All Entries Tagged With: "Canine Bone Cancer"
What Are The Four Main Types of Dog Bone Cancer? Part 3: Fibrosarcoma
The type of bone cancer called Fibrosarcoma is rare. It is responsible for less than 5% of the primary types of bone tumors. It comes from the fibrous connective tissues (hence the name) that are found in the ribs, spine, pelvis, and skull. It can however come from any bone type. It is a non-osteosarcoma bone type, but it is still very difficult to set it apart from the very common osteosarcoma or OSA, specifically what they call fibroblastic osteosarcoma. There are two varieties of this tumor type: Central, and Parosteal. Main treatments for Fibrosarcoma involve amputation, limb salvage and surgical resectioning. Radiation therapy can be applied as alternative pain relief in some special instances. There is chemotherapy to threat the rare instance that cancer spreads, and pain medication.
Why fibrosarcoma develops is still unknown because it is a rare tumor type. It is found more commonly in older male canines, but there is a variety that develops in the mouths of younger dogs.
These can be signs that a dog has fibrosarcoma:
What Are The Four Main Types of Dog Bone Cancer? Part 2: Chondrosarcoma
The second main type of bone tumor in canines is called Chondrosarcoma. It is responsible for 5-10% of all main bone tumor types, although it is not as malignant as Osteosarcoma. It is a tumor in the cartilage, and generally it appears on bones that are flat: ribs, skull bones. It may also appear in the limbs such as the femur bone. The symptoms of this type of bone tumor mimic those of OSA. In most cases the course of action is to remove the tumor to manage the disease. It is found that chemotherapy is ineffective against Chondrosarcoma. In recent studies, however, an antibiotic called fluoroquinolone is seen to be toxic to the cancer cells in the cartilage. Whether this antibiotic will be effective in treating chondrosarcoma remains to be seen. Further studies are needed.
Immediate attention is important in treating chondrosarcoma.The vet will have x-rays taken of the patient so that the affected area is clear. He will determine if the cancer has spread, as about 10% of cases metastasize to the lungs. They can take samples of the enlarged lymph nodes through a needle biopsy, because lymph nodes are usually areas where cancer gathers in the circulatory system.
It is important to take note of the symptoms, which vary relative to the tumor’s location.
Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor:
Ribs – there will be a swelling in the costochondral junction, or the area where the ribs meet.
Nasal area – breathing may be difficult, accompanied by sneezing, and nasal discharge.
Pelvis – pain in the pelvic area, especially during examinations
Spine/Vertebrae – no visible clues
What Are the Treatment Options for Dog Bone Cancer?
Once Bone Cancer has developed, it is almost impossible to prevent its spreading throughout the body . It spreads aggressively throughout the body in such a way that without relative treatment, affected dogs may completely succumb to the disease in 1 to 2 months’ time. Once Bone Cancer has spread and become inoperable or untreatable, euthanasia is the only humane option allowable in order to save the dog from intense pain that will no longer regress.
90% of Bone Cancer tumors metastasize to the lungs. Because of this, aggressive treatment is implemented.
Once Bone Cancer has developed, it is almost impossible to prevent its spreading throughout the body .
Treatment includes amputation of the affected part followed by a series of chemotherapy, but that should provide only temporary relief. Amputation alone provides an average survival time of 5 months while amputation with chemotherapy provides a survival time of at least one year. Chemotherapy drugs that are proven effective for Bone Cancer chemotherapy are Carboplatin, Cisplatin and Doxorubicin.
Radiation therapy is another option when the aim is to provide pain relief from secondary bone tumors caused by metastasis. This treatment results to 2 to 3 months of pain-free survival time. Commonly, radiation therapy is used before and after a surgery, or during times when the tumor is inoperable or has not been completely excised during surgery.
These are some of the ways dog bone cancer is treated.
How Dog Bone Cancer is Diagnosed
If your dog has Bone Cancer, it will show itself in the swelling of bones and pain in the joints. The tumors in bone cancer appear in areas where the growth plates are at constant activitity. The limbs and joints of Large dog breeds are particularly affected. A dog that has bone cancer would be unable to properly walk, run, or enjoy activities they previously did without any trouble.
Diagnosis
Knowing which dog breeds are susceptible to bone cancer allows us to monitor and examine them early on for signs of an onslaught of this illness. There are specific bone patterns identifiable in X-rays that could be an indication of bone cancer.
A biopsy of bone tumors through surgical sampling is required for a diagnosis of bone cancer. This procedure is often considered difficult, however, because of possible complications. The bone marrow biopsy needle is another and less invasive approach to bone cancer diagnosis. It is inserted into a small area of the tumor in the bone.
Knowing which dog breeds are susceptible to bone cancer allows us to monitor and examine them early on for signs of an onslaught of this illness. There are specific bone patterns identifiable in X-rays that could be an indication of bone cancer.
In addition, bone cancer could also be the result of the other forms of cancer metastasizing from other areas of the body. For primary diagnosis of this illness, however, these possibilities should be ruled out temporarily.
Who Does Dog Bone Cancer Target?
Which dogs are affected by Dog Bone Cancer? Our dog breeds are classified into Toy, Small, Medium, and Large or Giant.
Which dogs are affected by Dog Bone Cancer? Our dog breeds are classified into Toy, Small, Medium, and Large or Giant.
While every dog in one way or another is susceptible to certain kinds of cancer, breeds that are at higher risk of getting Bone Cancer are those that weigh over 80 pounds. These dogs are 60 times more likely to develop Bone Cancer than dogs that weigh less than 75 pounds.
Dogs with this weight are categorized as Giant or Large breeds and that the males are at higher risk of getting Bone Cancer than the females.
Some of the Giant or Large Breeds that are at high risk of developing Bone Cancer are:
Bernese Mountain Dogs
Boxers
Dobermans
German Shepherds
Golden Retrievers
Great Danes
Great Pyrenees
Irish Wolfhounds
Labradors
Newfoundlands
All these dogs listed above are noted for their exceptional dispositions and sweet attitudes. Giant breeds tend to be quite loving and docile, and it is a shame to lose one of them to Bone Cancer.
