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There comes a time in everyones life who has owned a dog, that one will totally steal your heart completely that you never forget or get over loosing. I have had the honor of Neely in my life but only for a short time. This site is dedicated to this dog who stole my heart, who I miss as much today as the day she left us.
Neely came to us in an odd way. We weren't looking for a dog at the time. A friend told us about this dog who needed a home. We talked about it and decided to meet the dog.
When Neely came into our home, we fell in love with this beautiful gentle giant. She not only walked into our home but into our heart and soul too. She was funny, kind, gentle, reserve, bossy over my husband, protective of my daughter and me. She would protect me when out walking and one Christmas eve she must have felt I was in danger because she attacked a cardboard cut out of Santa Clause. Guess it was dangerous. She loved the cats and the cats loved her. She wasn't a vocal rotty except with her dad. She loved to talk to him or at him. She loved attention and with her funny attitude she got plenty. Alot of people were scared of her at first because of her size but soon learned that her heart was just as big. There wasn't many places she didn't go with us and we loved taking her. She went to fireworks, outdoor concerts etc. and was a lady at all times.
Sadly she started slowing down and not wanting to go walking like she did. We just took it as she was getting old and maybe never had the energy she use to. She would limp and want to stop. One morning she tried to get up and cried. We imediately took her to the vet. Xrays was taken and our biggest fears came true. Osteosarcoma ( bone cancer) She had cancer in the bone of her left front leg. It was really advanced. Surgery wasn't an option and chemo wouldn't help at all. We decided to have her on pain meds as long as she still had QUAILTY life. We also said that as soon as the meds wasn't helping her live that way, we would do the right thing. We had our beautiful Neely for 2 more months. We made sure that every second we could be with her , we were.
The day came when it was time. That was the most horrible day of my life. The ride to the vet was long and short at the same time. Long because we didn't want her to suffer any longer and short because we didn't want her to go. This dog gave us so much unconditional love that you couldn't put a price on it.
In the vets office, we laid our beloved girl on a blanket and I sat with her. She put her head in my lap and just looked at me with those trusting, loving eyes. I believe she knew what was happening and welcomed it. My heart was in my throat. We never stopped looking at each other. I told her I would never stop loving her or ever forget her. I will never forget the last breath she took and how peaceful she was. It was like she welcomed it. I promised her that I would carry on and fight for rotties who are misunderstood because of bad owners. I am keeping my promise to her and in her memory.
My sweet Neely, you are missed so much and loved more today then ever.
Rest in Peace my Angel
April 1 / 1993 - July 13 / 2002
You are missed more today then ever.
Osteosarcomas account for only 5% of all canine tumors, but 80-90% of malignancies involving the bone. Much more common in large breed dogs, osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancer of the bone that often requires amputation of the affected limb coupled with chemotherapy to provide temporary relief from this aggressive disease.
Which dogs are at risk for developing osteosarcomas?
Osteosarcomas generally affect older large or giant breed dogs. The giant breeds at greatest risk for developing osteosarcoma include Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Irish Wolfhounds. Large breeds such as Rottweilers, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Shepherds, Dobermans, Weimaraners, and Boxers are also at an increased risk. It is not a very common tumor in small breed dogs and rarely occurs in cats. Dogs that weigh over 80 pounds have been shown to be at least 60 times more likely to develop an osteosarcoma than dogs weighing less than 75 pounds. While older dogs more commonly develop osteosarcomas, there does appear to be an increased incidence in one to two year old dogs as well. Male dogs have an increased incidence of osteosarcomas.
It is unknown why some dogs develop osteosarcomas, but one theory suggests that the rapidly growing cells found at the growth plates in the bones are genetically at a greater risk of mutation. Another theory is that the tumors develop at the site of trauma. The increased cellular activity at the site of a fracture or trauma could result in the development of cancer cells. The reality is that both of these may be true and there may be other causes not yet discovered.
What are the symptoms of osteosarcomas?
The symptoms of osteosarcomas are often closely associated with their location. Most osteosarcomas develop on the limbs of dogs below the elbow or near the knee. The tumors usually form at or near the growth plates. Affected dogs will often have a pronounced bone swelling. X-rays often reveal a characteristic bone pattern that, coupled with history and breed, may indicate the development of an osteosarcoma. These tumors often produce pain in the joint that can first be detected as lameness in the affected limb. Up to 90% of these tumors will have metastasis to the lungs at the time of diagnosis, but because of the small initial size of the metastases, less than 10% will initially show up on a chest x-ray. Because of this high incidence of metastasis, all dogs with osteosarcomas are treated as if they have metastasis to the lungs regardless of the findings on the initial lung x-rays. Osteosarcomas will occasionally show up at different locations and likewise other tumor types can initially appear to be an osteosarcoma. Because of this possibility, a biopsy is always recommended. Fungal bone infections can produce similar symptoms and appearance on an x-ray, so a fungal culture is often performed to help clarify the diagnosis.
What is the treatment for osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive, highly metastatic cancer that requires an aggressive treatment protocol. Once the tumor has been positively identified as an osteosarcoma, the affected limb is usually amputated. In rare cases where the tumor is in the right location, some limb-sparing surgeries have been performed, but that is not usually the case. After the amputation, a course of chemotherapy is usually begun. The most successful drugs have been carboplatin and cisplatin. Carboplatin is more expensive, but safer and easier to administer. Doxorubicin is sometimes used as well. A qualified veterinary oncologist is often the best source of information and he or she will be aware of the newest chemotherapy protocols. The life expectancy of a dog with a properly identified and treated osteosarcoma varies greatly, but can approach a year or longer.
Is osteosarcoma preventable?
It does not appear that osteosarcoma is preventable. Because of some strong breed correlations, any breed line that has a history of osteosarcoma should be examined closely prior to breeding. Unfortunately, we do not completely understand the cause of osteosarcoma, but hopefully as our knowledge improves, we can continue to provide more effective treatments and early diagnostic tests.
References and Further Reading
Ettinger, S. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1989.
Garrett, L. Update on Canine Appendicular Osteosarcoma. Veterinary Practice News. February; 2000.
Villalobos, A. Osteosarcomas in the Clinical Setting. Veterinary Practice News. April; 2000.
Villalobos, A. Managing Osteosarcoma in Dogs and Cats. Veterinary Practice News. June; 2000.
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