Leg Cancer in Dogs

Dogs, like humans, can develop leg cancer, causing sudden lameness and difficulty walking or jumping. The affected leg may become brittle and fracture easily because of the tumor in the bone, making these fractures difficult to heal.

  1. Identification

    • According to Caninecancer.com, the most common type of leg cancer in dogs is osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma accounts for approximately 5 percent of all cancerous tumors in the bones of dogs. This type of cancer most commonly strikes dogs of middle age and affects males more often than females. Larger breed dogs are affected more often than smaller breeds, and the tumor usually develops on the long bones of the legs or the flat bones in the dog's ribs.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms associated with leg cancer in dogs may include lameness, swelling of the leg and pain in the leg. Lameness and pain are often due to fractures which may occur as a result of cancer. Swelling may occur in the affected leg due to the tumor extending into the soft tissues.

    Causes And Risks

    • According to Caninecancer.com, the causes of leg cancer in dogs is unknown. However, osteosarcoma (the leading type of bone cancer in dogs) frequently occurs around the growth plate, which leads veterinarians to believe that rapid growth may be a factor in the development of cancerous tumors. Sex hormones play a role in preventing leg cancer in dogs. Dogs that are neutered or spayed, especially before 1 year of age, are more likely to develop bone cancer. Dogs that are not spayed or neutered have the lowest incidence of bone cancer.

    Diagnosis

    • To determine if your dog has leg cancer, your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination. Diagnostic tests such as X-rays and a bone biopsy may also be performed to confirm the diagnosis of cancer. Once the diagnosis of leg cancer is confirmed, the veterinarian may perform X-rays of the chest to determine if the cancer has metastasized (spread to other organs).

    Treatment

    • The treatment of leg cancer in dogs may include radiation and medications to control the pain associated with cancer. For aggressive tumors, it may be necessary to remove the tumor from the dog's leg and in many cases, amputation of the leg is necessary. Chemotherapy may be performed following surgery to prevent the cancer from spreading to other areas of the body.