Re: Receiving a most difficult diagnosis today
The dear boy slept well last night (waking at 4:00 am to release his bladder) and he did not want to leave the bed this morning. It took awhile to coax him to move and then he did, walking. He basically holds his paw back now and will put very slight weight on it. I feed him his raw diet mixed with other things and he stood to eat, and he ate it all happily. He since has stayed in bed (the couch) sleeping on and off all day.
I’ve completed the lipo c and will try that out with tonight’s meal.
I guess I must look at the reality HE, of what you posted last. Firstly, thank you so much for bumping this to your counterpart expert, which was very kind. And thank you also Keit for the same considering (i’ve copied and will read the documents a little later).
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Herr Eisenheim said:
Hi Voyager this is the reply from the Head of Radiology at my Veterinary Faculty I just received:
Unfortunately, I can confirm the diagnosis. All the shadowing in the proximal part, distal thickening of periosteum as well as proximal thinning
would indicate tumorous proliferation. Surely we cannot be 100% sure based on radiograph only - differential diagnosis of osteomyelitis is less likely without history of trauma or bite in that area. Perhaps fungal infection? - not sure in which part of USA your friend lives.
Fragment? - might not have anything to do with tumor. Could be only ossified tendon and if this was the only finding I wouldn't worry too much. But the rest of the bone doesn't look very happy. If this was my patient I would definitely suggest biopsy with jamshidi needle.
Darn, I am really sorry Voyager :(
I know the film was poor in quality and it does confirm the higher percentage mentioned by the local vets, although 100% is not given. I don’t recall any trauma on that leg, nor bites or ticks, yet we do have ticks in the area – think this is what you are getting at re fungal?
I looked up the “jashide needle” and understand your recommendation. Concerning the fragment, yes, this is what the local vet said it could be “ossified tendon”, and I did not quote him correctly earlier, however, I think it involves the transportation of calcium, which cancers of the bone can displace and move around – yet it is the least of worries.
Thank you HE!
Keit said:
I sent the image to the vet, and the only additional thing he had to say was, that the fragmented segment may be indeed a biceps brachii's (one of the shoulder muscles) tendon ossification. Beside that, if it's a tumor in its early stages, maybe only a biopsy (or a good specialist) will be able to confirm the diagnosis.
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In any case, here are snapshots from the pdf file I have that describe the biopsy procedure. Just in case you would like to know how it works.
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I also took the following snapshot from the Merck Vet Manual program. It may give you additional info, and it also contains an image for comparison.
Thank you so very much again Keit.
Herr Eisenheim said:
[…]
The biopsy would definitely be a way to go but on the other hand this means more pain and discomfort. My attitude in situations like this is-"is this procedure going to cure the condition?
If the Osteosarcoma diagnosis is correct - confirming it will not give us more therapeutic options.
And this is my concern, facing the reality of probability, knowing the standard options will not be done, makes me ask, is further trauma for Jack required to confirm said higher probability? I know this is sound advice, and ill weigh it carefully.
Laura said:
I would definitely be trying the raw meat/ketogenic diet for the puppums. It has done wonders for our Sebastian who was supposed to have died of leukemia by 2009. He's still with us. He's old now and slowing down, but he still gets out and barks at the mailman and prances
about the yard a bit.
It is amazing what you have done for Sebastian, and Jack is Doing this modified diet now, so will go with this forward and see. I’m so glad Sebastian still prances and barks - wonderful. :) Jack barked a few times yesterday, which offered some comfort that he was feeling not too bad; today he has not done this. :(
alkhemst and Freya, as said before, like yourselves, so many people have gone through this and for some, many times – it never ever gets easier.
Guardian said:
Voyager I'm so sorry to hear about Jack! As Laura just said the raw meat diet can work wonders for a dog, it gave my Lily an extra two years of quality life.
She'd stopped eating, couldn't even get into the car on her own and I truly thought she would be gone within a week when I started feeding her the raw meat by hand, one little chunk at a time. To my great surprise, she gobbled it down, rallied, and lived to be over 16, relatively pain free and playful before dying in her sleep.
Deciding what to do for our furkids when they're seriously ill is so hard. I ask myself, "What would I want if this was happening to me?" and then that's what I do.
Near the end, we say our goodbyes. Their days are filled with love, cuddles, drugs for pain, endless treats, and when the time finally comes, I feed them chocolate... the yummiest, melt in your mouth chocolate I can find. Their last experience as they drift away is the person they love with all their heart holding them, loving them, and feeding them the most awesome flavor ever, one that I've had to deny them up to then.
When my time comes, I would like to die well loved and drooling chocolate, so that is what I give to my furry best friends when their time here is at an end.[/b]
Ah gosh Guardian, started crying again reading today and then somehow ended with a smile reading your post - the story of Lily going on until 16 is heartfelt. I know you have had many animals and experienced all kinds of hurts from their suffering and passing, and the chocolate is a thoughtful end.
Note: strange, just as i was finishing the above, looked behind to see Jack heading for the door. Walked him to the back and let him go to do his thing (x2) and while not looking, he decided to go for a little stroll (i essentially lost him); His girlfriend was no help and would not show me where the heck he went. Spotted him again after another five minutes, he was heading back up the ramp into the house. :)
Thank you Bluestar, just noticed your post.
