Our beloved 6 year old retriever has just been diagnosed with bone cancer. It is almost certain he will lose his front leg, I would welcome any comments regarding caring for him after his op or just any information regarding this

Hello Mossys
How dreadful for you and your family, is he a flatcoat?  I will come back to you when I have more time but my parent's flatcoat was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of eight.  She lived for a few months without surgery on various painkillers and food supplements (I will try to find out what these were but the food supplements were banana and raspberry flavoured).  My parents vet liaised with a homeopathic vet and they agreed on the care programme together - this is something you may wish to consider, where are you based, this vet was near Guildford?  Eventually the leg was removed (front right leg) and it was astonishing how quickly Kate recovered from this - she was up and about within a day with help.  Her hair never grew back where it had been shaved (this really upset my Dad) but other than that her quality of life was very good for some months.  Unfortunately the cancer had spread but I think my parents felt they had made the right decision to amputate.
I will try to find out as much as I can from them and get back to you.
In the meantime very best wishes
Alex

I'm sorry to hear that. 

My springer had her back leg amputated with suspected bone cancer.  Thankfully it wasn't but the leg had to come off.  She hasn't looked back.  This was 3 years ago and she is now ten.  She has spent the last two shooting seasons beating with no problems at all.  She has now retired but is still quite active. 

Helen

please see my latest post on the board

I'd check this out if I were you: http://www.rain-tree.com/reports/hsi_200202.pdf, on page 7 it reads:

"And a few people had unexpected experiences
with N-Tense. A.C. from Palm Springs, California
decided to give the supplement to her Irish wolfhound,
who had osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer).
The veterinarian suggested amputation or chemotherapy
(at $1,000 per treatment), both of which
were unacceptable options. After treating her dog
with flaxseed oil and six capsules of N-Tense per day,
the bone cancer disappeared."

If your retriever is a flatcoat, you should consider contacting the Flatcoated Retriever Society health committee, they will be able to advise on care and help you with advice to make the right decisions for your dog.

Where I walk my dogs there is a golden retriever who had her front left leg removed due to bone cancer, and she had it done as soon as it was detected. As a result it had not spread, and she is very happy to retrieve her ball and play with other dogs on the field. She had her leg removed about 3 years ago. I think with this might be an unusal case, as my vet told me, when we were chatting about cancer and other canine problems, that usually bone cancer is an agressive cancer.

Watch about being quick to remove the leg, my friends flat coat was diagnosed with bone cancer and the vet wanted to remove the leg right awy  - well its a year down the line and she is doing great with all four legs. I assume flat coats are prone to this condition as I have heard of loads.

Good news we have just heard from the specialist and Daley does not have bone cancer after all he has a degerative something in this sesamoids?which are all the little bones in his foot, thank you to everyone who sent me messages

Julie