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Rottweiler Health Foundation Mission Statementimage: Trotting Rottweiler

To raise money to fund critical research into the genetic, communicable and acquired diseases that plague our beloved breed, the Rottweiler.

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Winter 2008
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SHARED REAL STORIES

My Rottweiler 'Miss Molly'
Dealing with Osteosarcoma

Submitted by Sheri Brenner on September 16, 2006

 Photo: Me and Miss Molly a year ago on my birthday


I ran across this web site, as I look for information and guidance in the recent diagnosis of osteoscaroma in my Rottweiler Molly.

She had just turned 10 years old in July, I had taken her to the vet for an annual checkup. They did blood work and full body x-rays and were happy to report that she was in excellent health, and there were no worries.

I work out of state and am gone for 14 days at a time. My youngest daughter is still at home, recently graduating high school. She had called me a day before I got home to tell me that Molly was limping and favoring her front foot.

When I returned home, I looked for something to be in her foot, but found nothing. I took her to the vet the next day, they asked me to come look at x-rays and told me that it was bone cancer. She is not a candidate for amputation, since she has had surgery on both knees, and some arthritis in her hips. They gave me some pain medication for her and told me that I would need to put her down, before the cancer would kill her. They gave me this diagnosis 10 years to the day, from when I brought her home.

She was the best birthday present I have ever had. She has been my constant companion and guardian. She has stood by me though divorces and raising my children through their adolescent years. As my daughter said it best "she has been my constant in my life."

I realized that I will have to make a decision, and was looking for some unfound hope. For now I will give Molly the best care possible.  The picture (above) is of Molly and I last year on my birthday.

UPDATE 05/30/07:  Yesterday Molly's cancer progressed to the point where the decision was made to give her peace.

Within in a couple of days, her good leg had started retaining fluid, and she wasn't hardly able to get up.  An appointment was made with the vet for Saturday afternoon, to see if she could have increased medication and a chest x-ray to make sure that she wasn't having problems breathing.

By Saturday morning, she was unable to stand, and the fluid had accumulated in her chest.  She had to be carried to the truck and taken to the vet.  They explained that the cancer had progressed, and it was time to put her to rest.

I have been at work since the 6th and am not returning until the 25th of this month.  I was able to stay on the phone while the injections were given and she stopped breathing.  She did remarkable until the last few days. The edema spread to her good leg and lungs in two days and she was unable to get up. From initial diagnosis they told me I would have her for a month, in reality I had her for 9 months. I miss her horribly and will forward the message that I sent to everyone when she passed.  Thanks for the support - this is a great website.

Miss Molly will be missed with heavy hearts.  I am sure that it made Grandma's Mother's Day to see her.  I have attached a couple recent pictures.

 
Photo: Sheri and Miss Molly Photo: Miss Molly - January 2007
Sheri and her Miss Molly Miss Molly January 2007

 

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