Dogs present with signs of lameness and swelling. A presumptive diagnosis is often made based on signalment, physical examination, and radiographic findings of a osteolytic, osteoproliferative or mixed bone lesion. Osteosarcoma can be definitively diagnosed via bone biopsy. Routine screening of blood and urine are also essential to evaluate the overall health of the patient, and to determine the best therapeutic options. Local treatment is the first step in therapy.
Bone tumors are painful, and excision is the best way to relieve the pain.
Amputation has long been the mainstay of therapy for osteosarcoma. Limb-sparing surgery for distal radial OSA is also successful. Palliative radiation consists of 3- 4 treatments of megavoltage radiation. The tumor is not affected, and the tumor-weakened bone may fracture as the patient uses the leg more normally. Regardless of the form of local therapy, if adjuvant therapy is not used, most patients succumb to metastases within 3-4 months.