There are 2 types of bone cancer in dogs:
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primary, which originates from the bone
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secondary, which is spread from cancer in other parts of the body
Secondary bone tumors are rare in dogs.
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appendicular skeleton or long bones (limbs)
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axial skeleton or flat bones (jaw, skull, spine and ribs)
Common types of primary bone cancer in dogs
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Osteosarcoma
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Chondrosarcoma
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Fibrosarcoma
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Hemangiosarcoma
Osteosarcoma
This is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs. Learn more about it here –> Osteosarcoma in Dogs
Chondrosarcoma
This is the second most common primary canine bone cancer. It is a cartilage tumor that usuallty occurs on axial skeleton of medium and large breed dogs. Although a malignant tumor, chondrosarcoma is less aggressive than osteosarcoma.
Fibrosarcoma
This rare type of primary bone tumor is locally invasive, so it has a low tendency to spread. It affects mainly the axial skeleton of medium and large breed dogs
Hemangiosarcoma
This is a rare type of primary bone tumor, which can affect axial and appendicular skeleton. Hemangiosarcoma is a highly metastatic and aggressive tumor.
Canine Bone Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms of bone cancer in dogs are determined by tumor location.
Symptoms of tumors of the appendicular skeleton:
– lameness
– swelling of the affected bone
– pain
– fracture
Pain can cause:
– weight loss
– loss of appetite
– whimpering
– decrease in activity
Symptoms of tumors of the axial skeleton:
– swelling (skull, jaw, ribs)
– eating difficulty (jaw tumor)
– seizures, unsteady gait (skull or vertebral tumors)
– lameness (shoulder blade or pelvis)
If a primary bone tumor has metastasised to the lungs, dogs may show symptoms of:
– swelling of limbs
– weakness
– breathing difficulty
See the next post on: Canine Bone Cancer: Treatment, Prognosis & Life Expectancy