Dog Health Problems

Bone Cancer In Dogs

Canine osteosarcoma is a kind of bone cancer in dogs. While any bone can have a malignant tumor growth, the areas that are commonly affected by it are:

 * Above the knee joint or at the lower part of the femur
 * Below the knee joint or the upper part of the tibia
 * Shoulder blades
 * Above the carpal joints of the front legs
 * Pelvic bone

Large dogs, such as Great Danes, saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rottweilers, and Retrievers, are more prone to osteosarcoma than the smaller breeds.

Signs of Bone Cancer in Dogs

Signs of bone cancer in dogs usually can be seen on the affected area itself. For example, if the malignant tumor is found on the shoulder blades, this area can become tender and swollen. Limping can be a sign of leg bone cancer in dogs. Chewing and swallowing difficulties can indicate problems with the jaw or other facial bones. As the cancer increases, the affected area becomes more painful and inflamed. Other signs of bone cancer include loss of appetite and decrease in motion.

Signs of bone cancer in dogs can occur within a short duration or for a long period of time, depending on the severity of the problem. The swelling of the bone can actually be seen or felt in some cases.

Diagnosis of Bone Cancer in Dogs

Osteosarcoma can best be diagnosed by running an X-Ray on the area suspected to be infected. The plate can show lesions where the bone looks as though it has been chewed from the inside out, appears brittle, or has a visible fracture seen through the tumor.

The person reading the chart should be familiar with bone cancer in dogs, because there are other problems that can be mistaken for this at first glance. Fungal infections such as coccidiodomycosis or other diseases can appear similar to osteosarcoma, so those who are not familiar with these diseases can interchange these.

Treatment of Bone Cancer in Dogs

Amputation is the easiest and most common treatment for osteosarcoma. This is achieved by cutting off the infected area to relieve the pain and to hopefully get rid of all of the cancerous cells. An alternative to amputation is the limb sparing procedure, wherein bone grafting is performed to replace the cancerous section of the bone after it has been removed. Chemotherapy or drugs are also options to relieve your pet from the pain.

Prognosis

The prognosis for bone cancer in dogs is dependent on different factors, including the age of the dog, the amount of malignant cells, and the location of the cancer.