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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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 Bone
Cancer
Bone cancer is bad. There is nothing good about a
diagnosis of bone cancer. It is bad news from
start to finish. Although it is very rare in cats,
it is found with some frequency in dogs,
especially large breed dogs. It is usually found
in certain sites, especially in the long bones.
Most clients are totally unprepared for the diagnosis of
bone cancer, as they generally think their older dog has
simply got arthritis. I'm sorry if you are
unfortunate enough to be reading this. I send you
my condolences, and hope that we can help make you and
your dog's experience as good as it can be for the
time you have left together.
There are a few important things to know about bone
cancer in dogs. The first is that by the time we
diagnose the condition, it has almost always spread to
other parts of the body, especially the lungs.
This means that most of the time, no matter what we do,
the cancer will be terminal, and often it will be
terminal quite quickly. Without treatment, many
patients are either dead or are euthanized within 2 or 3
months of diagnosis.
The second thing to know is that the cancer is very
painful. In fact, it is often the pain that
results in the patient's death, either by euthanasia or
by pain-induced weakness, malnutrition, etc. Pain
medications are often prescribed, but generally are not
enough to keep the patient comfortable for long.
The third thing to know is that there are some
short-term treatment options. Surgery to remove
the affected leg often provides great relief from pain.
It takes about two to three weeks to recover from the
amputation, and after than the patient feels much better
since the main cancer is gone. However, the cancer
has often already spread, and in those cases the surgery
does little to lengthen the patients life. It
does, however, greatly improve the quality of life for
most patients. An amputation and the associated
recovery can cost from $500 to $800.
Chemotherapy has been used in bone cancer in dogs.
Dogs generally tolerate chemotherapy much better than
humans do. They will not be sick all the time, and
their hair will not fall out. However, they will
be sick some of the time. Chemotherapy has been
shown to increase survival time. Combined with
surgery, about half of the patients that undergo
chemotherapy will survive another year. 20% of
them will live two years. Because chemotherapy
involves highly toxic drugs, it is neither quick, easy,
nor inexpensive. A course of treatment can cost
over $1000, and requires a considerable time commitment
on the owner's part as well.
At some point it will probably be necessary to put your
dog to sleep. When we do this is a personal
choice, and depends on the owner's personal beliefs and
philosophies as well as the patients pain level and
quality of life. Euthanasia is painless and quick,
and can be a real blessing for a suffering patient.
Here are some links that have good discussions on bone
cancer. Bone
Cancer in Dogs
Osteosarcoma
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