Well, My baby has been limping around. I thought maybe she had jumped funny off the bed and sprained her paw but, after reading many posts about osteo, I am very sad that she could have bone cancer. We're going to the vet this Thursday to see what is going on. I am praying that it is only a sprain or a muscle pull.

I am ao sorry to hear the bad news.That is my worst fear.My prayers are with you.I know it would be hard to decide to amputate or not.I'm not sure if I could make that decision or not.Did you check on the medical links on the Health and Medical portion that we are on.It has a lot of good info on this topic.They explain all about the amputation,etc.Check it out.
Keep us posted.

Sandy

Her vet appointment is this Thursday at 9. I am not looking forward to going but, i think it is better to know then to not.

Good luck at the vet. Paws crossed here that it is just a sprain or muscle pull. Keep us posted.

sending thoughts and well wishes your way

Well, I took Tara to the vet Thursday and the xrays
didn't show anything. The vet said that her paw looks
swollen (which I don't think it does) and he went on
to tell me that to xray the shoulder they need to put
her under. We drew the blood work but, the vet bill
was too much and I could not afford to have the blood
work run. He was also proposing that I get a whole
bunch of dental work done when/if I put her under for
the shoulder x-ray since her teeth are pretty bad
(this seems kind of pointless at this point in her
life since she is already 11 and not doing very well).

All in all, it sounds like the vet wasn't looking at
her or my best interest.

I don't know what to do at this point, my money is
very tight and I can't afford to anything else really.

What else can I do just to make my baby comfortable? I
love her so much but, my finances just can't cover
that kind of outlay.

Any suggestions on how to make her comfortable will be
greatly appreciated.

I was in a similar boat with Jilli. She was 11 when she started limping. In April she went to the vet. Nothing conclusive on the Xray. We started Deramaxx for inflamation.

In June her limp was no better at all. Went back for second Xray and it was conclusive at that point.

Jilli already had a weakening rear end and I knew that amputation was not a viable option. We managed with pain meds (Tramadol).

There is no easy answer. You have to do what you know is best for you and your baby.

Hi Gr8,
Can i ask what vet you went to? I noticed that you live in the same general area that I do. I am guessing it was Lawndale.

I think at this point, I want to try the Deramaxx. I just don't see the point of putting her under for a shoulder xray or a bone biopsy.

It just gets me so down because she has been a very happy part of my life for the last seven years. From our first moments in the car ride home from GFNC to this very day.

I still remember when they brought her out for our first meet and greet at GFNC. She walked right up to me, wagged her tail and leaned hard into me for some body rubs. She had me at hello!

She has been unlike any breed of dog I have ever had...patient, gentle, loving, playful, silly, fast, gracious, gassy and sometimes just a big ol' skerdy cat!

I'm so sorry to hear about your Tara. Just a thought about one last thing you should check, simply because I'm so aware of it with Trooper. Have you checked her toes for corns? They look like white ovals on the pad, and cause limping. Just a thought.

Good luck!

Yes, it was Lawndale, they did not put Jilli under to do the Xray either time. Her's was in her left shoulder right at the joint. Dr Crawford was the vet who did the second Xray.

With Deramaxx make sure you are giving her something for her stomach. It is a high power Ibu type drug and may upset her stomach. I cant remember what I had it was not over the counter, but you can use OTC.

I completely understand how you are feeling. Jilli was my heart.

I will pray that it is a corn, or something other than cancer.

still thinking about you guys and hoping your baby is doing okay

Beecher's tumor is on his rib but we did not know what kind of tumor it was. First came the x-rays and to get them on his back they sedated him. He was not put under but was sleepy. He was like a drunk salior. Then came the blood work. It looked so good we waited for 2 week for a scheduled biospy. It was osteo. Then an appointment at the oncologist. The news was not good. Up to this point we have spent about $1200. We are not going to put him through the surgery. We are exploring the option of a treatment that will not help with the osteo but may help with the pain. Cost $300 month and Beecher hooked to an IV for 3 hours. I am not sure that is a good option for Beecher. He hates change and vets. I am going in this week to talk with my vet to see if that is something that might me done at home and I learn to take it out. I am thankful that he doesn't seem to be in any pain yet. Dr. McFadden assures me the pain of osteo will come. She is giving him 2 months. His tumor is growing. He is 11.5. The oncologist said the surgery of amputation is easier that the location on the rib. Right now I am so thankful that he doesn't seem to be in any pain. he is on 1/2Rimadyl twice a day but I have the Tramadol ready and on hand when needed.

If Tara is 11 and limping is not due to corns or an injured toe, has anyone thought of arthritis? That's about the age that arthritis became evident on a regular basis in one of my gals.

So very sorry about Beecher.

Yes I have thought about arthritis. I have a consult appointment with Dr. Crawford on 1/3 to discuss the shoulder x-ray.

I agree that it is probably not corns or a pulled muscle. I'll find out more next week. In the meantime, I am loving on her as much possible.