Hey guys, I posted a donation page last week for what was going to be Jax's cruciate ligament surgery.

I've just finished up 7 hours at a specialist vet.

It wasn't his cruciate ligament, the specialist found a mass on his hip and took x rays.
He came out and told me he found a tumor and asked me if I wanted to pay for a chest x ray as well to check his lungs, I let him go ahead and he said there are 3 "spot" on his lungs.

He then ordered a CAT scan only to confirm what he saw in the x ray.

He only gave me two options, one would be an amputation of the leg and part of the pelvic bone that the tumor is on, in which he said the life expectancy following would be about 3 months.

The second option he gave was to do all that as mentioned above, but also do chemotherapy with a expectancy of 1-2 years.

Jax just hit 6 years old last week, and there were NO signs of anything going on until these last 3 weeks.

After a $3,100 bill today put on a credit card, I had to tell him no to the chemo because there's no way I could.  I also said no the the amputation because he kept mentioning how big of a surgery is was on him, and with 3 months following that he'd have left, I'm just thinking most of that time he would be in utter pain from the surgery.


What I'm trying to see, is if anyone knows anything that I can do, anything herbal? I really don't know what else to ask for, I just can't accept that this is it.

This is the most helpless feeling in the world and I'm just looking for options.

Ouch, that's got to be a big time downer! If i were you, I don't know what I'd do. I couldn't afford the surgery or the chemo. All I can say at the moment is that sucks and I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry to hear this.  I do believe you've made a good choice.  Osteosarcoma can be an aggressive cancer.  I've watched another dog, in a different setting, be aggressively treated, to the point of the family taking  huge huge debt.  And though life was extended maybe a year or so, the dog had many sick days after chemo treatments and when he finally died, it was with a shriek and I do believe, an unbelievably painful death.  I also watched a couple members here with dogs with cancer, one who chose  no treatment group and another who chose conservative treatment.  Both  lived out their lives  comfort and activity, were put down when the quality  life was no longer there.  Though incredibly painful for all, I do believe their choice was  the best interests of the dogs and not their own.  I've promised myself that should I have similar illness in  guys, I would choose the second option, to let them live in comfort and be with  when it's time to go...no hanging on for   my own benefit.

My sympathies on the diagnosis.  Hugs to you, your pup and your family.

Thank you for the replies.

They've got a fentanyl patch on him now for pain.
I want him to be comfortable, but not 'woozy' if that makes sense.

Being there, but drugged up doesn't seem comfortable to me, so I've been looking into alternatives and I ran across CBD oil for dog that I may give a try.
There are stories on there from other users, and from what all I've read, their experience seems like is was less pain, but not all dopey from the numerous pills the vet gave me.

I have no experience with CBD so I can't comment one way or another. I guess is I'd try and if it doesn't worksn't then go back to the fentanyl. Do know that bone cancer can be exceedingly painful.

Yea, I've found all the information I could.

He's not in a really bad place right now, he still wants to go outside and walk around and sun bathes, and sits in his kiddy as he always has.

My plan as of now is just keep him comfy and cozy until I can see, or he lets me know he's getting to a bad place.

I don't want him to suffer at all.

Ive never tried cbd on my dogs but i use it on me everyday i works wonders. Alot of the dispensaries here sell the oil and treats made specifically for dogs and i know people who use it for pain and for epilepsy on thier dogs with positive results.

I feel way bad about your situation. If it were me first i would get a second opinion and then i would treat it. I have 2 relatives that are vets on the east coast so in an emergency or something major im in a totally different situation then you.

If it was one of mine id be devastated

Lostmaniac wrote:

Ive never tried cbd on my dogs but i use it on me everyday i works wonders. Alot of the dispensaries here sell the oil and treats made specifically for dogs and i know people who use it for pain and for epilepsy on thier dogs with positive results.

I feel way bad about your situation. If it were me first i would get a second opinion and then i would treat it. I have 2 relatives that are vets on the east coast so in an emergency or something major im in a totally different situation then you.

If it was one of mine id be devastated

I ordered a bottle, I think I'm going to give it a try.

