Ray's Page

It’s funny how your perspective can change with the circumstances. Earlier this week, we were dreading the prospect of the amputation of Ray’s front right leg due to a nerve sheath tumor. Now we’re asking, “Ok, how soon can we get that leg removed?”

The news from the cardiologist today was excellent: no evidence of any kind of heart disease or anything else that would cause Ray’s heart rate to jump so dramatically just before surgery. After ruling out any cardio issues, we elected to go the next step and have them also perform an abdominal ultrasound to eliminate the prospect of renal (liver, kidneys, etc.) tumors, which the surgeon cited as a possible cause too. All clear there as well. (I was particularly relieved to be given his clean bill of internal health in general, knowing what we know about Goldens leading all other dog breeds in various cancers and diseases.)

So, now our baby resembles “a moth-eaten blanket,” as the vet technician said today with a laugh; Ray is shaved over about half his body, and not symmetrically, so he looks awful. (Probably a bit of a relief when it’s 103° outside, however.) But he is happy and managing the pain better now that we’ve switched to Tramadol, and although we still don’t know what caused his racing pulse, at least we know what didn’t.

Because the nerve sheath tumors are somewhat slow to grow, we have a bit of breathing room to decide what’s next. And that’s the question really: what do we do now? The general recommendation is that we try the amputation surgery again, with an alternative anesthesia plan. Tomorrow we’ll be conferring with our vet and the surgeon, but after today’s news, there doesn’t seem to be any reason not to give it another go.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers and support. Today was a good Ray day.

Not good news on Ray this morning. They put him under anesthesia and were just about to operate when his heart rate became dangerously elevated. The doctor brought him back up and his heart rate is stabilizing, but surgery is postponed for the foreseeable future. We are scheduled to visit with a cardiologist tomorrow to determine if there are other issues. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts.

Well, this is the last day our golden retriever, Ray, will be on four legs.

He was diagnosed with a nerve sheath tumor in his right front leg about two weeks ago and amputation surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. (You can see in the photo where the biopsies were taken from his elbow.)

Unfortunately, tumor excision and radiation were not much of an option in this case. These tumors are notoriously hard to get out due to their tendency to wrap around muscles and nerves, and if they aren’t completely, 100% removed, they are nearly guaranteed to come back. The good news in all of this is that, once his leg is removed, the cancer should be gone too. Dogs who have limbs amputated due to bone cancer are not usually so lucky, as that type of cancer is particularly aggressive and can both return and metastisize to the organs. Nerve sheath tumors tend to stay localized. We have confirmed through x-rays that his chest is clear and the other bone structures (hips, left leg) do not show any type of cancer.

He’s been sleeping a lot the past couple of days and is running a bit of a temperature. I’m glad he doesn’t know what’s going to happen to him tomorrow. But relief from the constant pain in his leg will hopefully, eventually bring things back to relative normalcy. We have been assured numerous times that most dogs, after a period of healing and adjustment, do just great on three legs.

Ray has been such a joy to my husband and me, especially since the loss of our 16-year-old mutt in March, because of his loving, happy demeanor. It’s our turn to be there for him now.