Black Lab just Diagnosed with Appendicular Osteosarcoma

by Teresa
(Maryland)

My handsome male Black Lab, Shade, who is 9 years old, was just diagnosed with Appendicular Osteosarcoma last week and has approximately 1-2 months to live.

This was a shock to us since he was diagnosed with arthritis in the spine last year. He started limping about 6 weeks ago, and we just thought he may have just landed on it the wrong way charging down the steps off our deck after our neighbor's cat who likes to hang out in our yard or maybe it was the arthritis. It seemed to get better and he stopped limping for a while.

Then in the past two weeks he started limping again and his leg was swelling. We took him to the vet where they physically examined him and took an x-ray.

Long story short, I believe that he was misdiagnosed a year ago with the arthritis and really had bone cancer that started in the spine. He is too far along and has too many other problems with hip dysplasia and his spinal problem to go with the normal course of treatment of amputation, chemo and radiation. Plus they believe that it has already metastasized to the lungs because of his breathing condition. So we were sent home in shock with pain and anti-inflammatory meds to keep him comfortable.

After being overwhelmed with researching online all the alternative treatments, vitamins, supplements, tonics, diets, etc., I have come to the conclusion that we are going to try a natural, semi-raw diet consisting of various meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, some fruits and oats along with several vitamins, supplements and extracts that I ordered. I have started transitioning him with feeding him a mixture of his regular kibble along with some of the new foods and giving him some of the vitamins that I was able to purchase locally. I figure that I will have him eating a completely natural diet by next week. I still haven't received the special antioxidant extracts yet, so I haven't started him on them.

I don't know if it is helping him or not, but so far he really seems to be enjoying the variety of new wholesome foods that I have introduced and looks with interest when I am preparing his meals. I figure that we have nothing to lose in trying them and at the very least will make his remaining time hopefully as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

Also, we are surrounding him with love and attention along with spending special moments by taking him to all his favorite places out on the boat and at the park and making lasting memories of our time together with our family.