My freind noticed her wolfdog Harley limping a few days back, then she wasn't limping anymore, this morning she was limping again so her husband took Harley to the vet today and here is the e-mail I just got from her:
Bad news, it looks like it is cancer on Harley. The vet said it's a bony mass on her ankle and the prognosis is not good.
They said it could be one of two other things. One, she fractured it a long time ago and it healed and then she refractured it. This isn't likely because the vet said we would have known for sure if it was a fracture because she would not have been able to walk on it. It would not have just gone away like it did. Two, it could be an infection which isn't likely because usually infections go thru the joint and this is not. The most likely candidate is cancer. The vet thinks it is cancer and even gave us what they could do, which is only amputate and chemo and even then they give her 6-9 months to live. She doesn't want to come right out and say it's definitely cancer because that would be a death sentence for her. But she thinks it is from her experience and the amount of pain Harley is in. I guess when she was under sedation for the x-ray and they touched her ankle her head came up off the table and she yelped. The vet said that is a lot of pain and therefore one of the reasons it's probably bone cancer because bone cancer is very painful.
The vet said we could do a biopsy tomorrow and then it will be about a week to get the results back or we could bring her home and they would give her pain medication and antibiotics (in case it is infection) and we would know within a week or two because if it is bone cancer it will grow rapidly and will be about twice the size in that short amount of time. The vet suggested bringing her home and waiting to see.
So, if we can find out in about the same amount of time without putting her thru the biopsy (making it more painful) that is what we're doing. Scott is picking her up at 5:30 today. At least we'll have time to spend with her and say our goodbyes properly.
This is the last thing we thought it would be. I can't even believe it. Poor Harley. She's such a sweet girl. Maybe we'll get lucky and it will be an infection or fracture.
Please say a prayer for Harley, that her pain is eased and she can live the rest of her time on earth pain free, or that it is just an infection and she'll heal.
My hubby and Harley
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