Speaking of cancer treatments, I just remembered somebody (I apologize for my insensitivity of not being able to remember exactly who, but I *am* truly sorry for your loss) asked a few issues ago about whether or not there was any way to tell earlier if a loved pet has bone cancer (can't remember if it was osteosarcoma but I'm assuming so). The answer is *please* don't feel that there was some way you should have known. It's easy to think so when you see a tumour has caused so much damage -- it's only natural you'd think you must have missed something. But for your peace of mind and future reference, osteosarcoma is one of the most incidious cancers there is -- it just sneaks up on an animal (or person) and the only way for an owner to notice is if there's enough of a bone mass for there to be lots of swelling or if the animal starts to limp. The trouble with osteosarcoma is that it is often a `lytic' lesion -- it destroys bone rather than actually creating the mass we usually associate with a tumour. So until the animal starts to limp, we have no way of knowing -- and in a very stoic animal that may not happen until there's been just way too much damage. If it *is* caught early enough the limb is usually amputated and chemotherapy administered to prevent recurrence or metastasis, but it is just a really tough cancer. I feel for your loss -- please don't feel there was anything you should have done differently. Laura Laura L'Heureux Kupkee U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96 [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1155]