Barley's Page
Weight: 150
Breed: Great Dane
Age when diagnosed: 7
Tumors:
- Osteosarcoma in the
Rear limb
Barley was a little 150 pound mooose of a Chihuahua lap dog. He is the only dog I have ever picked out myself - everyone else just shows up! And life with Barley was great - until late March 2008 when he came in limping one evening. The next day, the vet said he had a torn ACL on the left hind, and referred us to an orthopedic. That vet recommended a TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy). Barley had the surgery on April 10, 2008. It was very hard on him, and he never really used the leg again. After about 2 weeks, he could not even get up. X-rays and bloodwork were normal, except that he had positive tick titers. We assumed that was the problem so we started treatment for that. And he responded - for two days. Then he was back to not using the leg. We re-X-rayed, more bloodwork, and got joint fluid because we assumed the TPLO was the problem. Everything was clean. WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY DOG?? Finally we realized we were looking at the wrong thing - it was not the knee - it was the hip. There was a tumor on the femoral head. What I thought was bad was worse. The X-rays of his hips on 4/10 were clean, but by 5/12, the tumor was quite obvious.
Took Barley to University of Tennessee Vet Hospital for a consultation with the oncologist. From there we made an appointment for the amputation. I wanted to fix Barley! The odds were not great, but they were greater than zero! But when we went back for the surgery, something just sounded wrong. Barley was in so much pain. This tumor had grown from nothing to HUGE in no time. The recommended surgery was a hemipelvectomy which took part of the pelvis as well as the leg. When I talked to the surgeon that day, my head just said NO. I could not take that gamble. Barley had suffered enough. What was I doing then? It is not a cure, and Barley is suffering, and has suffered for 2 months.
I have never declined any treatment for my animals. I do anything reasonably possible for them and have the debt to prove it. My brain is geared no other way. But I just could not go forward on this. I did leave him so they could X-ray him again, and hoping I could clear my head. Little good the head clearing did, but I tried.
The tumor was even bigger. How could it grow that fast?? And while his chest films were clear, I could not believe it had not metastized already, as fast as it was growing. I picked him up and took him to our regular vet. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 6/10/08 - two months since this nightmare had begun.
I miss my boy so much. I know he is fine where he is, and he is in great company. My BooBoo lab mix just crossed over 2/26/08 because of lymphoma, and they are together again. My loss is truly heaven's gain. Barley and BooBoo, I love you both so much forever!
Pictures
My big Barley Man!
Barley, the Hoss Dog, and BooBoo, the Boss Dog
Cutest baby in the world!