Bone Cancer In Dogs

Let’s face it, we all love our dogs and will do everything we can to help them live as long as possible. Although they say that dogs are a man’s best friend, dogs are also a family’s best friend. This is why it is important to understand the health risks that your dog might be prone to so that you can prevent them as much as possible. One of the risks that I’d like to talk about is bone cancer (osteosarcoma), which is often malignant and very dangerous. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the indicators and the treatments for bone cancer in dogs.

The first thing that you need to know about osteosarcoma is that it is very deadly and if you have even the slightest hint that your dog might have bone cancer, then you should see a veterinarian immediately. One of the first warning signs is lameness in a limb or tenderness when touched. Your dog might be very protective of the affected limb and could growl when you try to touch it. Also, the area might swell significantly, which can be difficult to notice because of fur.

Your dog might start suffering from a lack of appetite or weight loss, which is a common symptom of all types of cancer. If the cancer is allowed to spread, it can wreak havoc on the entire body. It is also very painful, so your dog might not act the same while he or she is affected by this disease.

To treat the disease, your vet will first need to take x-rays and/or other fluid samples to determine the location and cause of the illness. If it is deemed to be bone cancer, then your doctor will opt to treat it like any other form of cancer. You could use radiation and medication, although depending on the situation it might be too late. Another option is to remove the affected limb altogether, which would stop the cancer from spreading to the rest of the body. Although it sounds terrible, many dogs do very well after having a leg or limb removed.

Although prognosis after treatment varies, the best chance for long life is usually given after a combination of chemotherapy and limb amputation. Although your dog will probably suffer during treatment, dogs are very resilient and will usually adapt very quickly. Once they’ve recovered from the surgery and/or treatment, then you can begin the process of resuming their normal life as it was before the diagnosis. As with any treatment of this magnitude, infection or further complicating could ensue, so make sure that you keep a close eye on your pet until he or she is recovered. If you have any questions, make sure that you talk to your veterinarian to get the most up to date and factual information.