Jingling for your sweet boy! I cannot manage it when they are in pain like that. I feel utterly useless. I’m glad he’s got the heavy hitting drugs to manage the pain and that he is weight bearing.
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He cried the entire car ride here and screamed when we were finally able to coax him out of the car. He had to take a gurney in, it was absolutely awful. 
His acupuncturist (also a vet, my horse chiro, and a good friend) lives right across the street and also had a dog with bone cancer. She’s been talking me through it and helping with meds. Thank god for her.
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For your Best Boi to get past this horrible roadblock & back to himself.
& For you to find some Peace, knowing you’re doing the best you can.
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How is you Victor doing?
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Better today, thank you for asking 
He is still 4/5 but seems more like himself, if that makes sense. thinks fentanyl patches are great. Hoping we stay this way through Wednesday for the appointment.
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He looks like a sweet and strong boy.
Hang in there. 
I can only imagine the horror of hearing your dog scream in pain.
You have good vet care. Keep on keepin’ on.
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Oh my! I missed a few days and… Many more jingles for Victor! (That’s my mom’s Golden Retriever’s name, so I’m sure he sends some too.)
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Jingling hard for your so handsome boy.
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Jingles for the good boy!
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Victor had blood and urine sent out last week to test for coccidioidomycosis (fungal infection). Results came in yesterday that he’s technically “intermediate” at a 9.9 (range is <8, negative; 8-9.9, intermediate; >10, positive). For anyone interested/familiar, we used the MVista Coccidioides Canine IgG Antibody EIA test.
The surgeon admitted she doesn’t see many fungal infections so consulted with a few other doctors and the consensus is it’s not fungal because he’s not clinically ill (fever, coughing, etc) and the intermediate results just tell us that he was exposed at one point but not that the fungus is the cause of the lesions. I disagree, based on my hours of research, finding papers that repeatedly state not all dogs are symptomatic, some dogs show disseminated disease without primary symptoms (most common is a cough), and antibody levels drop off the longer it’s been since the dog was exposed to the fungus (meaning if he was exposed a year ago, the test may have been in the positive range at that time).
In the interest of SOME sort of definitive diagnosis, he went in today for a bone biopsy (for cancer) and a needle aspirate (for further fungal testing). Both take a week plus to come back.
Clinically, we think we’ve found the right combination and dosage of pain meds and while still groggy, he’s eating better, moving around, and most importantly, acting like himself. Hopefully the biopsy today doesn’t cause much more lasting pain. DH is on his way to pick him up now.
Continued jingles for answers, and for the answers to be something treatable, are appreciated. 
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More jingles and hugs for Victor!
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Sending all the best to Victor and to you/DH!!! Glad he’s perking back up. Jingles for continued improvement and a diagnosis soon!
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An update:
Victor’s bone biopsy results came back inconclusive, so we ended up doing a nearly full body CT which revealed metastasis in many other bones and organs. The radiologist suspected hemangiosarcoma. After a phone consult with oncology we decided to bring him in on Tuesday for a bisphosphonate infusion to help with the bone pain. During his routine pre-infusion bloodwork, his RBC count was low. Without consulting us, the doctor elected to do an ultrasound of his abdomen to check for internal bleeding. When he was being taken off the table, they weren’t holding him securely enough, and he scrambled down, breaking his leg. They didn’t even notice how hugely swollen it was until we picked him up 3 hours later, after his infusion. When we mentioned the swelling, the oncologist palpated it and said it probably broke when they took him off the table. We elected to bring him home for one more day of cuddles, prime rib, peanut butter kongs, and hunting lizards. He fell asleep peacefully licking a kong on the couch with DH and I giving him all of the love and telling him what a good boy he is.
His last lizard hunt, on lots of drugs but enjoying the outdoors, his favorite place:
I am furious and devastated that his last few weeks were stolen from us because of techs that can’t properly restrain a dog. And before anyone comes at me - I was a tech, and I fully understand the state of vet med right now. But it’s their job to keep the dog safe, especially a dog that’s in pain and has an already fragile bone lesion.