As far as second opinions go, I'd love to get one, but the specialist I went to today charged $3,100 already. They never even cut off a piece of the tumor to send to the lab to confirm the type of cancer. When they first saw the tumor on his pelvis, they went and took him back and did a chest xray and said they saw some on his lungs and when they saw that, they just blurted out the 'options' that I had.

As far as other opinions, I'd hope they'd just go with the xrays we already got of Jax, but I have been searching everywhere for any causes/symptoms that would cause a mass and spots on the lungs and I haven't been able to come up with anything solid.

If you want a second opinion, you ought to be able to take his films and scans with you to the second vet.

With a primary tumor the and spots in the lungs, likely to be metastatic disease. I wish I could say something more hopeful and, in good conscience, say go for treatment. Enjoy your boy you can, spoil him rotten. He'll let you know when it's time to let go.

These threads may be helpful to you. Both these women loved their dogs all their being. I only hope I can be caring when comes to say goodbye to my guys.


https://www.itsahuskything.com/t17958-mishka-has-cancer?highlight=Mishka

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t8437p450-little-bear-mishka-updated-10-14-18?highlight=Mishka

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t17687-senior-huskies-sierra-s-update?highlight=Sierra

Do some research on Keto. While I am not a huge fan of Keto as an every day diet it has been known to help others and their pets with cancer. There is a keto diet for dogs facebook group too where many have dealt with cancer and their pets on keto and had good results.

CBD is also a good option, just make sure you are getting a quality product. The issue I run into with CBD is often with quality since it isn't regulated and can be hard to tell if it's doing anything for dogs since they can't say yes or no to if they think they feel better.

Without having a better life expectancy than what you are getting right now I know I couldn't stomach paying out the money and putting my dog through a surgery that wouldn't gain enough months of life to even recover from the surgery. I think it's worth getting copies of all paperwork from all vets that have looked and seeing what kind of second opinion I could get, but no one is going to say take out a second mortgage on your house to gain 3 months of pain for your dog. You've had 6 wonderful years, which is more than some get. It doesn't matter at what age it happens, we never want to see them go. Especially not in pain.

Hey guys, just an update.
Last night Jax took a bad turn. He got to the point even his pain killers and still having the fenatyl patch on, he was whimpering in pain just lying on the couch.
I could give him an extra pain killers and he'd stop, but that no way to live.
I didn't have time for the CBD to get here, they're not going to be here until Friday.

The last thing I wanted is for Jax to suffer in any kind of way, so last night I made some.phone calls and someone will be at my house within the hour to help him cross over.

We had a great night last night with his favorites (and what he always thought would be good but never got to try)
He had 2 nice Ribeyes, a side of bacon, some Wendy's French fires, a CHOCOLATE frosty (just a little), and for desert some Reddit Whip.

I've decided to have an in-home euthanasia simply because vets offices make Jax nervous and scared and I really didn't want him going like that.

This morning he had a nice blueberry muffin with a pup loving amount of whip cream on top.

I just wanted to say thank you all very much for your replies and responses and helping me with everything.

I don't envy your decision, but would probably have made the same choice. The last thing I want to see is my dogs suffering.

I'm sorry you have to go through this.

Best wishes.

I don't envy you that decision, we should all have our pups until we can both cross that bridge together - but God gave them a shorter happier life (or so I'm told.)

I'm sorry and take care of yourself ...

I'm so sorry for your loss. So sudden for you. Hugs to you.

So sorry for your loss. Sometimes they have a way of making the decision for us and telling us in their way what needs to be done. He will appreciate you opting for in-home. My friend who is a vet-tech notices a large difference in the dogs when it's done in-home and it's a difference for the better. May it be a smooth journey.

I am just catching up on all of this, i am so sorry for everything you have been through. He is pain free now and can be with you always.
Run free Jax.

So sorry to hear this!!

It must have been terrifying to go suddenly from what seemed like a healthy dog, to a dog with just months to live. The cost of the care is staggering.

I am glad that Jax got to have a wonderful "last meal" and he got to pass peacefully at home.

so sorry for your loss .
sends hugs.
Run free Jax.