Category Archives: Canine Cancer

A Brief Overview of Osteosarcoma

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Osteosarcoma [photo credit]

Osteosarcoma is the medical term for the prognosis of bone cancer. In dogs, it is the most common type of bone tumor, making up 85% of skeletal tumors. According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, up to 8,000 dogs or more are diagnosed with osteosarcoma each year, with the low estimate being 6,000 cases.

Bone cancer starts deep within the bone and works toward the outside, causing great pain for a dog. Usually, osteosarcoma shows signs on the exterior when a dog limps, has lameness present in the leg, and sometimes exhibits slight swelling on the area where the dog feels pain. This type of cancer primarily affects dogs who are middle-aged to elderly; however, dogs of all ages can get it.

Most of the time, osteosarcoma is found when a veterinarian observes lesions on the bone through x-rays. From there, if cancer is found, blood work is likely the next step, and a bone scan that determines whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. A bone biopsy will ultimately confirm if the problem is cancer, and the type.

Risk factors of osteosarcomas are still being studied between breeds, gender, and age. Some studies have suggested that diets that support fast growth in puppies attribute to whether or not a dog will get bone cancer later in life. Other studies suggest that males have a higher risk than females. According to the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine,

Osteosarcoma is most common in giant and large breed dogs (90%) and is uncommon in small and medium breeds. Breeds especially predisposed to development of OSA include Saint Bernards, Rottweilers, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Irish setters, Doberman Pinschers, and Labrador retrievers.

When a dog gets osteosarcoma, there are several options for treatment. In many cases, amputation of the limb is successful, but it is not a guarantee for the end of cancer. Also, some dogs are not good candidates for amputation due to certain health conditions, like obesity. Amputation is not always an option, as it depends on where the cancer is located. Radiation and chemotherapy are other forms of treatment for canine cancer, but overall, the method of treatment is going to depend on severity, willingness to put the dog through cancer care, and availability of treatment options.

Sources:

Kramer, Monique T., D.V.M., M.S., Kenneth S. Latimer, D.V.M., Ph.D., Pauline M. Rakich, D.V.M., Ph.D., Royce E. Roberts, D.V.M., M.S., Nicole C. Northrup, D.V.M., and Perry J. Bain, D.V.M., Ph.D. “Canine Osteosarcoma.” University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary Clinical Pathology Clerkship Program , 2003. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.

“Osteosarcoma.” The National Canine Cancer Foundation, 2006. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.

Should I Put My Pet Through Chemotherapy?

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Finding out that your pet has cancer is devastating. Depending on the type of cancer, what stage it is in, and where it is located, chemotherapy is one option that your pet may have toward saving their life. Because dogs handle doses of chemotherapy different than humans do, don’t expect to see hair loss or weight loss that is common in humans. Because dogs get smaller doses, they do not get the same reactions as humans do.

If your veterinarian cannot administer chemotherapy drugs, you may be referred to a larger animal hospital with a practicing animal oncologist. Chemotherapy is usually given once per week to the animal patient, so expect weekly trips to the vet’s office. This can get expensive, especially if you live a long distance away from the oncologist. Chemotherapy is also very expensive, so expect to pay up to $400 per week, depending on the size of the dog, where you live, and the drug protocol. Depending on the length of the treatment, chemotherapy can cost hundreds of dollars for a short time, or thousands of dollars over months of time.

Another downside to chemotherapy is that it is not a guarantee that your pet will be cancer free or stay alive. Sometimes it is simply a way to buy time with your pet, until the quality of life depletes and euthanasia is inevitable. Chemotherapy has been shown to be successful on some cancers, like lymphoma; however, even if the pet is cancer free, the life expectancy is sometimes not desirable (with some cancers, it is up to one year). Making the decision to put a pet through chemotherapy should be decided as a family, taking into account first and foremost the quality of life of the pet.

It is important to acknowledge that some animals cannot be saved, and they will succumb to cancer. If chemotherapy is something that you can afford and make time for, and you want to extend your pet’s life even for a short while, it can be rewarding. Ideally, pet cancer prevention will be practiced at home with a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise, especially knowing what is in the food your pet eats. Preventing cancer isn’t always possible, but it is important to try!

To read more about chemotherapy, visit the chemotherapy FAQ page from Georgia’s Legacy, a canine cancer resource.

Diet and Canine Cancer

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It has been reported that half of all dogs will die from developing canine cancer. If you want to prevent this horrible disease, or help your pet who already has cancer, researching what kind of diet is needed is the first step in stopping it.

One of the most important rules for feeding is that pets should not have sugars, manufactured sugars, and limit the sugar intake. Cancer feeds on sugar, which helps it to grow bigger and stronger. Eliminating sugar helps to starve these cells. Here are some common items that include sugar, which is to be avoided:

  • molasses
  • corn syrup
  • honey

Even fruits and carrots should be avoided due to sugar content. It is also wise to avoid heavily processed corn, soy, and wheat foods.

Another part of the diet to consider is the consumption of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids come in the form of junk food and processed foods. The cancer will feed on this junk food, and the overabundance of omega-6 acids will cause inflammation in the body. On the other hand, omega-3 fatty acids are essential for good health, and can be found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil, olive oil, fish oil, and salmon. For a nutritional boost, feeding your pet canned fish is a great option.

While this is just a brief introduction to a diet for preventing and attempting to stop cancer in its tracks, knowing the basics will help you to feed your pet what is best for their health and dealing with the disease.