Vader the 3 legged Rottweiler Cancer Survivor!!!
02 Sep 2008
Vader is my 8 year old Rottweiler that I rescued from downtown Detroit in 2000. Vader was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer on June, 11th 2007. My two options were to do nothing giving him about 3 months to live, or to have his right leg amputated. At that time I didn’t think about cost, only what was best for Vader. How would he get along with only three legs? How long would the surgery prolong his life? Many tough questions went through my head. After doing weighing all the options and doing online research about how dogs adapt to having only three legs, I decided to have the surgery performed. I went to pick him up the day after his surgery, which he came through the great, and I was so surprised to see him standing waging his little stub of a tail. I thought I was going to have to carry him. I custom built him a ramp to get into my Trailblazer (as you can see in the video) and he went right up them. I practiced with him going up the ramp BEFORE his surgery so he would be familiar with it. I took a video of the whole trip from getting in and out of the truck and into the house. He actually RAN into the house and up some huge stone steps, I was amazed. The scene in the video with his T-shirt on is actually day one post surgery.
The story continues, Vader is still doing well, but for space concerns I will stop here for now. If I get enough views/responses, I’ll continue the story with more details like the costs, healing, care, the chemo treatment and diet.
I really believe that the diet I put Vader on after his surgery and during his Chemotherapy was and still is instrumental to his remarkable recover and his continued health.
I hope this video gives hope and helps people make the difficult decisions when confronted with this horrible and much too common disease.
Vader has survived the streets of Detroit and now cancer.
Vader is a true survivor and my best friend.
THE DIET
During Chemo it is important to give them bone meal as a supplement to help their bones and teeth because the Chemo reduces calcium in their bodies. I still give Vader bone meal in his food just to be safe. For breakfast we supplement his dog food with sardines either in water or tomato sauce. The stores around me must be going nuts wondering why they are selling so many since I buy them up by the case whenever they come in 
The dog food I use is IAM’s senior; it has a lot of protein and a little less fat. You can use other brands but just make sure the first ingredient is chicken, beef, fish… and not some cornmeal or byproduct. For dinner we give him eggbeaters mixed in with his dog food. And whenever we make broccoli or vegetables I will give him some. Vegetables are supposed to be very good for them. I wish I would have known some of this when he was a puppy so I could of fed him better. I always used whatever the vet recommend and something with glucosamine and chondroitin but didn’t supplement it with anything. Luckily he has always been fit and healthy until this bout with cancer.
Duration : 0:3:49
13 Responses
2008 Sep 02
Hey Vader, you’re a …
Hey Vader, you’re a real hero
2008 Sep 02
We took Colby in …
We took Colby in from the local animal control officer about 7 yrs ago. He had plans of putting him down since no one had come to claim him. We already had a female rott. The two became fast friends. The vet estimated Colby’s age to be about 8ish. Our female (skylar) is 8. We’ve had her since she was a pup. I thank you for your kind words and encouragement. We miss Colby very much. I picked his ashes up from the vet today. ):
2008 Sep 02
Vader is an example …
Vader is an example of life for us!!!
2008 Sep 02
From Vader;
I just …
From Vader;
I just updated the text about Vader’s story with his diet which can be helpful even to healthy dogs. Just hit the “more info” button in the upper right corner of the page and look for THE DIET.
2008 Sep 02
I’m sorry to hear …
I’m sorry to hear that about Colby. How old was he? Vader has been very lucky and we are very thankful for his recovery, I know it is a rarity. Being almost 8 now we were worried that he wouldn’t recovery quickly. I hope Vaders story gives hope to others dealing with the same situation and makes people like yourself at least feel a little better and understand that you did do the right thing to help Colby.
2008 Sep 02
It warms my heart …
It warms my heart to hear this story. My rott “colby” was diagnosed with osteosarcoma about a month & a half ago. We did the amputation. He was getting around, eating, and playing until this past saturday morning 02-22-08. He didn’t seem to have the energy to get up anymore. The following day he began coughing and hacking up blood. We met with the vet a short time later sunday to make the awful decision to say good bye to colby. What a heart breaking experiance. I miss and love him very much.
2008 Sep 02
Yes, we read the …
Yes, we read the profile for your video. That’s why we embedded it in the Jerry’s Picks playlist on our three-legged dog website: 3w dot tripawds dot calm. (YouTube won’t post the comment if I use the actual website addrtess!.) Just visit the Forums link and click on “Add New Topic” in the “Share Your Story” thread. We have a growing community of forum users who would love to hear all about Vader. Thanks for asking!
2008 Sep 02
Yes it is padwan, …
Yes it is padwan, yes it is…
2008 Sep 02
How would I do …
How would I do that-share the story? Did you read the story under “more info” I do have a lot of good information for people going through the same experience. Please share this link to your members and have them add comments.
2008 Sep 02
Great video! Did …
Great video! Did you get news coverage? Vader is beautiful, and quite a trooper. We’d love for you to share his story in the Discussion Forums on the TRIPAWDS website.
2008 Sep 02
very cool bro!that …
very cool bro!that is awesome!the force is strong with that one…
2008 Sep 02
Way to go Kurt! …
Way to go Kurt! You rock! Vader’s in good hands.
2008 Sep 02
Way to go Kurt! Wes
Way to go Kurt! Wes