Cruiser (The Wonder-Pyr)'s Page

Weight: 113
Breed: Great Pyrenees
Age when diagnosed: 2

Tumors:

My husband Mike and I have always been owned by a Great Pyrenees (or two or three). When Cruiser joined our family in Feb. 1999, we never expected the huge impact his presence would have on our hearts, or the anguish of such a horrible disease, both for him and us. His puppyhood was normal, filled with laughter and joy. This particular Great Pyrenees showed us early in life that he was a true CLOWN. He made us laugh every single day, and still does.
In late April of 2001, at the tender age of 2 yrs., 4 mths., Cruz came up lame on his right front leg. Thinking he had twisted it when flying off our bed (which he did fairly routinely), I waited a few days, but it persisted, so off to the vet's we went. Vet was of the same mind, but the 'C' word was mentioned. However, he was much to young for that. We were sent home with two weeks worth of Rimadyl, and instructions to return if the lameness persisted or returned. It did. Subsequent x-rays showed the tell-tale "starburst" pattern in his right humerus (upper bone between elbow/shoulder), and later biopsy proved the worst.....osteosarcoma. By mid-August, after a consult with the oncology department at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, and after much research and soul-searching, Mike and I decided we had to go ahead with amputation. Cruz's lungs were clear on x-ray, right up to two days before surgery, and he came through it like the champ that he is. He was up and walking, although slowly, the very next day, and came home 3 days later. He healed quickly and basically just went on with his life and never looked back. Definitely our hero.
Cruiser made 5 trips to OVC for chemotherapy treatments, he was given carboplatin. He did very, very well with it, the only possible side-effect being a slightly decreased appetite for a day or so after each treatment. As for supplements, I put him on Vit. E, Vit. C, omega 3 fatty acid oil, garlic, All Bran cereal (with his food), and also fed him Hill's Prescription Diet n/d, a canned food available only from the vet. It is a cancer-fighting food, very high in fat, and low in carbs. I mixed this with his regular dry food for about 8 mths. after his diagnosis.
When your dog is diagnosed with this horrible cancer, most vets will tell you it's a death sentance. Cruz is still with us today, over 5 yrs. later, to prove that is not always true. The stats are better now than they were when he was diagnosed, and more dogs are living longer. It's a horrible diagnosis, but, if you BELIEVE, miracles are possible.

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