Although osteosarcoma makes up only five percent of all canine tumors, it is one of the most aggressive. The tumor occurs in the bone itself, causing lameness and severe pain. It is the pain, in fact, that causes many dogs to be euthanized early. The prognosis is poor, but there are ways to improve both the quality and the quantity of time your dog has left.
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Surgery
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Because osteosarcoma occurs in the limbs, amputation of the affected limb is the first step. Amputation eliminates the source of the pain and makes the dog more comfortable, although without chemotherapy, he will only live for about four to six months.
Chemotherapy
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There are a variety of chemotherapy drugs that can be used to slow the progression of the disease. Depending upon the “chemo cocktail” formulated for your dog, you can expect this therapy to extend his life by about one year.
Radiation
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Radiation is more of a palliative care therapy, used to reduce pain when conventional painkillers no longer work. It is effective in two-thirds of cases, but it will not slow the disease.
Axial Osteosarcoma
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Axial osteosarcoma affects the jawbones, and is more rare than the classic form of the disease. Because there is greater freedom in bone removal, especially in the lower jaw, up to 71 percent of patients survived more than one year after surgery without receiving chemotherapy.
Specificity
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Cancer doesn’t read medical books, so your dog may live longer than expected, and have more or less pain. Dogs who are under seven years of age and have large tumors in the front leg generally have the worst prognosis.
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