Cancer is a disease that, unfortunately, affects both humans and dogs. One of the most serious is osteosarcoma, much more common in large dogs than in small ones.
How do I know if my dog has bone cancer? Sometimes, it is not easy for a caregiver to detect this problem, so we are going to help you.
What is bone cancer?
Bone cancer, known as osteosarcoma, is a disease produced by cancer cells that affects any bone tissue, especially to the radius, the humerus and the femur that can cause metastasis in the lungs.
Symptom
If the dog has any of these symptoms, we will have to quickly take him to the vet to make the diagnosis and start the treatment:
- Pain
- Loss of mobility
- Inflammation
- Limp
- Neurological signs
- Outward-projecting eyeballs (exophthalmia)
Diagnosis
Once at the vet clinic, our dog will get an x-ray and, if cancer is suspected, You will also have a cytology, which is the study of cells. This sample will be observed through the microscope to find out if they are carcinogenic or not.
Transmission
The most effective treatment is amputation of the affected limb and chemotherapy. Anyway, you have to know that there is no cure for bone cancer. However, the survival of the animal is 12 to 18 months, much more than if only the affected limb was amputated (3-4 months).
How to care for a dog with bone cancer?
If our friend has been diagnosed with this disease, it is important keep taking care of it as we have always done, that is, giving him a lot of love and company, in addition to the medications that the vet has prescribed. Also, it is necessary to avoid that the dog moves a lot, so that the walks will be shortened or suppressed, depending on its condition.
I hope it has been useful to you.