Foster's Page
Weight: 100
Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Age when diagnosed: 7
Tumors:
- Osteosarcoma in the
Front limb
Foster is the love of my life.
I thought my first Bernese Mtn Dog was, but I quickly learned when I brought Foster home that I could have more than one. I never thought I could love another dog like I loved Aussi and I don't. I love Foster differently but just as much.
Foster started limping in June of 2006. I thought it was just a typical 'overdoing it' limp. He has had shoulder issues for the past 3 summers - I just assumed it was the same problem. Although I wish I had him checked out sooner, I cannot change or regret what I did. It wouldn't help. I gave Foster some homoepathic remedies which had previously worked - not this time. He spent a lot of time up at my nephew's cottage north of Toronto as my nephews and brother-in-law seem to assume "custody" of him when they come over from Europe. In exchange, I get to enjoy all my summer weekends at a gorgeous cottage on a beautiful lake! It seems fair, for the most part. He was relatively inactive during this time so his limp didn't seem to show much change and really wasn't too bad. When I brought him home full time at the end of July for a camping trip, his normal level of activity was increased and the limp became very pronounced.
I took him to his vet on a Saturday morning where we decided that X-Rays were in order. I was leaving on the following Monday for a 5 day trip to Vancouver, B.C., but arranged for a very close friend and Foster lover to take him in for the XRay. Of course, I never thought it to be anything more than a soft tissue injury - possibly a tear.
I called the vet immediately upon my arrival at the Vancouver airport to find out the results. She asked me if I was sitting down. I thought she was kidding because she knows how pathetic I am about him and often I visit for very silly incidents. She was not kidding. She told me that it looked as if Foster was showing Osteosarcoma in his left front proximal humerus.
I was in shock.
She said it was possible that it could be something else, but she truly felt that this was an OS tumour. She said she would arrange for a 2nd opinion at the Vet Emerg Centre for as soon as I got back. She said something about the options being amputation and chemo or pain management. I really don't recall very much of the remainder of that conversation.
I sat outside the Vancouver airport waiting for my ride and absolutely crying my eyes out. I was numb, scared and horrified by the words my vet had spoken to me. It was a horrible nightmare.
I arrived at the head office of my company (this was a business trip to our head office) still numb and in tears, but not really believing what had transpired.
After I got a little bit settled (it was about 10:30am (WestCoast time) by this time and I had been up since 5:00am EST, so I was certain that I had misunderstood the severity of the situation b/c of my jetlag and exhaustion, I called the vet back. The story didn't change. My vet was awesome and explained the options more clearly. Although she did not specifically tell me to amputate, looking back now I think she was encouraging me to look at that option.
When I arrived home on Fri. Aug 11 in the evening, I was greeted by a very happy and playful Foster. I broke down completely when I saw him and truly believed that the vet HAD to be wrong. A dog this happy, this playful, with this much life couldn't have CANCER!
Over the weekend I spent a lot of time soul searching and asking questions. I learned about the caninebonecancer group and had many questions answered. I learned that amputation was a viable option. Prior to that, I NEVER thought my 100 lb very active Bernese Mtn Dog was a candidate for amp. I believed that I could NEVER do that to a dog. Thankfully my closed mind opened up to the possibility. Thankfully there was a group of people who completely understood what I was feeling.
When Foster and I went to the Specialist on Monday morning, I had made my decision. If Foster was a candidate and the results showed that he definitely had OS, I would have the surgery done to remove the leg and remove the pain. He was, it was and we did remove the leg 1 week later.
It is now almost 5 months after the fact and Foster has completed a chemotherapy regime of Carboplatin and Epirubicin. He is back to walking approximately 2+ kms per day and enjoying himself immensely. Does he miss the leg -- probably, but how would I know. Is he in pain - not if activity, playfulness, eating, pooping, peeing, howling, barking, and smiling are any indication. He is doing everything he did before the amp - and more than he was doing over the summer when he must have been in an amazing amount of pain.
I don't know how long I will have with my beloved boy, but whenever do we know with our animal or human loved ones? What I do know is that I have been given a very special gift both with the time that I have with Foster and with the incredible people I have met through the on-line support groups - "caninebonecancer" to start and then "bonecancerdogs" for the past 4+ months. This network of friends have provided me with support, love, advice, education, tears and laughter over the past 4 months. They have understood better than most of my friends what a rollercoaster ride this OS is and no decisions, comments or actions have been judged. It is a special place with special people. Foster and I feel very blessed. I have learned how to appreciate each day that we have. I have learned how to open my heart and my mind.
I welcome each and every person who finds this site to try and do the same. OS is a monster that, at this time, cannot be beat, but it can be managed. Hopefully all that is learned on this site will help you to manage your dog, all the people will help you to manage the emotions.
Regrets:
1/ Biopsy. I did ask my veterinary oncologist if it was necessary at the time. He said it was - for that one in a million chance that it wasn't OS. But he had also said at the initial consult that if 'it walks like a duck, talks like a duck - it is likely a duck' It was a duck.
Foster had a pathological fracture 3 days prior to the scheduling of the amp - likely the biopsy contributed to this. The scream that he let out was the WORST thing I have ever heard. Besides the horrible pain, it cost me an additional $1000+ for further x-rays, drugs and 2 overnight stays at the Vet Emerg in order to keep him from doing more damage. He had to be sedated. On a positive note, it got his leg taken off sooner and therefore gave him 1 day without the tumour and further cell growth.
2/ Not getting him checked out sooner
3/ Wondering if I had made the right decision for 1 wk prior to the amp and for 2 wks after the amp --- For Foster, this was the BEST and most LOVING thing I could have done for him AT THE TIME. I hope I have the same kind of courage when future decisions need to be made.
Pictures
at the cottage before amp
on a picnic table soon after amp
playing in the river post amp
tug of war with his bratty sister Mattie, post amp