The most common bone tumors found in dogs are called osteosarcoma. They are a fast growing cancer that mainly appear in the leg bones and joints of larger breed dogs, but can also be found elsewhere in the body. Usually slow growing, squamous cell carcinoma infect the outer coating of the bone and typically appear in the jaw and toe bones.
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First Signs
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The first sign that your dog might have a tumor is usually limping or pain when doing normal everyday activities or a painful swollen knot.
Growth
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The tumor starts inside the bone and gradually enlarges, becoming more painful as it grows. During this time, it is eating away the inside of the bone, causing it to become brittle and more prone to breakage.
Diagnosis
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Usually an x-ray is all that is need to confirm a bone tumor, although some may require further testing with a biopsy, that involves taking a small sample of the infected bone for laboratory analysis.
Treatment
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If the tumor is in a leg, the most popular treatment is to amputate the affected limb. Chemotherapy is also used in most cases to ensure the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Sometimes, as in the case of a dog with wide-spread cancer, euthanasia is the most humane thing you can do for your dog.
Quality of Life
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With proper pain management, a dog can have excellent quality of life. The amputation of a limb seldom seems to bother them and most dogs recover quickly and return to their normal active lifestyle.
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