our road with canine osteosarcoma and amputation

On Tuesday March 15th, 2011 Dr. Lineberger called about 10:00am and said they could have Duke ready to go in about 30 minutes if we’d like to come get him.  Wait wait wait wait at this time it hit me…..I was a little scared to get him home & have to be responsible for this delicate baby.  My husband had just went into work to get a few hours in and I was a little scared so I suggested we’d come get him at around 1:30 or 2:00.  That way they could keep an eye on him and Jason could get some work time in before taking off a few vacation days to help care for our new Tripawd.

We were there right at 1:30pm to get our baby.  Dr. Lineberger came out to talk us through & explain his medication schedule.  I had taken them a box of Laura Littles (the best candy shop ever) and he then went back to grab the Dukester.  I saw them walking down the hall with him from beyond the swinging doors……Duke was so happy to see us & us him.  They had a sling around his hips just for support but he was doing great.  He got right up in the car & off we went.  That was a much better drive with him than the drive we took on the way there. 

He had a Fentanyl patch on his side as well as pain patches all along the surgery site & gauze over that area as well. 

When we got home he hopped right up the two front steps and into the house.

Monday March 14th, 2011 was a day my husband & I had set aside to spend together as it was the 18th anniversary of our “first” date.   Nothing was mentioned that whole day about us cause we had something else more important on our minds……our Duker!  We spent that day meeting ADA guidelines in our home for Duke.  We moved our bedroom from upstairs to downstairs, went from a frame to no frame or boxsprings, moved his twin size mattress down from upstairs to the foot of our mattress like usual, put another twin size bed in the living room, blankies & sheets all washed and dried, now we just needed him home. 

The vet/surgeon (Dr. Lineberger) called me approximately 12:00pm to let me know they were prepping for surgery and to make sure of the type of amputation we had decided on (we chose the “basic” amputation I guess you’d call it.  Not the hemi one where they take out the whole hip) and that  it should begin soon.  Surgery went well with a call around 5:30pm to let us know he was resting & suggested we not come visit as he needed to rest which we totally understood.  He mentioned Duke, if doing well, would be able to come home the next day 🙂

Now I should back up to about 9 months ago. I had always, everyday of Duke’s life, walked him. But we noticed about 9 months ago after a good long walk, he would kind of whimper or yelp that evening when trying to get up from a laying down position. This would happen but not every night. There was no limping or swollen area of the legs. So we assumed he was just getting older (4yrs old now) & probably getting arthritis. So I quit walking him but he would still run around the yard or my oldest son, Drake, would take him on short walks with no problems in the evening. In fact, we changed his food to an all grain free product & have been, for the past couple months, ooooing & awwwwing over how wonderful his coat looks & how his hair has become so much thicker & how he sheds so much less.
Now looking back………There Was A Hint.

Saturday March 12, 2011 – The Evening of Pure Horror!

I went out on the back deck that evening and Duke came out with me as usual.  Maddy, the dog behind us & Duke got each other rowled up and Duke started running around the yard.  And as quick as it had started, it ended.  Duke let out a larger than life yelp and continued yelping as I saw him come around the corner limping.  It was so loud.  I immediately thought he had stepped on a piece of glass or got something stuck to his paw.  My husband ran out to help me check him out.  He was somewhat nipping at us in a way he had never done when in pain as I was trying to inspect his back right foot/leg.  I had our youngest son, Brayten, run in & grab a sheet to “sling” him.  Duke has always been a bit of a drama king so we spent about 5 minutes seeing if maybe he’d come around and put some weight on that hind leg but that was not happening!  Any type of weight or movement he would yelp so sadly.  I pulled the car all the way up into the yard right by the front door and my husband and I slung him through the house & into the car.  He truly seemed to know we were going for help.  Off to the ER we went. 

I truly believed when walking into the ER that night that he had sprained his foot or something of the sort….OH HOW I WISH!

We were able to assist Duke in getting him back into the ER and the techs were so wonderful.  They somehow got him to lay down on his left side without him yelping.   He accepted their help and was smelling the air as my husband and I walked out of the room hopeful we’d be going home soon with a brace or wrap for his “sprained” foot. 

The Veterinarian called us into a patient room to make sure we approved x-rays of the leg….of course!  hurry up already!  She did happen to mention osteosomething, pathological, tumors, large breeds….yeah whatever.   Just get the x-rays we were ready to get things movin’ & get home.

About 45 minutes later our life changed.  The results were in & yes, a tumor (osteosarcoma) had weakend the bone in his right rear leg enough that it had fractured…completely shattered.  And not only that but there was no “fixing” it with a plate because the deteriorated bone could not hold a plate.  The leg would have to come off.  But first things first, they had to go back in & get x-rays of the chest to see if this osteocrap was going to show up in there (and she said if that’s the case, she would put her own child down @ that point). 

Good news…..no masses in the chest that the x-ray could see.  However, osteosarcoma is probably there but that it’s microscopic at this point. 

She told us the plan of  a table meeting all the doctors would do the next day (Sunday) and the amputation would occur on Monday.  Yes, Duke would stay in the hospital with them where they would keep him comfy (w/ drugs he isn’t able to get here @ home).  She offered to let us see him before we left but we decided not to as we did not want him to think he was going to be able to come home with us. 

The next couple of days were weird to say the least.  I had too much time to clean & my house was too clean.  I’m used to having a 160+ lb great dane running my household.  But all in all our spirits were good.  We were & still are hopeful.  We were quite okay with having a tripawd cause at least we’d have our Duker home!