Tuck’s surgery last Wednesday was a success! After spending the night at the vet’s for observation, he returned home the next day with a wagging tail and a big smile.
In true Tucker fashion, he is bouncing back quickly and is now 5 days post-surgery, continuing to impress us with his recovery. He’s has been eating well and is eager to get back to his normal routine, showing no sign of slowing down. Our biggest challenge right now is keeping him calm and entertained (what a great problem to have!).
We’re amazed by his resilience and strength, and are looking forward to his stitch removal on the 20th and starting his chemo treatment thereafter. Thank you for all the well-wishes!
In January, we noticed Tucker began favoring his right hind-leg. The limp didn’t improve, so we took him to an emergency vet clinic on the 28th for x-rays. The results showed “bilateral mild degenerative stifle joint disease with mild synovial proliferation/joint effusion on the right.” We were advised to consult with our vet & an orthopedic specialist, as it appeared Tucker would likely need CCL surgery. Our vet agreed upon reevaluation, noting that the imaging and Tucker’s symptoms aligned with a CCL tear. Thus, we proceeded to schedule surgery with the recommended orthopedist, bracing ourselves for a lengthy 16-week recovery period.
On Feb 19th, we dropped Tucker off for surgery. They let us know they would call after standard pre-operative tests to discuss the comprehensive recovery plan. The surgeon called & rather than discussing the anticipated procedure, he delivered distressing news – he suspected something far more serious than a CCL injury. Revealing the presence of a bone lesion, he cautioned that his experience suggested bone cancer, urging caution until a radiologist could review the findings. We were shocked to hear this. How could our otherwise vibrant 1-and-a-half-year-old puppy have cancer?Subsequently, we started researching osteosarcoma and got connected with a specialist. We got the results back that afternoon, an “aggressive bone lesion of the right proximal tibial.”
More testing was needed to make a formal diagnosis. We took him to a specialist last Thursday where they ran a number of tests on him, including a biopsy. We’ve kept hope over the last week that it could be some type of bone infection.
March 1st, we received the devastating confirmation that our happy-go-lucky boy has osteosarcoma. After extensive research and the guidance of Tucker’s veterinary team, we’ve made the decision to proceed with amputation next Wednesday (3/6). This course of action aims not only to halt potential metastasis but also to alleviate Tucker’s pain. Following the surgery, Tucker will start chemotherapy treatment.
While this is an aggressive form of cancer, Tucker is a fighter and besides the limp he hasn’t slowed down at all. We appreciate all the support.
