Today we know that companion animals par excellence, dogs and cats, are susceptible to numerous diseases that we can also observe in humans. Fortunately, this increasing knowledge is also due to a veterinary medicine that has developed, evolved and now has multiple means of diagnosis and treatment.
Studies carried out on the incidence of tumors in dogs consider that approximately 1 in 4 dogs will develop some type of cancer throughout their lives, therefore, we are facing a pathology that it must be known so that it can be noticed and de alt with as quickly as possible.
In this AnimalWised article we talk about the symptoms and treatment of bone cancer in dogs.
Bone cancer in dogs
Bone cancer in dogs is also known as osteosarcoma, it is a type of malignant tumor that, although it can affect any part of bone tissue is mainly detected in the following structures:
- Distal radius region
- Proximal humerus
- Distal Femur
Osteosarcoma mainly affects large and giant breed dogs that are in a middle age or advanced, rottweiller, saint bernard, german shepherd and greyhound dogs are especially susceptible to this pathology.
Like any other type of cancer in dogs, osteosarcoma is characterized by abnormal reproduction of cellsIn fact, one of the main characteristics of bone cancer is the rapid migration or metastasis of cancer cells through the bloodstream.
Bone cancer usually causes metastases to lung tissue, however, it is rare for cancer cells to be found in tissue bone as a result of metastasis from a previous cancer.
Symptoms of bone cancer in dogs
The most prevalent symptoms in canine osteosarcoma are pain and loss of mobility. Later, the physical examination will reveal a broader symptomatology but mainly centered at the osteoarticular level:
- Inflammation
- Pain
- Limp
- Nosebleed
- Neurological signs
- Exophthalmia (eyeballs very projected outwards)
Not all the symptoms have to be present, since the more specific ones, such as neurological ones, only occur depending on the affected skeletal area.
On many occasions suspected fracture delays the diagnosis of osteosarcoma delaying the implementation of adequate treatment.
Diagnosis of bone cancer in dogs
The diagnosis of canine osteosarcoma is made primarily through two tests.
The first is a imaging diagnosisThe dog is subjected to an X-ray of the symptomatic area, in cases of bone cancer it will be observed that the affected bone tissue shows areas with bone destruction and others with proliferation, following a certain typical pattern of this malignant tumor.
If the radiograph suggests an osteosarcoma, the diagnosis should finally be confirmed by a cytology or cell study. To First of all, a biopsy or tissue extraction must be performed. The best technique to obtain this sample is fine-needle aspiration, since it is painless and does not require sedation.
Later on the sample will be studied under a microscope to find out the nature of the cells and determine if they are cancerous and typical of osteosarcoma.
Treatment of bone cancer in dogs
Currently the first-line treatment is amputation of the affected limb with adjuvant chemotherapy, however, the term treatment of canine osteosarcoma with recovery from this disease.
If only the affected limb is amputated, survival is 3 to 4 months, on the other hand, if amputation is performed together with chemotherapy treatment, survival is 12-18 months, but In no case is life expectancy similar to that of a he althy dog.
Some veterinary clinics are beginning to rule out amputation and replace it with a graft technique, where the affected bone tissue is removed but the bone it is replaced by the bone tissue of a cadaver, however, complementation with chemotherapy is also necessary and life expectancy after the intervention is similar to the figures that we have previously exposed.
Obviously the prognosis will depend on each specific case, taking into account the age of the dog, the promptness of the diagnosis and the possible existence of metastases.
Palliative and complementary treatment
In each specific case the type of treatment must be assessed, this assessment must be advised by the veterinarian but always taking into account the wishes of the owners.
Sometimes, when dealing with older dogs whose quality of life is not going to be improved after the intervention, the best option is to opt for a palliative treatment, that is, a treatment that is not aimed at eradication of cancer but symptom relief
In any case, when faced with a pathology characterized by great pain, its treatment must be kept in mind during treatment. To do this, alternative therapies can be used, such as homeopathy for dogs with cancer.
