My dog has bone cancer. Can he still enjoy walks and the park?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry about Chunk's diagnosis! This is a terrible situation! If Chunk is having such a hard time now, it will likely be the same if the rear leg was amputated. Amputation is just palliative unfortunately, meaning it buys you and the pet time. Most bone cancers have microscopically spread by the time they are diagnosed. If Chunk's tumor is a fibroscarcoma then it is slower to spread and he could get more good time if he loses weight and is able to learn how to get around with 3 legs. So, if you are not ready to give up or give in to the situation, ask to have a biopsy done of the tumor so you know what cancer you are dealing with. If it is a fibroscarcoma then amputate and deal with losing the weight afterwards. If it is osteosarcoma then I think putting him down is fair. I am again very sorry that this is happening to you and Chunk. He is too young!

Tony is such a handsome boy! I'm so sorry he has cancer though, that is very tough for you. I can understand not wanting to put him through surgery and chemo; while it will give him a little extra time, it won't cure the cancer and the end result is the same. It's fine not to do that, and if you really don't want to take that treatment path, I recommend making the most of the time you have left with him. Spoil him rotten, give him foods he loves (but make sure they aren't ones that are toxic!), go for walks and car rides, and have him enjoy every bit of life he has left. Continue to monitor his quailty of life, and make a list of five things he loves to do. When he no longer is doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has declined to a point where euthansia should be considered. Keep in contact with your vet about how he's doing to you can evaluate his quality of life objectively and make the best decision possible for him. I hope this helps, and again I'm sorry you are in this position.

Unfortunately only your veterinarian can answer this question. In general amputation buys a few months time and considering your dog is already very old for a Belgian Shepherd, it may be more humane to give your dog palliative care than go through with the surgery. If your dog has arthritis in his hips, having only one hind leg may put serious strain on the arthritic hip and this will cause more pain. Discuss good pain management with your veterinarian. An alternative would be to go see a veterinary oncologist who is most experienced in assessing bone cancer cases and can give you good statistics as well as has most experience with good palliative care.

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.

Poor Alfie. I would be concerned that the cancer may be starting to come back in that area. It could be affected his nerves in that leg which is causing him to limp or drag his leg. I would have your vet take a look at it to see if he can see or feel anything. Your vet may want to take some x-rays to see if there is any boney involvement. Your vet will also be able to prescribe him some appropriate pain meds to make him more comfortable. I do not recommend giving human pain meds as most are toxic to dogs. I hope this helps!

I'm so sorry Ghost has cancer and you are going through this, it's very hard! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face these questions with my clients all the time. I would speak with his vet about pain medication. He can be put onto a pain management protocol that could make him feel better, and increase his quality of life. You can also talk to your vet about the possible use of laxative on him, which may make it easier for him to pass feces. Having these medications on board can help significantly improve him quality of life for a period of time so that you can have more time with him before having to let him go. I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow to speak about these issues. When it comes to saying goodbye, I tell my clients to make a list of five things their dogs loves to do. When they aren't doing at least two of them, then their quality of life has declined to a point where euthanasia should be considered. It's very important to take his quality of life into account when making the decision to let a pet go or not. I hope this helps! If you'd like to discuss things further,, I'd be happy to snout with you, just click the "consult online" button under my answer.

Oh my, I'm so sorry to hear about Dodge's diagnosis. Bone cancer (most commonly osteosarcoma) is extremely painful and most cases metastasize (spread elsewhere in the body) by the time they are diagnosed. His lethargy could be a side effect of the anesthesia, but it could also simply be a sign of pain from his cancer - there is no way to differentiate between the two. Anytime an osteosarcoma is present, euthanasia is always an option due to the aggressive and painful nature of these tumors. Unless you are considering a limb amputation and chemotherapy, it sounds as though euthanasia may be warranted to ease any suffering that Dodge may be experiencing. I'm so sorry that you are all going through this.