Follow our Facebook page for updates! | Click here to donate or volunteer
Liaison: Liz Swearingen
Email: moonmistsams@gmail.com
Osteosarcoma (OSA) is a malignant tumor of the bone (bone cancer). It can develop in any bone, but occurs most often in the limbs, near the shoulder, wrist or knee.
Osteosarcoma is painful and frequently causes lameness. It starts within the bone and destroys the bone from the inside out as it grows. Swelling may also be seen as the tumor grows and replaces normal bone with tumorous bone. The tumorous bone is weaker than healthy bone and can break easily (pathologic fracture) - this type of break will not heal.
Osteosarcoma is aggressive and highly metastatic, most osteosarcomas have already metastasized to the lungs or other bones when diagnosed.
The signs and symptoms depend on the location of the tumor:
Limbs:
Lower jaw or orbital (eye socket)
Skull or vertebrae
Pelvis
The exact cause of osteosarcoma is unknown. The tumors are often found near growth plates, so factors promoting rapid growth rate and bone turnover may be involved. In animal studies, several viruses (polyomavirus, SV-40 virus and type C retroviruses), fluoride, and metabolites of the insecticide diflubenzuron, have been linked to osteosarcoma.
Diagnosis may include the following:
Other types of cancer and infection must be ruled out.
Note: Treatment of animals should only be performed by a licensed veterinarian. Veterinarians should consult the current literature and current pharmacological formularies before initiating any treatment protocol.
Treatment plans for osteosarcoma may be either curative or palliative (relieve/lessen pain without curing).
If the intent is to attempt a cure, the tumor must be removed either by amputation or, when possible, limb sparing procedures. Surgery may be followed by chemotherapy to reduce metastases. Because most tumors have already metastasized when diagnosed, cure is difficult.
Palliative care typically includes radiation and pain medication.
Artemisinin is an herb that has been shown to kill some cancer cells in the laboratory. Anecdotal reports claim that it can stop the growth of osteosarcoma in dogs, but peer-reviewed scientific research has not yet been published.
Prognosis:
Prognosis depends on many factors including the dog's age (it is more aggressive in younger dogs), size of tumor, location of tumor, blood levels of alkaline phosphatase, and presence of metastases. Survival times vary greatly. Median survival times of 3-18 months have been reported, depending on the location.
If amputation is required, most dogs do very well on three legs, not realizing that they are disabled!
Osteosarcoma, caninecancer.com
Canine Osteosarcoma, marvistavet.com
Bone Cancer in Dogs at www.dogcancer.net
Canine Osteosarcoma: The Most Common Bone Disease at www.vetinfo.com
Canine Osteosarcoma: Amputation and Life Quality at www.dogcancerblog.com
Canine Osteosarcoma Treatment at www.dog-health-guide.org
The Gabriel Institute - Research in Canine Osteosarcoma
Common Cancers - Osteosarcoma at www.caninecancerawareness.org