Hello,
Our beloved husky/malamute was just diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, located on his leg on his elbow. it’s the size of my fist 🙁 due to limited funds we are not sure what route to take. We were told by an vet oncologist that we can either amputate his leg, de-bulk it with radiation therapy. Just to amputate his leg we are looking between $3200-3400 dollars!!! If we de-bulk it with radiation (mind you the radiation is on the other side of the state at college) it would cost between $5500-6700 all dependent on the radiation vet.
With his diagnoses, it is also coming with set backs, our vet did a biopsy on the tumor, because of where its located, it has dehist and is starting to “ooze” out of the biopsy sites, causing a little blood lost and the sutures to not close up correctly.
We adopted our dog 3 years ago, we are not sure how old he is. We think he’s about 8-10 years old, we have no dog history on him other than the past three years of his life under our care.
We do know that he has arthritis in both hind legs. My biggest concern is his quality of life, how will he manage going up and down stairs with 3 legs and two of which are arthritic…please give us some advice.
Sorry you find yourselves here. What’s his name?
My Otis was 8, and had arthritis in his hips. He was 106 pounds pre-amp, and did just fine after losing one of his front legs to osteosarcoma. He didn’t do the stairs until month 3, but lots of dogs do them even sooner. A harness also helps – we loved the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness. You can learn more about it in the gear blog.
Talk to a surgeon about whether your guy is a good candidate for amputation – many dogs do just fine, even with other medical issues.
Welcome to Tripawds, although I am sorry you had to find us. It does sound like you have a tough decision to make. We have had members here who have amputated with issues in remaining limbs. Does the vet think Axel would do OK as a Tripawd? I would suggest you post in the forums, there are more people there and you will get more input and answers to your questions. You can post under Presentation and Diagnosis: http://tripawds.com/forums/presentation-and-diagnosis/. Just add a new topic.
I searched the forums under arthritis and amputation and got these results: http://tripawds.com/forums/?search=1&new=1&forum=all&value=arthritis%2C+amputation&type=2&include=3. Maybe something there will help.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Oh yikes poor pup, I’m really sorry. I know how much you love him and it’s great that you’ve gotten advice from a specialist.
Yes, radiation therapy is more expensive. Amputation will remove the tumor but with it comes potential issues with the arthritis. So there’s pros and cons to each as you know.
Did you ask the university if they would work with you on a payment plan, reduced price or financial aid? Many universities do have programs set up but you have to let them know about your financial situation. Which university are you working with?
I know this is such a fearful and uncertain time. You’re doing a good job of researching all your options.
You might want to make a post in the forums too for more support specifically relating to your sweet boy!
Have you had an ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON evaluate if he’s a good candidate for amputation? Many dogs have arthritis and have done just fine on three legs.
As far as stairs, most dogs handle them just fine after recovery. You can also use harnesses to help if they need a little extra support.
Check out the forums, check out videos of tripawds living life to the fullest. Stay connected and ask questions!
We also have a HELPLINE. 1 844 TRIPAWDS
Hugs and love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Hello. I am so sorry for this circumstance you find yourself in. Just over 6 months ago, I found this place in the state of shock at my Malamute x Greyhound’s STS diagnosis. His was in the brachial plexus (armpit) and that means really anything other than amputation is really not a viable option, so my decision in that regard was easy. To our greater shock, the tumor was very, very large – despite having seen specialists 9 months earlier, they completely missed it and the slow growing nerve sheath tumor was now very large and no longer “well encapsulated”. Despite the amputation, it was almost certain it would come back because of that. And radiation as a post op process to stop or slow recurrence was really the best option for a real shot at longevity (maybe 2 years), but the plan for that is 18 to 22 days consecutively (M-F) of general anesthesia and radiation. 18 to 22 days dropping him off and him crying. 18 to 22 days of a tube down his throat and causing him to cough and hack afterwards. Plus the initial CT scan to make sure we did not have lung mets. And another to map out the radiation plan. Two more rounds of GA. We did the first, but it was inconclusive for lung mets. Waited 8 more weeks for another CT and this time they said all was clear – surgery site and lungs. At this point I could consider starting the radiation. By then, I was sick of bringing him in and ruining his day and mine at all. He had enjoyed a glorious summer – he managed stairs very well from the moment he came home post amp despite a fallen carpus on his remaining front leg.
I lost him two weeks ago to the sudden and swift recurrence of the cancer in his spine. I won’t say I don’t in moments of the terrible loss I am feeling think, briefly, I wish I had done the radiation. But I think about how happy he was to be out of pain from May through September. About him soaking up the sunshine on all those days he might have been in a hospital getting radiation treatment instead. And I know this path was right for him even if my heart is broken.
He did not have arthritis of any note in back legs, but he was older than your dog (he celebrated his twelfth birthday in September). So our circumstances are not precisely the same. But I have not regretted the amputation for even a moment – I only wish we had diagnosed and done it much sooner so recurrence would have been far less likely or slower at least.
Let me know if I can share any more detail with you that would help.
Sending love and strength.
Lisa and Angel Pofi