There are many different types of bones tumors in pets, and they can be either benign or malignant. While the most common types of malignant bone tumors in dogs and cats are osteosarcomas and chondrosarcomas, the most common benign tumors are osteochondromas and osteomas. Unfortunately, most bone tumors in pets are malignant and can spread to other areas of your pet's body.
How Bone Tumors Affects Your Pet
What bone tumors can do to your pet depends on the type of cancer that your dog or cat has. If your pet develops osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma, it may experience varying degrees of pain and/or lameness. As this pet health disease progresses, bone fractures can occur. This form of cancer can quickly spread to the lungs and become fatal as well. Benign tumors are most often not as threatening as malignant ones and can usually be surgically removed.
Common Symptoms of Bone Tumors
The symptoms your pet will exhibit if it has a bone tumor may vary depending on the type of tumor and its location. However, if your dog or cat displays any of the symptoms listed below it is essential you seek treatment immediately. Early intervention is the key to successful cancer treatment. Symptoms: Hard Swellings on the Leg/s, Ribs, Pelvis or Mandible, Lumps on the Skull, Vertebrae or Face, Difficulty Eating/Chewing, Lameness, Difficulty Walking, Running, Navigating Stairs and/or Jumping, Varying Degrees of Pain, Skin that is Hot to the Touch, Frequent or Unexplained Bone Fractures, Loss of Appetite/Weight Loss and Apathy/Depression.
Treatments for Bone Tumors
Benign tumors are typically easily removed through surgery and prognosis is good. However, malignant tumors need more extensive treatments. Since malignant cancer can metastasize to your pet's lungs, your veterinarian will perform a chest X-ray before surgery. A complete physical, blood count and biopsies will be necessary as well. Unfortunately, the only effective treatment for many cases of malignant bone tumors is amputation. Amputation does not cure the cancer though, and other forms of treatments will be required, especially in cases where amputation is impossible. This can include chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Bone tumors can occur in almost any breed of dog or cat; however, they are most common in large breed canines that are six years old or older. In fact, they are quite rare in felines and small-breed dogs. Studies have shown that the following breeds of dogs seem to develop bone tumors more often than any other pets: Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, Boxers, Great Danes, Irish, Gordon and English Setters, Irish Wolfhounds, Mastiffs, Pointer Breeds and Other Large or Giant Breed Dogs.
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.