My 7 Yrs old has cancer

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Rocky's-Mom

Rocky's-Mom

Super Boxer
Thanks to all you for your love and support

I came home from work early and Rocky had a double plain cheese burger from McDonalds. He is spoiled already but even more now. It is the lower part of his back leg that has the cancer and the vet said he need to be very careful because it want take much for it to break. Gin, Rocky too has chondrosarcoma cancer. The vet said it could be weeks to months. Last night he started breathing heavy and panting and I got all upset (not like he hasn't done that before. He's taken over our bed and I have to lift him on and off the bed because of his lower leg. The vet has him on Previcox for pain and inflammation-swelling. I can't stop crying thinking of him not being here...please pray for me so I can stop for his sake. God made alot of dogs and I have had 5 but NONE can compare to the gentle, loving and most human boxer. He doesn't have mean bone in his body so sweet and gentle. My husband calls him the Gentle Giant along with Rocky The Moose...We love him so but I know everyone of you feel the same about yours and I have your assurance that I can make it...thanks to all of you in tears...Vicky
 
furrykidmom

furrykidmom

Completely Boxer Crazy
We went thru a similiar situation. Last January our Tigger turned six on New Year's day. A week later we went into the vet for our annual visit. We mentioned to the doctor that he had become finicky since Christmas. He did not want to finish his dog food but he would take all the treats that you gave him and beg for more. He had lost a little weight which surprised us because he was eating most of his food but he was a very active dog.

The vet felt his belly and found a mass. We went to the specialists for further testing and an ultrasound. They did fine needle aspirates of the mass and the results came back as lymph node carcinoma of unknown origin. We requested that they try to surgically remove the mass. Other than the weight loss Tig was still his happy bouncy self. The mass was growing quickly and eventually food could not pass he was vomiting and constipated. Amazingly he still bounced around the house and played. In three weeks he had lost over fifteen pounds.

On January 19th, he went to surgery. I was still hopeful that he would return to me. He bounced into the clinic giving everyone kisses and doing Happy C's. He was so stoic. I got the call a few hours later that the mass was wrapped around the aorta and vena cavae, the two main arteries to the heart. They were unable to dissect the mass. We opted to put him down on the table. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. All of our other dogs lived to be fourteen and fifteen years old. They had lived full lives. Tig was in the prime of his. It was so unfair.

Tig was a rescue. We had him for a little over five years. I will never forget all the joy that he brought to our lives. He rescued us and everyone around him. He was so loved. Tig taught me to live life to its fullest. He lived his life with gusto. He gave us more love and laughter than one could ask for.

Give Rocky everything. I do not know anything about bone cancer. I hope you have more time with him than we did with Tig. In our three weeks we let him have and do all the things that he normally was not allowed. He was smothered with love. When we were home someone was holding him.

I miss him with all my heart and soul. I am crying as I write this. You will get thru this. We will all be here for you.

Despite the advice of a vet friend, we now have two more Boxer babies. A nine month old Boxer boy and a 17 week old Boxer girl. We are making new memories and hope to never go thru this tragedy again. Realistically, we all know what Boxers are prone to but no other breed has ever brought me so joy. They give so much and expect so little.

I will pray for you and Rocky. Enjoy him and spoil him.
 
Gin&Dex

Gin&Dex

Super Boxer
chondrosarcoma...

Hey Rocky's Mom, (is it Vicky??)

I have to say I am surprised to hear that Rocky has the same cancer that Ginger had, because I was told it was relatively rare in dogs (osteosarcoma is the common one). Ginger's too, was in her right rear leg, right at the knee. It is such a strange cancer because it invades the bone AND the soft tissue too. Ginger's x-rays looked horrible, it ate up both bones above and below the knee, and I too was terrified of a fracture (which we never had).

But the bright side is, chondrosarcoma is a very slow spreading cancer, IF it spreads at all. It is one where you don't have to worry so much about it consuming the lungs, liver, or other organs... not to say it won't, but it is very slow to spread. We only worried about her leg.

One thing we did with Ginger is start her on a steroid to attempt to stop or slow the growth of the tumor, and some pain medicine that works with the steroid. She was on prednisone and buprinex (taken by mouth with a dropper). You may ask your vet about that? It was a choice I made, and I think it helped her. There are side effects from the prednisone, but I was willing to deal with them. (She drank more and peed more and sometimes she would pant.) But I am happy with the choices I made for Ginger. She was never in any pain and she was happy. Of course I was very careful with her, helping her into and out of the bed (just like you do Rocky), not letting her jump, and not letting her play too rough.

If you want to read my thread about Ginger, do a search for "possible osteosarcoma" (that's what we thought it was at first--we had a hard time actually getting a diagnosis). You may not want to read it (understandably, because you know how her story ends), but you'll see that she was happy and played almost daily. That thread is basically a journal of what we went through....

But most importantly, you ARE in our prayers!! I know how you are feeling, and I pray that you have strength to get through this. I pray that Rocky is pain free and happy (a double cheeseburger would make any pup happy!!). (Ginger liked the fries!) Dexter and I are sending all the strength we have to you and Rocky, and BIG HUGS!

We're here for you!
Melanie and Dexter
 
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richarc6

richarc6

Boxer Booster
There are no words....

that make it any better. My husband and I had to put down our 5 year old Ruckus January 9, 2006 due to lymphoma. It was and is the absolutely most difficult thing we have ever dealt with. It came out of the blue and was over as quickly....I still cry every day and it's been over a week now. My 2 yr old baby brindle, Ali is depressed and that makes me sadder. I will think of you as I understand and my heart goes out....

Sincerely,
Carolyn
Pensacola, Fl
 
richarc6

richarc6

Boxer Booster
our last night together....

makes me smile...a bit...We knew we were going to have to put him down the next day...the test results were back... he was stage 5....We decided to try and be all smiles....everything happy....no tears....I went and bought a filet mignon for both Ruckus and Ali.....we even marinated it for them and grilled it up.....We all had dinner together...It's so unfair...he was so young....I feel totally cheated.
 
Rocky's-Mom

Rocky's-Mom

Super Boxer
Rocky has osteosarcoma

I have been so confused but it is osteosarcoma...the quick one that spread. The vet said it normally goes to the lungs quickly because of their breathing. I have cried for a week and I have to work but I am worthless there. I come home at lunch and check on him we have a daushound..Tobey that keeps him company. What a pair...Rocky was laying on the coucn in the living room and I came into the family room and here he is...follows me every where I go. I feel as though my heart is being ripped out..here I go again...crying. Keep praying for us....I know you all know what i am feeling with boxer love...Vicky
 
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