Bavaria Blue :: Our Story of Dealing with Osteosarcoma

First published January 13, 2003 \| Updated May 15, 2011 ONE YEAR POSTSCRIPT: Having to make decisions for which one is never really prepared, we did the best we could with what information we were able to absorb. In hindsight, we would have never done the bone biopsy nor chemotherapy at his age of 9 years. In Rusty's case, the bone biopsy created excruitiating pain and the chemo turned out to be careless in its administration. The amputation was necessary to rid him of the pain, but there was little else that could be done other than holistic nutrition and pain management . . . and, even more importantly, enjoying Rusty's unique ability to make us happy and spending as much time as we could to make the rest of his life the best ever. We chose to send Rusty to Rainbow Bridge at home and found a local vet beforehand who was able to come before his clinic opened. It was dignified and comforting. Nancie Guido \| February 2004 EIGHT YEAR POSTSCRIPT: As we lost Misty earlier this year at age 11.5 to a splenetic tumor, and looking at others who are so careful in their selection of a line of Rotties that they had hoped would live long and healthy lives, I've come to realize that it is mostly a crap shoot, no matter what kind of screenings are in place. One can influence a dog's health with good nutrition and supplements and there has been progress to breed out some problems, but life is never certain no matter how carefully bred. Enjoy each dog, each day. Nancie Guido \| November 2010
Hearing that your beloved dog has bone cancer sends chills down the spine to be sure. I wanted to tell our story in the hopes it would be helpful to others facing the same disease. Rusty's 5-year-old mother, Fresca, had developed osteosarcoma when Rusty was just a pup; unfortunately, she lost her all-too-short battle. I was given the information by the breeder so that I could decide whether to purchase a puppy out of her litter. After consulting with a well respected veterinarian out of Santa Rosa who stated he did would have no hesitation if everything else was healthy with the pup, I chose Rusty. Since bringing him home in 1994, I have never looked back and consider it one of the best decisions I've ever made. As I held my most precious puppy on the way home, I looked into his eyes with tears in mine and knew that there would come a day when he would break my heart . . . dogs just don't have a decent lifespan for most of us! The fear of cancer drove me to find the best possible diet I could feed, though goodness knows I was pretty naive. From the beginning, supplements and healthy doses of broccoli and cauliflower were a part of his diet. Perhaps the fact he has lived almost four years longer than his mother says that this was the correct way to go. His vaccination protocol was more extensive than I have would have done hindsight . . . he was my first, I made my share of mistakes.		All photos taken after amputation in October 2002 Updates 1.20.03 \| 1.27.03 \| 2.3.03 Letters from others October, with his best pal, my husband Mike
Digging the Great Hole to China . . . after a "critter" with only one front leg!		He quickly became my heartdog going on to win his championship in three back-to-back majors in 1996 at the Bluegrass Classic with Kimm McDowell, then 38 Best of Breed awards with Gary Steele as well as numerous specialty awards, including a Select Award of Merit at the 2000 Nationals. He reluctantly gave me the pleasure of winning his advanced obedience CDX title. Ever the ambassador, his temperament is still one of the best: ever steady and always outgoing to those he meets. His idea of a good time is meeting new people and schmoozing with old friends. In August 2000, he developed a severe neck injury while on a chase with a coyote and could barely walk. After x-rays showed that surgery was indicated, I chose to go another path with chiropractic, massage and a variety of supplements. After a year, he was once again swimming, roadworking and any limping was manageable with home manipulations to his neck and spine. He competed in Palm Springs 2002 and won the two consecutive Best of Breed awards as a veteran.
Once again, in the month of August 2002, he began limping on his right foreleg. Assuming it was the neck injury flaring up, I had his local chiropractor come and manipulate his spine and neck. After the second visit, it was determined that the pain was in his shoulder and it was quite painful. Conferring with a vet, we decided we'd better x-ray. The radiographs taken on Sept. 12 showed "subtle signs" of osteosarcoma. It was recommended by the vet and two oncologists we consulted to do a bone biopsy. This was totally out of my holistic league and I went with the recommendation of specialists. A biopsy was arranged for the next day. I was totally unprepared for the immense pain this would cause my dog. There had been an veterinary oncology meeting on the east coast so I couldn't confer with them. This spelled disaster in my mind, not to mention that the biopsy results were going to take from 7 to 10 days. My husband and I considered the heartbreaking event of putting down this dog who had stolen both of our hearts.		Sharing time with Rhonda Carlson, his godmother.
Ever the Stoic: Setting the Tone for Christmas		After conferring with the surgeon who had done the biopsy, we got a much stronger pain management, tylenol codeine, and packed Rusty up to see him. We knew we couldn't let him live in the kind of misery he was in and we elected to amputate without waiting for biopsy results. It would give him relief. As it turned out, he adjusted very well after what seemed to me to be a 2-day period where he seemed embarrassed not to have all four legs on the ground. We made the decision to go to the Veterinary Cancer Referral Group for chemo. They have two board certified oncologists on staff. The protocol was to give 4 treatments at intervals of 3 weeks of cisplatin flush the first day and adriamyacin the second day, leaving him overnight for monitoring. The first three treatments were a breeze. He was a healthy Rottweiler to begin with, had virtually no side effects, and blood and urine tests were always good. There was no loss of appetite, nausea or loose stool. On the third treatment they took lung x-rays; he was clear. Needless to say, we were very happy . . . and so was Rusty. We held a "dogtail party" on November 8 when his self-appointed godmother, Rhonda Carlson, flew in from Boulder, CO. Rusty was host to 18 of his closest 2-legged neighbor friends and had a ball. We took the family Christmas photo on December 10, the day before his last chemo treatment.
