Thanks, Jim. At 13, Marion Louise was probably due for something so this isn't a total surprise. But osteo is definitely an issue for our breed and the Rottweiler Health Organization has been studying it for almost 5 years now. Annie's dad, Mobster, died from it so we've been part of the study and have had all her kids included in it as well. So far, only one of them contracted osteo and she just died recently at 10 years of age. Annie had 17 kids so that's a pretty decent ratio. 0% would be ideal. And, unfortunately, with cancer there are environmental issues as well as genetic ones so it's very hard to pinpoint the genome(s) that are involved.

We've been trying to manage Marion's activities since we got home on Friday and have realized that she has no intention of letting us do that . She still goes out with the other dogs and runs with them. She limps a lot when she's not outside but let her out with the kids and she romps, and plays, and even drops Sundance and humps him. She intends to be herself until she can't. That's my Marion Louise!

Jim