Wally Has Bone Cancer

Wally is our big goofy goober with a heart of gold (some people refer to him as a Rottweiler). Three weeks ago, we brought Wally to the vet because he randomly started limping around the house. Our vet thought it might just be a sprain, so we tried giving him some medicine for a week in hopes that he'd feel better but no such luck. When we brought him back in they took some x-rays, and that's when we got the news that no dog parent ever wants to hear: Wally has a tumor in his leg bone and there's a high chance it's cancer.  We rushed him back in so they could x-ray his chest to make sure it hadn't spread to his lungs and luckily it hasn't yet. The next steps were getting him to an oncologist ASAP to figure out what kind of cancer he has and what our best course of action is. We tried to do a less invasive biopsy of the bone two different times to get a sample, but were unsuccessful. We also got ultrasounds of all of his major organs to make sure it hadn't spread, and once again we were relieved that nothing has spread yet! At that point, our only option was to do the surgical biopsy just to get an official answer about what this tumor really is.  Wally already had tests done that day and had an IV set up, but when they came in and gave me the estimate for the biopsy, we had to stop pushing forward. The estimate was for over $4,000. With all the testing we’d done up to this point and being new parents, this number was a crushing blow. It broke my heart to leave the oncologist office that day. Wally’s insurance has only been able to reimburse a small portion of the large sum we’ve already spent, and we only have small amounts of allowances left on our insurance plan. I asked the doctor if there were any payment plans or other options they had for paying but they need it all up front. Our primary vet was nice enough to use over $500 of her teaching funds to pay for some of his blood work and she has also not charged us for rechecks of his blood and x-rays.  You may be asking yourself why do we need to get the biopsy if we know it's cancer already? The answer is: it's a matter of whether or not he has to have his leg amputated. We need to find out what kind of cancer this is before we can treat it and make the best decisions for his quality of life. I hate that we couldn't get him this very last test to get the answers we need to help him. After we get the biopsy, the options get complicated. It may be a matter of radiation and chemotherapy and/or amputation of that leg, which will be another huge financial undertaking. I'm at a total loss. I have always been able to take care of Wally. When he had stomach issues, I got him to the right specialist, the right medicine, and the right food. When he had hip issues, I got him the right treatments and the best orthopedic beds. Any health or behaviorial issue, I've been able to solve. He is my first baby boy and now that we have a 6 month old human puppy (baby), Wally has been the most gentle big brother bear anyone could ask for. Wally has been the one constant in my life since I was 23 years old. He's lived in three different states, traveled across the country three times by car as my co-pilot, and he's been my best friend through graduating college to going to dog training school together. He has been trained in everything from obedience and agility to service work. He will happily bring you any remote control from across the room. He has seen me through relationships and breakups to getting married and having a baby. He was by my side and helped me through the grief of losing my own brother last year too. It may have started out as just me and him, but he has since been a welcoming and sweet brother to two cats and a chihuahua who all boss him around. He has been a foster brother to countless puppies and dogs. He's been a training example and hiking buddy for so many humans and dogs alike that I've lost count. He has modeled and acted. He has been my crutch when I got surgery and my cuddle buddy on days when my Lupus was flaring up. He has never found a foot he doesn't want to excitedly pee on or a lap that he doesn't want to lay on. To know him is to be bettered. I can confidently say that I wouldn't have most of the friends, career, or happiness that I do if it wasn't for him. He is without a doubt one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I just want to be able to take care of him even a fraction of the amount that he has taken care of me for the last 7 years. He is so young still. He will be 8 at the end of April and he still has so much love and slobbers to give.  A good friend had to convince me to write this. I haven't told many people what's been going on because I thought if I admitted it then it would be real and I'm still hoping I wake up from this nightmare. I also really didn't want to admit how much we've been struggling. But our friend lovingly convinced me that Wally has more friends than I realize and people who would want to help our big sweet goober. If you have anything to spare to help us at all, it would mean the world! Wally deserves so much more time and I don't know how much we can get him yet, but I need to try everything in my power. He has so many more feet to pee on and goofy slobbers to give. Even if he is ultimately a tripod- he will happily hop along chasing his baby brother around the yard and have one less leg to accidentally clumsily step on him with.  Wally promises to give every one of you a big bear cuddle as repayment for your help!  Thank you!!  Love, Wally & Family