it was unusual and even more so in a young dog, this is what he said re the fistulas too! I would not mind boring Vet stuff for a while. Technically Wags is my youngest sons dog and I am not going to tell him anything till I have a firm plan in place. Thank you all for your support and I will post on Wednesday / Thursday when the results are back. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Hi Karen, I am hoping all this will bring you some good news. Max also had Oscar's organs ultrasounded, because if there had been other tumours, we both would have had second thoughts regarding his surgery. Luckily, for us, there were no other tumours present and therefore we went ahead. Wags will be in my thoughts and I pray for a good outcome for you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'll add in here that a while ago I was at a shopping centre and noticed a medium sized dog, wandering about quite happily minus one hind leg. he was doing what male dogs do on an outing picking up messages and leaving messages for those who follow along later LOL. Imagine my surpirse when I watched him finding that perfect spot to mark, moving around etc when he calmly lifted his sole hind leg...marked then trotted happily off. Bless them no one had told him he should not be able to do that..so he just did what was necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pampa Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'll add in here that a while ago I was at a shopping centre and noticed a medium sized dog, wandering about quite happily minus one hind leg. he was doing what male dogs do on an outing picking up messages and leaving messages for those who follow along later LOL.Imagine my surpirse when I watched him finding that perfect spot to mark, moving around etc when he calmly lifted his sole hind leg...marked then trotted happily off. Bless them no one had told him he should not be able to do that..so he just did what was necessary. That is such a heartening story DBS and so timely... Falgall, my thoughts and lots of courage are coming your way from over here. Obviously hoping pathology made a mistake and the next biopsy comes back all clear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 We will keep Wags in our prayers and keep everything crossed for him... Great story Helen... Jodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falgall Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 I am still trying to imagine marking my teritory with one leg - amazing Feeling flat today. Spoke to Max re Wags early evening. They did not do a biopsy. The ultrasound indicates the lump is more well defined than expected - good news as the leg maybe saved. However the lymph area near the stomach is emlarged. This could indicate further tumours or it may still be enlarged after his Fistual op (it has only been a couple of months). There is also a node showing up in his lung. The lymph in the leg is clear The Plan. Remove the lump from his hock and hopefully he can retain the use of his leg. This will be sent to Pathology and the type of Mast cell assessed. If it is particularily aggro it maybe simply a matter of making him comfy. The upside is it maybe all he needs. I collected him at 8 last night - groggy but happy to go home He is booked in for surgery tomorrow (Friday). The good part is the lump is far more defined than first thought so removal is possible. The bad result could be loss of movement in his leg - so the limb would be removed. Classification is also crucial to his long term outcome. It is possible the use of the immunosuppresants has caused the cancer to take hold - initially this devastated me but it was essential for the success of his Fistula op. Then again maybe he would have developed cancer anyway. He has just turned 5 so he has many years left. Will let you know how the op goes. Pic is Wags looking very serious on his fav couch Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 well defined is a great start....funny how our view of things changes isnt it?. It may be worthwhile getting some holistic support for wags as well. Keeping him tucked in my heart. Hugs Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Well defined is definitely good. I was also pleased to hear the high praise for the oncologist....which means you have the best of info & experience to work along with. Lovely pic of Wags... v. handsome boy. Shall be sending warm thoughts to both of you as you wait for the classification results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) Hi Karen and Wags, Well defined sounds good. My dogs was not - and it was very hard to define where it actually began and ended - hence the chemo to shrink it. I will pray for Wags' recovery - he is definitely in the very best of hands. Edited March 30, 2006 by schnauzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Gorgeous boy... Wishing you both all the best... If it is well defined, I would imagine that it would be a little easier to get clear margins when it is removed... Ollie has lost a lot of muscle tone in the leg where his big tumour was removed... He often limps on it a little - not because it hurts (as it does not seem sore), I think it is because it does not seem to keep up with the other three legs, so he carries it occasionally... Good luck Jodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Stopping by to check if there's any news. And to say warmest thoughts still coming your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falgall Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 Can't ring till about 5 pm Been keeping positive all day Will post when I know anything. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falgall Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 Just spoke to Max Wags is coming round which is great. When the leg was opened the tumour was not really defined and it was into the muscle. He removed what he could. If he did take it all the movement in his leg would have been lostThe tumour was bleeding into itself so it looked like a clot covered in fibrous tissue. The sample has been sent and should return next Wednesday. The bleeding could not be stopped so the leg was packed and left open for now. He will be in over the weekend Glad he came through the op okay but still not much the wiser Thanks for your positive thoughts and encouraging words. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Karen, I am thinking of you, your family and Wags at this difficult time. I pray that everything will be all right for him and that he will recover well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Must be hard being separated from Wags for the weekend. But he's in the right place for the care needed with the site left open. Also he'll get pain relief. The waiting's not easy, is it. I'm waiting until mid-week, too, for the results of Gracie's path tests... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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