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Bone cancer more common in big dogs, vet says
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Veterinarian Nicole Ehrhart recently answered some questions from examiner.com about canine cancer, particularly bone cancer in large dogs.
Here is what she had to say:
*What is the chance that a dog will develop any form of cancer in his lifetime?
Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs and cats over the age of ten years. It is the second leading cause of death in any adult animal, second only to trauma. With improved preventative care and leash laws etc., pets enjoy healthy lives into old age. Cancer is a common disease of middle to older aged pets, as it is also in people.
*How common is bone cancer in dogs?
It is one of the most common cancers affecting large and giant breed dogs.
*Generally speaking, what is the survival rate after diagnosis?
The survival rate depends on what treatments are instituted. If nothing is done aside from pain medication, the average survival time is about 3 months. If we perform an amputation and give chemotherapy, we can prolong survival to between 10-16 months on average. About 10% of dogs are cured. Dogs receiving chemotherapy and amputation have an excellent quality of life in most cases and owners are often pleasantly surprised at how well dogs handle treatment. For example, they don’t typically lose their hair during chemotherapy and experience very few unpleasant side effects. Since dogs are quadrupeds they can ambulate very well on three legs and they don’t experience the psychosocial trauma of losing a leg. As long as they feel well and are not in pain, they will lead active, happy lives.
*What are some of the treatment options?
The standard of care for bone cancer in dogs is amputation followed by chemotherapy. There are also alternatives to amputation (limb-sparing operation) in select cases.
*Do most dogs recover well from amputation surgery (running, leading
normal lives, etc.)?
Most dogs recover extremely well from amputation. We are able to keep them very comfortable after surgery using modern pain control medications. They are usually able to go for short walks the evening of surgery and typically are released from the hospital the day following surgery. The typical dog is pulling us down the hallway the day after surgery to greet their owner at discharge. After the sutures are removed and the incision is healed, amputees can swim, run and play as they did before..jpg)
-- Nicole Ehrhart VMD , MS , Diplomate ACVS
Associate Professor, Surgical Oncology
Animal Cancer Center
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
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