Bone Cancer in Dogs - Canine Osteosarcoma

Bone cancer in dogs is rather common. Canine osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone tumor. This page takes a look at the signs and symptoms, the possible causes and risk factors, diagnosis and conventional treatment of canine bone cancer. It also looks at using the herb Artemisinin which may be given to dog cancer patients as part of a chemotherapy program.

There are two types of bone cancer in dogs.

Primary bone cancer originates from the bone; and metastatic bone cancer originates from a cancer in another part of the body, but have spread to the bone.

The most common type of primary bone tumor that arises in dogs is osteosarcoma (OSA). About 70 to 85 percent of bone tumors in dogs are osteosarcoma. Other bone tumors that can arise in dogs include chondrosarcoma (CSA), fibrosarcoma (FSA), and hemangiosarcoma (HSA).

Osteosarcoma is highly malignant and are found mostly in the legs and arms (appendicular skeleton). Specifically, the common sites are the far end of the radius bone above the wrist in the front legs or just above or below the knee in the rear legs.

Osteosarcoma can also occur in other parts of the body, including the head (skull and jaws), the spine, and the ribs.

Canine osteosarcoma usually develops deep within the bone and first appears as swollen areas, with or without pain. As it progresses, the pain will become more intense as the tumor grows outward and the bone is destroyed from the inside out.

At the time of diagnosis, the bone cancer in about 95% of dogs have already metastasized to other parts of the body. Most dogs with canine osteosarcoma will die from the metastasis of tumor to the lungs or other bones.

Without treatment, a dog diagnosed with osteosarcoma will succumb to the cancer in only one to two months. However, due to the intense pain at the site of the bone tumor, the dog will probably be euthanized prior to this period of time.

Chondrosarcoma, a cartilage tumor, is the second most common canine bone tumor. About 5-10 percent of all primary bone tumors in dogs is chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcoma is less likely to be fatal like canine osteosarcoma.

Other canine bone cancer tumors such as fibrosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are rare (less than 5 percent).

Signs of Bone Cancer in Dogs

The signs associated with bone cancer in dogs may be non-specific; in addition, it depends on the primary site of the tumor.

The first clinical sign of osteosarcoma in the limb is usually lameness of the affected limb. A firm swelling accompanied by pain may become evident as the tumor grows. Some dogs develop acute nonweight-bearing lameness caused by bone fracture. (The tumor weakens and destroys the bone structure resulting in brittle bones that fracture easily.)

The pain can cause other problems such as:

irritability and aggression;
appetite loss;
weight loss;
insomnia;
whimpering;
lethargy and reluctance to exercise.

Clinical signs of bone cancer in dogs that occurs in the skull or facial bones include:

trouble chewing and swallowing;
facial swelling;
nasal discharge.

A hard lump on a rib could be a sign of bone cancer in the ribs.

Top

Bone Cancer in Dogs - Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of bone cancer in dogs is not known. However, previous bone fractures, bone trauma, or chronic bone infections seem to be predisposing factors. Also, gene mutations, foreign bodies (e.g. metal implants, such as internal fixators, bullets, etc.), chemical carcinogens can contribute to the development of canine osteosarcoma.

Canine osteosarcoma usually occurs near growth plates; therefore, factors that affect growth rates, such as diets that promote rapid growth in puppies, may also be a contributing factor to bone cancer in dogs.

There are several risk factors that may increase the chance of a dog developing bone cancer:

Gender

The risk of bone cancer is slightly higher in male dogs than females. In addition, the risk of osteosarcoma is about 65% greater for neutered males and 34% greater for spayed females. For dogs spayed or neutered before one year of age, the risk seems to be even higher.

Size

Canine osteosarcoma occurs more often in large and giant breeds (e.g. German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes). Specifically, dogs weighing over 75 pounds are at a greater risk to develop bone cancer than dogs weighing less than 75 pounds.

Share Your Experience!

Join our Dog Cancer Forum

Please also read other visitors' experience:

Top

Bone Cancer in Dogs - Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is usually based on clinical signs, a physical examination and X-rays. A biopsy is usually not necessary since the radiographic appearance of bone cancer as seen on X-ray is rather characteristic and easily identifiable. A number of other tests are also required to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the lungs and the liver.

For canine osteosarcoma, which is the most common type of bone cancer tumor in dogs, the treatment of choice is amputation of the affected limb, followed by chemotherapy.

Amputation serves two purposes: first, it removes the primary tumor and prevents it from metastasizing, and secondly, it also removes the source of pain, and may therefore dramatically improve the dog patient's quality of life.

If the lower part of the radius bone or the ulna (elbow bone) is affected and if the lesion is small, limb-sparing procedures may be used to save the cancerous leg. These procedures involve replacement of the bone with a bone from a bone bank.

Sixty percent of dogs with bone cancer who receive treatment of amputation and follow-up chemotherapy can survive for up to one year, and 40 percent can live up to 2 years after treatment. (Read also Bracken's story.)

In cases of inoperable bone cancer, or where the bone tumor cannot be completely removed, radiation therapy may be used before or after surgery. It is also often used to provide pain relief from secondary bone tumors associated with metastases.

Radioactive Isotope Therapy for Canine Osteosarcoma

This is a relatively new treatment for bone cancer in dogs. A company based in Houston (Valco Instruments) has developed a small drill that can deliver a very small amount of radioactive isotope to the tumor, thereby targeting the cancerous cells directly without doing any damage to surrounding tissues or organs.

Texas A&M Institute is now providing this treatment which costs around $6,000.

Top

Artemisinin for Canine Osteosarcoma

For canine osteosarcoma, recent studies have shown that the herb Artemisinin may be given to dog patients as part of a chemotherapy program.

Artemisinin is an herb that has been used in Asia for years to cure malaria. It has been found that this herb can help to kill cancer cells in the body as well (both in people and dogs). Artemisinin can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy. It may also be used before radiation treatments, but should not be used within 20 days of radiation therapy, and should not be resumed until two months after the last radiation treatment.

Cancerous cells contain high levels of iron which they need to reproduce their DNA during cell division. Artemisinin destroys cells with high iron levels while posing little or no danger to the normal cells.

Artemisinin should be taken with food; essential fatty acid (e.g. flaxseed oil) can help absorption of the herb. High doses of pancreatic enzymes and CoQ-10 should also be used during Artemisinin therapy.

However, this herb can be toxic if used improperly; therefore, be sure to consult a holistic vet if you would like to explore this treatment option further.

Top

Other Natural Remedies for Dog Bone Cancer

In addition to the treatment options mentioned above, there are also various natural remedies that can be used as complementary treatment. Herbs, homeopathic remedies, cancer diet with natural supplements, and acupuncture are some such treatment options that may strengthen the immune system of a dog with cancer. Some natural remedies may even help slow down the growth of the tumor or spread of the cancerous cells to other parts of the body.

Visit our pages on Herbs for Cancer in Dogs and Dog Cancer Diet for more information on these two complementary treatment options. Please also use the navigation bar on the left of this page to find other useful K9 cancer information on this site.