I feel like an absolute crazy person that I’m already considering adopting another GSD. He was such a presence, and the best big brother for our other GSD, Zeus, who lacks confidence. Victor was the boldest (cheeky at times), friendliest while also scariest looking dog I’ve ever known. He was my road trip buddy and came to my office job with me almost daily pre covid. He’s leaving a massive hole in our hearts and our home.
Am I crazy for wanting to see what’s out there already? I feel like we can’t even leave home now that Zeus doesn’t have someone with him. The added complexity is that I’m expecting our first child at the beginning of February, and I can’t imagine having a newborn and trying to bring a new dog home after that. I feel like now is the best timing for the best success at getting a new dog settled. Victor and Zeus came from a wonderful rescue local to us, and I can reach out and let them know what I’m looking for to see if they have any compatible dogs available.
I feel so guilty for wanting to “replace” him, even though I know I never could.
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Firstly, sorry to hear of your loss of Victor.
You gave him everything you could, sometimes that just isn’t enough.
I understand your anger at the techs as well.
I had to board a very senior cat - needing daily Subq fluids - when I had to travel 2K miles to spend time with my Dad at his Life’s end.
The vet I boarded at did NOT tell me there would be no care (so no fluids) given over a weekend. I’m pretty certain her rapid decline after that stay was due to that.
Could you consider fostering a dog?
That could give Zeus a friend & yourself a break if your baby (Congrats!) makes having 2 dogs too much.
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We have fostered before, but if I were to bring another dog into the house, I would just keep it. It’s not a concern of whether or not we should get a second dog again (we absolutely will), it’s a question of is it too soon. Zeus is good with most dogs and of course we’d have them meet first, but I have no experience with a dog’s grieving process, will he have a hard time so early after Victor’s passing? I’m not trying to anthropomorphize, but I know animals have their own grieving process as well.
I’m sorry to hear about your kitty, it’s a whole different feeling when you know they could have had more time if it wasn’t for someone not doing their job.
ETA I’m genuinely concerned that if we wait until after the baby is born, we just won’t do it, and I don’t think that’s fair to Zeus, who loves having a play buddy, but also really needs a confident dog around.
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{{{{Demerara}}}}
Godspeed Victor
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Sorry to see this update. He was beautiful and looks so much like our Meka. She is also approaching the end of her life.
I do not know if now is the right time to add another dog. The wrong dog will make you regret even getting another dog. You absolutely need to make sure that the dog you get is the right one for your household and for your future child.
After I lost my cat I immediately adopted a pair of kittens and let’s just say neither were really the right match for me. I ended up adopting a couple more kittens over time and while everything has turned out well, let’s just say I slightly regret not waiting for the right cat to come along.
I have way more cats then I actually need. Like half way to crazy cat lady status. 
Only one cat is actually problematic…he tells me he was meant to be feral and would prefer a barn cat lifestyle which isn’t possible when we live on a road with traffic- unless you want roadkill. So apparently, I’m his jailer.
Ideally I should have waited and made sure the cat I adopted was the right one (and not ended up with so many!).
I think you should foster and see if the right dog comes along… just don’t assume the first dog you bring home will be the right match.
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This is a valid concern. I have a (possibly too) long list of requirements for the right dog, and will be doing multiple meetings with him/her personally (along with DH) and with Zeus to ensure they are a good fit. The rescue I’ll be working with has multiple decades of combined experience evaluating GSDs, and I’d be adopting a dog from their foster program, so they will know the dog well and be able to help me with the right match. They were incredibly picky when matching us with Victor and Zeus. Part of the reason I’m wanting to reach out to them now is that they may not currently have the right dog in their program, and if they don’t, that’s ok, we will wait for the right one.
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Godspeed, sweet Victor. You were so special and loved.
@Demerara_Stables, I am so sorry things ended the way they did. Hugs and love to you. As to the timing for another dog, no one is going to think you’re replacing Victor. Sometimes the way to heal a loss is to get the next one. Victor taught you to love so much in order for you to love another and he would want another dog to have the same wonderful life he did with you. Maybe go ahead a contact the group and explain the new situation (congrats! Marks calendar for baby news). They may have advice from another perspective, or they may say “we have the perfect dog.”. You never know!
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