Title: Bone cancer in cats and dogs

{{Short description|Condition in veterinary medicine}}
The most common bone [[tumor]] is called [[osteosarcoma]], and typically affects middle-age to older dogs of large and giant breeds. Osteosarcoma is less common in cats. Osteosarcoma is an aggressive [[cancer]] that can develop in any bone of the body but the majority is seen in the limbs (e.g. long bones such as radius, humerus, femur, and tibia).

==Signs and symptoms==
Dogs with limb osteosarcoma typically show lameness and swelling at the affected site. For other sites, dogs may show difficulty to open their mouth (if jaw bone cancer), nasal discharge (if nasal cavity bone cancer) or neurological signs (if spine bone cancer).

==Diagnosis==
The initial evaluation involves radiographs (X-rays) of the affected site, but the only way to confirm the diagnosis is by sampling the tissue via [[biopsy]] or needle aspiration.&lt;ref name=MacEwan_2001&gt;{{cite book|veditors=Withrow SJ, MacEwen EG |title=Small Animal Clinical Oncology|edition=3rd|publisher=W.B. Saunders Company |year=2001}}&lt;/ref&gt;

==Treatment==
Depending on the pet's unique condition, there are several treatment options, including surgery, [[chemotherapy]] and [[radiation therapy]]. Treating the pain adequately is also of crucial importance to improve the pet's quality of life, especially if amputation is not performed.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081204051155/http://www.petcancercenter.org/Cancer_Types_Bone.html '' Bone Cancer in Cats and Dogs'' from Pet Cancer Center]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071115204909/http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Kramer/index.php ''Canine osteosarcoma'' from UGA Veterinary School of Medicine']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070908170449/http://veterinarycancer.com/osteosarcoma.html ''Osteosarcoma'' from Animal Cancer &amp; Imaging Center]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080517111639/http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/06_Animal_Welfare/Oncology_Facts/Canine_Osteosarcoma.html ''Canine Osteosarcoma'' from Davies Veterinary Specialists]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101011120720/http://www.dogcancerblog.com/bone-cancer-pain-new-ideas/ ''Bone Cancer Pain in Dogs: New Ideas'' from Dr. Demian Drsssler, DVM of Dog Cancer Blog']

[[Category:Cancer in dogs]]
[[Category:Cancer in cats]]
[[Category:Types of animal cancers]]
[[Category:Osseous and chondromatous neoplasia]]