Cancer down to the bone

Cancer down to the bone


Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in dogs, especially very large breeds like wolfhounds, Saint Bernards and others. Risk of the cancer peaks at 8 to 11 years of age.

The clinical signs of osteosarcoma can be deceptively subtle. Lameness — resulting from pain in bones and joints — is common. Sometimes swelling of the affected leg is obvious, but more often it isn’t. Some dogs will go off food and exercise as they become more uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent this aggressive form of cancer. But it pays to know the signs and get them checked out right away so that affected dogs can be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Although the long-term prognosis for osteosarcoma is poor, there are therapies that might give a pooch more time.

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