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Bone Cancer, front ankle

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
5 1/2 years ago, when we first got our Cane Corso pup, Leo, this site was very helpful to me with a breed I had no experience with, now I am back with a heavy heart looking for some help.

Leo were were told has bone cancer in his front ankle. It is quite swollen and painful for him. He is on pain / anti-inflammatory medication. We don't really feel amputation is a real option.

We want to spend every last possible moment with him, but worry about going to long for him. Right now he is himself with a limp, but our vet told us that the bone will become brittle, and the little bit of web research has me thinking the 2-3 months that our vet told us might be possible, might be wishful thinking.

Does anyone have experience with this that did not decide to amputate? Any help in this challenging time would be very much appreciated.

Here's a video of Leo, just in case you'd like to see him healthy and having fun.

 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I remember Leo. I'm so sorry you're back with this sad news. Do you mind my asking why amputation isn't an option? Osteosarcoma is very painful. Removing the limb eliminates the possibility of a sudden break and also eliminates the deep bone pain. Dogs adapt very well to amputation. I understand if the cost of surgery is prohibitive. Unfortunately I don't know of any other treatment that will give him better quality of life or perhaps more time with you. If I were faced with your decision, I would opt to amputate if it's at all an option.

I am so very sorry. He's a gorgeous boy. Your video is filled with love and joy. Thank you for sharing it. Please keep us updated on how you, your family, and Leo are doing.
 

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
I remember Leo. I'm so sorry you're back with this sad news. Do you mind my asking why amputation isn't an option? Osteosarcoma is very painful. Removing the limb eliminates the possibility of a sudden break and also eliminates the deep bone pain. Dogs adapt very well to amputation. I understand if the cost of surgery is prohibitive. Unfortunately I don't know of any other treatment that will give him better quality of life or perhaps more time with you. If I were faced with your decision, I would opt to amputate if it's at all an option.

I am so very sorry. He's a gorgeous boy. Your video is filled with love and joy. Thank you for sharing it. Please keep us updated on how you, your family, and Leo are doing.

Thanks so much for your input, it is appreciated.

Cost is a factor unfortunately, and our vet told us best case we get 2 more years with him, with much of the first year adapting to the amputation. Front let is much harder to adapt to than the back leg, even though he is in great physical shape, but there would be a very real chance he would not be able to adapt. For us much of it comes down to his quality of life. Chasing planes away, scaring off threatening bunny rabbits, patrolling the edges of our 5 acre property through the woods, peeing on every blade of grass, and running with reckless abandon at shadows, would for the most part be taken away from him. The things he is most excited to do day to day. Even with his limp now he seems so sad, and the thought of him suffering through learning to walk with 3 legs is almost unthinkable. It's like taking the spirit out of him.
 

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
If finances are an issue for the surgery. Maybe you could set up a "go fund me"
page for Leo.

Funds for the surgery, would be a challenge, about $6,000 for the chemo and surgery, not including medications and checkups after, but we could swing it. The issue is more paying for such a poor prognosis. If it were free, I'm not sure if I would do it. It just seems like a lot of pain for him, that best case scenario it only somewhat breaks his spirit, along with such a short life expectancy after. Also considering how aggressive this cancer already seems to be, what are the chances that it has not already spread? 1 week ago he was himself, 6 days ago it was a golf ball swell, now its a baseball.

Please feel free to convince me otherwise. I want to save my best friend. If someone has seen or experienced success with this i'd love to hear it.

Thanks again,
Ben
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
I'm so sorry that Leo is suffering. I know it's hard but have you thought about the possibility of having to have him put down if the pain becomes unbearable? Hopefully it won't come to that. I haven't had any experience with this type of cancer. Maybe someone else on here has. Just want you to know that I will pray for Leo, and your family as well.
 

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
I'm so sorry that Leo is suffering. I know it's hard but have you thought about the possibility of having to have him put down if the pain becomes unbearable? Hopefully it won't come to that. I haven't had any experience with this type of cancer. Maybe someone else on here has. Just want you to know that I will pray for Leo, and your family as well.

Our vet told us 2-3 months, but every day his bone becomes more brittle, and that we want to avoid a fracture at all costs, so I think we have about a month left with him. I'm hoping to hear form someone who might have some experience with this. Thanks for your prayers.
 

marke

Well-Known Member
Our vet told us 2-3 months, but every day his bone becomes more brittle, and that we want to avoid a fracture at all costs, so I think we have about a month left with him. I'm hoping to hear form someone who might have some experience with this. Thanks for your prayers.

sorry to hear about your dog ......... I agree with what you were told , a front leg amputation on a big dog is a very hard adaptation many cannot survive .........
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
I am so sorry to hear about this prognosis. I don't have any experience with this. I only have experience with humans in my life having cancer and it royally sucks. I wish I had some advice to offer. My heart is with you and Leo. <3
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Ben Curtis - there are some posts on Tripawds from people that have large English Mastiffs that have done amputations, some front leg, and the dogs did well. I'm sure there are others there that have dogs that may not have done as well. I'm not pushing an agenda, I just know that if I were in your situation I would want to explore all the options. Wishing you the best of luck.
 

