Hello – I have looked around this page a few times since we received the news that our 4 year old Berner Olli has histiocytic cancer in his left front leg. I am so scared for him and am looking for any advice support we can get.
A note about our Olli, he provides us with laughs on a daily basis and is the most lovable furball around. He likes to sit on the couch like he is a person with his arm on the back checking out what everyone is doing. If he wants to go outside and we aren’t fast enough he will take us by the arm and drag us to the door to let him out. If he feels like we aren’t giving him enough attention he will bite us in the butt. He talks to us constantly and makes noises like chewbacka(sp). At 121 lbs he thinks he is a lap dog and given the chance will attempt and usually succeed at, climbing into our laps.
Olli has already had 2 total hip replacements in his short life and that is one of the issues that we are facing in deciding if going ahead with an amputation is worth it for him. Not for us but for him.
We had him in last week to do testing (ultrasound, lymph node & bone marrow aspirate) tonight we received the news that it had indeed spread to the lymph node in the armpit of that same leg. This really sucks as I’m sure many of you know.
Olli currently shows no signs of the cancer except for the lump on his elbow and limping on that leg. He currently is on tramadol for the pain in his front leg. He has been on gabapentin for his hips for a while now (if he doesn’t take this he will do some chewing at his back leg) we were told this was a type of “phantom pain” from having the hip dysplasia for so long.
Does anyone have any experience with amputations of large dogs with hip replacements. I am awaiting a call back from the surgeon that did both of these for his thoughts of course but would love to have input from someone that has dealt with this before.
I hate having to have his leg amputated but if his chances are better that way and his quality of life will still be good, I can see going that route. I am just concerned about his hip replacements being able to handle it.
Welcome! We’re sorry to hear about Ollie, but glad you found the Tripawds community.
FYI: By turning off indexing of your site in the Privacy settings, members were not getting notified of your posts. We fixed that for you, so you should receive more comments now. If for some reason you wish to change the setting back, consider starting a new forum topic and reply with a link there every time you update this blog.
You may also want to review this forum topic about Murphy’s hip replacement.
Hi Olli!
Sorry you had to find us but, under the circumstances, there’s no better place to be!
This is such a scarey time and everyne here understands that. Just know that you are not alone and we are walking right by your side.
If I may make a suggestions since these blogs go up and down so fast, and that would be to go over to the forums and start a thread…..admin. gave you a link above.
That way, mlre will see it and yo’ll get more help. I’m here everyday and missed your blog!
I can tell you that hes, we’ve had plenty lf gold outcomes for large dogs and dogs with lymph involvement. When tne leg is a putated, so is the node.
Mh stupid tablet is freezing up so I’m goinb to have to get off. Wil try and offer more help torrow.
For now…B R E A T H E…..eat chocolate and go hug Olii…it will make yoj both hhappy!
HUGS!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Thanks so much, I was just up here trying to figure everything out – will try to set up a forum now. Please let me know if you still don’t see it later today.
I want to share Olli’s story & hopefully help someone else as just reading some of the stories has helped me a lot,