Cancer Diagnosis for Buck, one of the Dynamic Duo
This past month has been a time of a big high and a big low for me on two things related to my Parker experience.
The High:
The latest Parker Pages published my article on the restoration of "Lazarus", my 1879 lifter hammer gun. As my first time writing for publication, it clearly is a highlight for me. It featured a full page photo of my 6 3/4 year old yellow pointing Lab, Buck, sitting next to the gun leaning on a tree. The editor captioned it, "Buck and Lazarus, the Dynamic Duo. Together, they have become my beloved hunting companions. He gets excited, jumping up and down when he sees the gun going to the truck.
The Low:
A few days before getting early copies of the magazine, I got a call from a veterinarian informing me that a biopsy had revealed that there was an undifferentiated sarcoma in Buck's left wrist. She advised that it was likely that we would need to amputate including the shoulder blade down. However, she wanted to refer this to an oncologist at the University of Georgia Vet school, which was also my first reaction. I live about 45 miles from there. She said that they might be able to tie down what kind of sarcoma it was, and, if appropriate, had the ability to administer radiation or chemo to maybe avoid amputation. Unfortunately, they cannot see him until the first week of October. I, of course, am very concerned about the danger of metastasis in the interim. I don't know if I can find other, equally qualified, vet resources that can see him sooner, but I am looking.
I wanted to see if any of the members who have been through this kind of ordeal with their dog have any suggestions or advice for us on this, whether finding other oncology specialists or thinking about treatments and procedures, or really anything. Or coping; it is really a gut punch.
Also, if we do have to amputate, does anyone here have good, or bad, stories to tell about hunting with a three legged dog, missing his left front leg.
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