BlackShadowCaneCorso

Super Moderator
Staff member
I am sorry to hear this, my best friend (and breeder) just lost her male to likely the same thing. He was diagnosed in March and I think was around the same age as your male a little older perhaps. He was a big boy (145lbs approx) and unfortunately it came down to weighing the pros and cons against the quality of life the male would have. She tried the pain meds, cannabis oil, golden paste and likely any other meds but bone cancer is a nasty thing and in big dogs (especially active ones) it can be difficult. Amputation can be an option, and to the best of my knowledge it can work just fine in mature dogs and if that is a course you want to take I would fully support that. This is a personal decision where you have to decide what works for your family and in the best interest of the dog.
 

Eden

New Member
5 1/2 years ago, when we first got our Cane Corso pup, Leo, this site was very helpful to me with a breed I had no experience with, now I am back with a heavy heart looking for some help.

Leo were were told has bone cancer in his front ankle. It is quite swollen and painful for him. He is on pain / anti-inflammatory medication. We don't really feel amputation is a real option.

We want to spend every last possible moment with him, but worry about going to long for him. Right now he is himself with a limp, but our vet told us that the bone will become brittle, and the little bit of web research has me thinking the 2-3 months that our vet told us might be possible, might be wishful thinking.

Does anyone have experience with this that did not decide to amputate? Any help in this challenging time would be very much appreciated.

Here's a video of Leo, just in case you'd like to see him healthy and having fun.

I put my 5 year old CC down today. She's had hip surgery, both hind knees, Psoas injury, just broke a toe and radiographs show probable cancer in that paw. I let her go due to not knowing her pain, they can be so stoic, she died quietly in my arms. So, quality of life is most important, relief of pain. They don't know they are being put down, they pass peacefully as the drug releaves their pain.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I put my 5 year old CC down today. She's had hip surgery, both hind knees, Psoas injury, just broke a toe and radiographs show probable cancer in that paw. I let her go due to not knowing her pain, they can be so stoic, she died quietly in my arms. So, quality of life is most important, relief of pain. They don't know they are being put down, they pass peacefully as the drug releaves their pain.

Eden, I'm so sorry for your loss.
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
I put my 5 year old CC down today. She's had hip surgery, both hind knees, Psoas injury, just broke a toe and radiographs show probable cancer in that paw. I let her go due to not knowing her pain, they can be so stoic, she died quietly in my arms. So, quality of life is most important, relief of pain. They don't know they are being put down, they pass peacefully as the drug releaves their pain.

Sorry for your loss... I know it's such a hard decision. I'm glad she was able to pass peacefully in your arms.
 

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
I put my 5 year old CC down today. She's had hip surgery, both hind knees, Psoas injury, just broke a toe and radiographs show probable cancer in that paw. I let her go due to not knowing her pain, they can be so stoic, she died quietly in my arms. So, quality of life is most important, relief of pain. They don't know they are being put down, they pass peacefully as the drug releaves their pain.
I'm so sad to hear this, but happy the end was peaceful for both of you.

Leo update,
With the pain and anti inflammatory medication that Leo is on he is still himself. We know any day could be his last, and our vet seems to think that his lungs will be what finally does him in, but as far as I can tell the cancer has not spread there yet. We are soaking up our time with him, and hope that we can make the call before he slips too far.
I read a great article that suggested that we make a list of his top 5 things to do, and once he no longer does 3 of them it is time. We are using this as our guide.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I'm glad to hear Leo is still doing well. I have this bookmarked. It might be of some use to you in addition to your current list. It's a quality of life scale. Because I know everyone says the you'll know when it's time, but I really do think that it's so easy to second guess ourselves. I find the quality of life scale helps me look at things more practically, when I really want to look at it emotionally. Please let us know how he's doing.

http://pawspice.com/clients/17611/documents/QualityofLifeScale.pdf
 

Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
I put my 5 year old CC down today. She's had hip surgery, both hind knees, Psoas injury, just broke a toe and radiographs show probable cancer in that paw. I let her go due to not knowing her pain, they can be so stoic, she died quietly in my arms. So, quality of life is most important, relief of pain. They don't know they are being put down, they pass peacefully as the drug releaves their pain.

Oh Eden, I'm so sorry for your lose. It is heart breaking I know. I'm glad that you can take comfort in knowing your fur baby is no longer in pain. (((Hugs)))
 

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
Our Leo has passed on. I'm happy to report that we were able to keep him comfortable over the past two months, and for the most part was himself to the end. The hardest part of all of this was the unknown, and how to choose the right time. I'm very happy to be a resource for anyone else out there that has to deal with this. Thank you all for your support and wisdom throughout his life. You have been a valuable resource.

I've had many dogs over the years, but loosing Leo has been by far the hardest to deal with. I'd recommend to anyone out there, give your dog some extra lovin', because our time with them is way to short.

Thanks,
Ben