Osterosarcoma is commonly referred to as bone cancer. Originating deep inside the bone, the tumor slowly grows outwardly. The bone is slowly destroyed from the inside. Bones in the limbs are usually affected, but any body of the body can be affected. Keep reading to learn all about osteosarcoma in canines.
Causes
Dogs can develop osteosarcoma for many different reasons. Some dogs just have genes that make them very susceptible to developing this type of cancer. Other dogs may have pre-existing abnormalities. Other common reasons include radiation, chemicals, and foreign objects such as bullets or metal implants.
Signs
As mentioned earlier, this cancer grows deep inside the bone and progresses outward. This condition can become very painful as it progresses. Dogs usually experience lameness in the affected limb. Early on, the lameness only appears occasionally. The lameness will appear much more frequently as the disease progresses.
Diagnosis
It’s important to get this condition diagnosed as soon possible. This is why your dog needs to see a vet as soon as symptoms appear. The first step will be to take an x-ray of the limb. The x-ray should be enough to give a definitive diagnosis. Sometimes, your done may need to have a bone biopsy. Since the biopsy can be quite painful, vets usually try to avoid it.
Treatment
This type of cancer spreads rapidly, so treatment needs to begin quickly. Medication will be prescribed to try to control the growth of the tumor. Pain medication is also necessary since the condition causes lots of pain. The affected limb may need to be amputated if the pain gets to be too bad. To avoid amputation, a bone replacement may be done. Radiation and chemotherapy are also treatment methods.
Dogs can be affected by many common illnesses in dogs. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now.
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