Can dog bone cancer (osteosarcoma) aggressively break down bones?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree that the primary differential based on this radiographs would be a primary bone tumor being osteosarcoma the most common one. However, other things such as a fungal infection depending on the state you live in, is also possible. The next step would be sampling of this lesion via fine needle aspiration or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. If confirmed, therapy can be discussed at that time. I'm hoping for the best!

Osteomyelitis and osteosarcoma can look similar, but there are some distinct characteristics that can be seen on x-rays. The image you provided is very blurry, but I do see the lesion and it does look more suspicious of an osteosarcoma. This is not only because of the location (the knee is a common location for osteosarcoma), but also the fact that it is solitary and has not crossed the joint. However, a biopsy and histopathology is the only way to definitively diagnose the condition. Osteosarcoma is unfortunately a rather severe form of cancer that tends to spread quickly and cause a great deal of pain. If Ben is in good spirits though, then I would not advise euthanasia until he doesn't seem happy anymore. Considering that you are interested in more diagnostics and potentially treatment (there are treatment options for osteosarcoma), I recommend you ask your vet about this, or seek a second opinion. I hope that helps and I'm really sorry to hear about poor Ben.

Osteosarcoma is typically a very aggressive cancer so it would be unusual for the pet to be doing well one and a half years later. There are many types of skin masses including benign bone growth. I recommend to play it safe and to have the mass aspirated by your veterinarian. This will give you a better idea of what’s going on and if it’s something that will cause a problem in the future or requires treatment. I hope this helps.

Unfortunately in most cases amputation will not be curative, it will probably slow down the tumor but in most dogs amputation do not eliminate the condition as the tumor in over 95% of cases has already metastasised (even if the chest x-ray looked clear).

Hi there. I'm afraid I don't understand all the abbreviations in your question, so it's hard for me to make sense of what you're asking. In general, I can tell you that osteosarcoma (the most common type of bone tumor in dogs) is a very aggressive type of cancer, and most dogs do not live more than a few weeks to months after diagnosis without amputation and chemotherapy. So if your dog lived for 1.5 years after the initial diagnosis, he may have simply been very fortunate, or he may have had some other type of bone tumor, or some other problem entirely - since I didn't get to examine him and the time and have not seen his x-rays, I have no way of knowing. If your dog has now passed away and you would like to get a more definitive answer as to what was wrong, I would recommend having an autopsy done - called a necropsy in animals. Your veterinarian should be able to advise you on how to arrange this, if you wish.

She has most likely been diagnosed with osteosarcoma (in the forelimb probably head of the humerus) which is a primary bond tumor. Bone tumors are painful and typically amputation is recommend with follow up chemotherapy. In the event the cancer has metastasized (spread) or it is suspected the patient will not have a good quality of life with three legs, less invasion options such as radiation therapy are recommended but only as palliative measures. If you have not already discussed talking to a veterinary oncologist with your veterinarian, I would recommend doing so. They will be able to provide you with a detailed treatment plan and prognosis.

Osteosarcoma can’t be totally diagnosed by an X-ray, and this doesn’t look definitive to me. I recommend taking him to an orthopedic specialist for a second opinion, and they can take another X-ray to compare with this. If it’s bone cancer the moth eaten area will probably be larger or more defined. They can also do a bone biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. He could be lame from a shoulder problem, or even pain radiating down his leg from a disc in his neck. Hopefully he is on pain medication. In my opinion the next step to be sure of the diagnosis would be to get an exam with a specialist. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Riot.