Our first day with Bobbo as a three legged badass! We started the week off thinking he was going in for ACL surgery. We live in Clovis, California and found an amazing sugeon, Dr. Cervi. Both him and his assistant Charlie were angels. Surgery started Tuesday afternoon and I was on a plane to JFK for work. What could go wrong? As soon as my boyfriend answered my question on the flight with, “Maybe we should discuss it when you get to New York.” I knew it was bad. I forced him to tell me with three hours left on the plane. Dr. Cervi didn’t find any knee damage but suspected either cancer or a fungal infection. I turned around and flew back to Fresno the next morning. We took Bobbo to our local vet for chest x-rays that afternoon. One thing I have learned in a short time is to get things done quickly and don’t wait for people to call you back. By Thursday the bone biopsy was back with a diagnosis of Osteosarcoma and the chest x-rays with metastatic cancer. Wtf? Our baby is three years old. We decided to set up an appointment with UC Davis because they are the best of the best. I called and it was a consultation the first time around and they wanted us to wait another two weeks for amputation. NO WAY! Our surgeon suggested Dr. Wendi Rankin in Dublin at SAG Vet. She graduated from UC Davis and was able to get us in the following day for amputation of the back left leg. We all understood though that it was only for pain control and that his life expectancy was only two to four months. My boyfriend Bill found Dr. Dressler online and we decided to also start the holistic route reading the Dog Cancer Survival Guide. We have hope and positive energy now and will fight every day to give Bobbo a quality of life. His surgery went well and we picked him up the next day, amazed as he ran out of the room when he saw us, wagging his tail! Unbelievable! His first night with us was good. He ate his new dinner meal and went to the bathroom, being able to walk on his own. Three legs hasn’t slowed him down a bit. This morning he peed twice and even pooped before noon. We are on a complete rest regiment for two weeks now until the incision heals. There is so much negativity we could focus on but we both are choosing a WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER attitude. We still have our appointment with UC Davis on Tuesday morning and hope to sign up for either an experimental treatment or chemo as soon as possible. Bill ordered Apocaps and nutritional supplements for Bobbo once his healing is finished. I had a laundry list of chicken, calf livers, berries, garlic, mushrooms, veggies, etc. that have been recommended by Dr. Dressler. Bobbo LOVES it! So we start the journey as a family…we love him so much.
Welcome to the group & I am so sorry for the diagnosis of Osteoscaroma. You have come to the right group. Many of us have dealt with Osteoscaroma or are dealing with it. Hugs to your boy & your family. There is no time limit stamped on a dog with cancer. So enjoy him
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Bobbo is a beautiful pup….you have a great attitute and are proactive. Your posititive energy will rub off on him to help him heal. He is a very loved, Tripawd.
Tracy & Angel
Wow you guys have had a whirlwind week just like we have. Everything moves so fast and sometimes I stop for a second and think that not even a week ago I had no clue anything was wrong, but the main thing is move forward with hope and a great attitude, and you guys are definitely doing that. This is such a great community here and everyone is so caring and helpful. Keep posting about Bobbo and we wish him all the best, he looks like a super strong boy!
Brad, Michelle, and Broc
The Steiner has the best of the best on his side. Staying positive and not going the other way is hard, but enjoy him, have a great time (once he heals). Like you said quality, that and love with all your support, it will be alright. Remember, you’re not alone. You’re always in our thoughts and nearby.
Love,
Alex and Ben
Seattle
You’re doing it all so right and all so fast! You did your homework and I think have a great plan ahead. Your attitude seems excellent and I wish everyone in your pack a speedy recovery! I hope you love your specialists and that Bobbo gets all the information he needs to be all the dog he can!
I can also relate to the ACL surgery-turned-cancer thing. Jackson HAD torn his ACL, but it was b/c of cancer there that caused the whole thing. So here we thought it was “simple” ACL surgery and prognosis when in fact it was cancer. I can sympathize with you about how awful a ‘bait and switch’ it was. But, here we all are! 3 three legs and hopping like champs.
Speedy recovery, Bobbo!
~ Katy & Jackson
Well, darn it! Bobbo, welcome to the group, but I’m sorry you had to find us to begin with. Sounds like your Mom & Dad already have your treatment all planned out, and have done a lot of research, which is great! And that excellent positive attitude doesn’t hurt either! We’ll be keeping you in our thoughts for a speedy, uneventful recovery! Stay strong, Bobbo!!
My Golden Retriever (one of three Goldens of mine) is somewhere between 10 and 12 years old. Left front leg, osteosarcoma. It had not metastisized, so that made my decision a little clearer. His surgery was August 29, this year, so just four days ago. He’s doing as well as I could hope. He’s walked quite a bit, but then has spent most of the day today just refusing food and lying still. I know the antibiotics are killing his appetite. I’m on my way to get some chicken baby food. I live alone and am not a very large person, so getting him in and out of the house for potty breaks is a doozie. But he’s smiling, even when he doesn’t feel like wagging his tail. I appreciate reading what others have to say that have gone through this. Lots of good advice.
Welcome Bobbo and family-
What a great picture. You can se the love just looking at it. Glad you found the site, but wish you didn’t have to. You will find great advice on here and a large majority of the dogs on here are OSA so there is lots of experience.
Sending good thoughts your way.
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
OMD! What a great picture! He is sooooo ha dsome……yeah, your guy too.:-) 🙂 …….but Bobbo is “melt your heart dog”! Look at the mug!
I saw your other post first and left a reply But I just want to say again……..you two are wonderful advocates for Bobbo! So glad you found Dressler’s book….most of us here knw it by jeart. He and Dr. Ettinger also have The Dog Cancer blog which is helpful.
Yeah, I’ve got the Apocaps and K-9 Immuniy thing going along with a few other supplements and homecooking with some kibble. I’m staeting to switch off the kibble now and maybe try some foods from The Honest Kitchen. My Happy Hannah BullMastiff is quite a hippo-sizw girl and I really need to slim her down some so maybe elimi atng the kibble will help. She’s also ni e years “young” and cntnuing forward but her activity level is weigh less than what your Bobbo’s will be! I try to “chunk it down” with the supplements/vitamins or else I’d spend the whole day “dosing” her!
And we have some things to celebrate with sweet Bobbo!!
PEEING—YAY! POOPING—YAY! EATING—YAY! DRINKING—YAY! UP AND WALKING—YAY!
Thanks for that wonderfulr pic of Bobbo—–brightens our day!
Keep hanging tough!! We’ve got your back over here in tripawd land!
APPLAUSE TO YOU AND YOUR PACK!
Sally and Happy Hannah
As everyone else says; welcome to the group, sorry for the reason.
When Oscar (my 6 year old mastiff) was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in July, I decided to look at everyday with him as a gift. Although he had a bumpy start right after the surgery (infection which required another surgery) I started thinking of the one day at a time prayer which helped me cope.
The people on this site are awesome; they gave me such support and encouragement especially when I kept thinking I had made a big mistake having the surgery done. At this time I’m glad he had the surgery because he’s doing well.
Good for you insisting that his surgery be done now and not later! It sounds like he’s doing great! Keep us posted.
Lora, Gus and Oscar