On his fourth treatment, however, they changed the procedure and gave both drugs on the same day, which I did not find out until it was done and we were having problems. He lost his appetite, was very lethargic and developed very severe conjunctivitis that proved impossible to treat. After using three different prescription eye ointments, I went to the health store for advice and started putting salves of purified Golden Seal on his eyes, which worked. I fed him whatever he would eat which meant going off of the BARF diet and feeding cooked chicken or hamburger. He no longer liked dairy products and would not take his supplements unless forced. I had started giving him hydrazine sulfate after he finished his last treatment as it is reputed to extend the benefits of chemo, then took him off this as his condition continued to deteriorate, thinking it may have exacerbated the problem. After several weeks of nausea and lethargy, putting him on Reglan as recommended by his oncologist, he developed a swelling in his foreleg and by examination it was apparent that he was in a good deal of pain. On January 2, we rushed him into CriticalCare in Rancho Santa Fe where his amputation had taken place as they have the best facilities and vets in our area; they x-rayed his leg and the doctor said that the x-ray indicated by the inflammation surrounding his bone that it was likely the cancer had spread. The next step was to do chest x-rays.		Enjoying Christmas as only Rusty can!
A New Year, a new femur bone to guard . . . he's happy!		We wanted the oncologists to do their own examination and the chest x-ray as they had done the original and could compare on site. For his pain, CriticalCare prescribed an anti-inflammatory similar to Celebrex.. It was unbelievable the transformation that the drug provided. Rusty was totally out of pain, happy and hungry! When we went to the oncology center, he amused everyone in the waiting room, by going "WoowooWoowoo!!" It still brings tears to my eyes . . Lung x-rays showed a very rapidly growing metastisis. Since he has done so well on the anti-inflammatory, I will keep him on it until such time that his lungs are no longer functional. For the past week, each day has been a delight. We have been spoiling him rotten. He has been playing with his new toys with the antics of a puppy, flipping over on his back to amuse, eats his BARF diet like a horse (with a few added cooked chicken pieces). I have put him back on hydrazine sulfate when he started taking his anti-inflammatory. He has been getting up in the morning with vim and vigor . . . and we only shake our heads, count our blessings and give him a fresh new femur bone to guard and keep. Each day is a Gift.
Rusty has been on a wide variety of supplements for several years now related to his neck injury. There is a product from Liquid Health that I have given him called Level 5000, available from countrysidepet.com or 1.800.462.4562, which was recommended by a friend whose Rottie lived for 18 mos. with lymphoma. I also give Noni Juice, Alaskan Salmon Oil, shark cartilege, milk thistle, extra Vit A, and several other cancer-fighting supplements (check out the book Healthy Healing or a trusted person at your health food store) which he's been on since the beginning of chemo. Retrospect: I would not necessarily go to an oncology center for treatment. I would get the best veterinarian in the area to handle my dog and his treatment, perhaps using some holistic treatments in combination with chemo. Frankly, I do not know whether I would do chemo again for osteosarcoma. This is just a feeling I have as I felt so out of control of my dog's treatment; I treat holistically and amputation and chemo obviously did not work for the long-term, though looking at the dog today, though he's missing a leg, he is one hell of a Rottweiler. I have to admit that quite possibly chemo did buy some time.		Relaxing in our family room with his giggling koala bear which provided us (including him) with a lot of good laughs!
		To Those Facing Osteosarcoma: Each dog and cancer is different. There is no ONE right answer. You will need to find the right Path for you and your dog. I don't have the answers and doubt that anyone else does either. Because someone decides to do one thing and not another, doesn't mean they are wrong or don't love their dog. It's difficult . . . but don't panic and rush into treatment. I did . . . and there are some things I regret, such as not participating in the Rottweiler Cancer Study. If you find your dog does have bone cancer, please consider getting in touch with the vet who is responsible for the study: Jaime Modiano in Colorado. I did not do so and regret not being able to participate . . . Acceptance is part of the Journey. Letting your dog know you love him and being able to let go are keys to handling this difficult time you share with your dog. You are not alone. Appreciate and be thankful for the good days. Hopefully, there will be more good than bad days. If you've grown to love your dog as I have, you've been blessed, not cheated!. Be grateful for the special time you've shared together.

The three photos taken directly above were shot January 13. Our neighbor, Karen McNall, had found his very favorite toy, a stuffed hamburger. He was sooooo happy he was quite literally whimpering with excitement. God willing there will be many more photo opportunities in the days, weeks and possibly months to come!