One of the hardest parts about getting Dior’s osteosarcoma diagnosis has been figuring everything out as we go. There’s no clear playbook. Just a lot of love, research, late-night deep dives, and tough choices.
I wanted to put together a list of everything we’ve done (and are still doing) to support Dior’s body before surgery, during chemo, and hopefully beyond. If you’re walking this same road — or just want to be prepared — here’s exactly what our care plan has looked like so far.
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🩺 Veterinary + Diagnostic Care
Primary Oncology Team: Texas A&M Small Animal Hospital
Full diagnostics: Chest CT, abdominal CT, full blood panel, lymph node aspiration, X-rays of affected limb (left hind limb)
Pain management: Rimadyl (Carprofen)
Muscle support: Topical muscle balm for soreness (he hates the spearmint smell but it works 🙃)
🧬 Supplements & Supportive Nutrition
(We’ve been focusing on gut health, inflammation, joint support, and immunity while preparing his body for surgery and treatment)
- The Daily by Native Pet – 11:1 Multivitamin powder for dogs
- Seven ‘Shrooms by FourLeafRover – 53% Turkey Tail Mushrooms which is studied for its immune-boosting properties, especially in dogs with cancer
- Bone Broth – We make this for the dogs with marrow bones, chicken paws, vegetables + more. Recipe coming soon! Easy to digest, gentle on the stomach, and nutrient dense.
We introduce new supplements one at a time and always check with our vet first, especially since some can interact with medication.
🌿 Lifestyle + Home Care
- Memory foam beds in multiple rooms
- Low-impact movement: Gentle walks, car rides (still his favorite thing)
- Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Topical Analgesic: He HATES the spearmint scent but I do notice a difference when I don’t put it on him
- Sunbathing sessions every morning — great for Vitamin D and his mental health
- Elevated water bowl + feeding station (made by my dad!)
💬 Things We’re Still Researching
- Mistletoe therapy
- Golden Paste (Thank you @DaneDad!)
- Ozone therapy
- Home-cooked cancer-supportive meals (we’re easing in slowly). You get the Dog Cancer Diet ebook for free when you subscribe to the DogCancer.com website
- Clinical trials at UT Southwestern
- Holistic care
🏥 Our Ideal Care Plan
Step One: Amputation surgery to reduce the risk of metastasis and alleviate pain
Step Two: 4-6 Rounds of Carboplatin Chemotherapy (given monthly)
Step Three: Immunotherapy vaccine given three times with chemotherapy
Read more about osteosarcoma or available treatment options.
This post isn’t here to tell you what you should do — it’s just what we’ve chosen for Dior so far based on what we can afford, what we believe in, and what makes sense for him.
If you have a dog facing osteosarcoma (or any kind of chronic illness), I hope this gives you a starting point or even just some peace of mind.
Sending love to all of you walking this path 💛
— Haley & Dior
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