ironically, my italian greyhound had a tumor removed from under her right front shoulder on oct 31st at mississippi state university veterinary school in starkville, ms and it turns out to be osteosarcoma (on the exterior..very unusual). The tumor was just smaller than a tennis ball and she had a previous tumor that was removed that was about the size of a golf ball 7 years previous. the first tumor never bothered her and was removed when she was under anesthesia for dental cleaning. non malignant. the second tumor never bothered her until recently (around mid sept) when i went to pick her up and she responded with a bite (her defense mechanism when she feels pain or the threat of pain..had to muzzle her for eyedrops when she was healing an ulcerated cornea) i travel full time in my motorhome with her and 2 brother maltese/pekingese. the greyhound turned 14 in sept and the brothers are going to be 16 on dec 12th..my vet in las vegas advised that because of her having an enlarged heart and heart murmur against removing the tumor because of the stress of anesthesia at her age unless it started bothering her. all 3 are active and have always had high level dog food with chicken or beef combined. their water is usually the same bottled water that i drink and have never given them any water i wouldn’t drink. unfortunately, the prognosis is grim..i was advised that she may only have a few months even with chemo therapy..i am leaning toward declining chemo due to additional stress being put on her and not much benefit in the results. tomorrow i go in to have her staples removed and as i am typing this she is looking at me and has no idea anything is wrong. i will give her the care and love that she has had over the course of her life for the remainder of time she has but i accept that not all dogs have the same longevity..
