disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • Common Signs of Pain • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • Panting • Licking sore spot • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell • Lameness • Muscle atrophy carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver • Difficulty sleeping • Decreased appetite disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • Pacing • Vocalizing/yowling • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • Abnormal posture • Reclusive Behavior • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell • Body tensing • Aggressive Behavior carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver • Poor grooming habits • Avoiding stairs/jumping disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • Tucked tail • Depressed • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • Dilated Pupils • Unable to stand • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primaryOsteosa lung tumor • mast cell tumorr • comakidney disease • transitional cell Before your pet’s condition becomes unmanageable or carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizuresin • osteosarcoma Cats and • hemangiosarcoma Dogs • nasal tumorsdiabetes • they are losing quality of life, it is important to begin • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease end-of-life care discussions. Learn about pet hospice • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma care and/or euthanasia services in your area so you are • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell prepared for what lies ahead. carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma For more information on pet hospice, euthanasia • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell services, or emergency care in your area, contact: carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticismA brief guide • hyperthyroidism on disease • osteoarthritis progression • vestibular disease • canine lymphomaincluding • brain tumor end-of-life • congestive symptoms heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • Produced by Home to Heaven, P.C. • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease Kathleen Cooney, DVM, MS • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma 970-412-6212 • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell Loveland, Colorado carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver www.hometoheaven.net Educational Pet Disease Series disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • @2011 Home to Heaven, P.C. Content may not be reproduced without written • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease consent from Home to Heaven P.C. • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma Designed by White Space Graphics, LLC • www.whitespacegraphics.com • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver Osteosarcoma (OSA)

What is it? What symptoms can present as the disease Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common bone tumor in dogs progresses? and can sometimes present in cats. It usually occurs in the leg bones of larger breeds. Osteosarcoma most often arises in middle Early Stages aged or elderly dogs, but can arise in a dog of any age with • swelling or mass at site of cancer larger breeds tending to develop tumors at younger ages. This • lameness and/or limb pain (with or without pathologic aggressive type of cancer can develop in any bone, but the legs fracture) account for 75-85% of a ected bones. Osteosarcoma develops • change in appetite deep within the bone and becomes more painful as it grows • weight loss outward destroying bone as it progresses. The lameness goes • licking the a ected area from intermittent to constant over 1-3 months. Obvious swelling • tender to the touch becomes evident as the tumor grows and normal bone is replaced • lethargy by cancerous bone. Cancerous bone is not as strong as normal • exercise intolerance bone and can break with minor injury. This type of broken bone is called a “pathologic fracture” and may be the finding Late Stages (very site dependent) that strongly suggests the presence of bone cancer. Pathologic • persistent early stages fractures will not heal. Osteosarcoma is often diagnosed via • non-weight bearing lameness radiographs (x-rays) as it usually has a distinctive pattern, but a • vomiting, and/or diarrhea definitive diagnosis is made by bone biopsy. CT scans and MRIs • a ected limb swelling/edema are also helpful. • ruptured skin over the site +/- infection • pathologic fracture How is it treated? • difficulty breathing/coughing • unable to stand Treatment of OSA has one of two goals: try to cure the cancer • paralysis if spine involved. or simply manage pain and symptoms if a cure is not possible. Managing pain and trying to slow the progression includes Crisis – Immediate veterinary assistance needed the use of pain medicine, radiation therapy, limb amputation, regardless of the disease and chemotherapy. Curative intent options include combining • Difficulty breathing di erent modes of therapy such as surgery, radiation therapy, • Prolonged seizures and chemotherapy. However, no matter the combination used, • Uncontrollable vomiting/diarrhea many of dogs with OSA ultimately die due to the high metastatic • Sudden collapse potential of this tumor. Cats tend to do great with surgury alone. • Profuse bleeding – internal or external • Crying/whining from pain* What is the prognosis for osteosarcoma? Unfortunately, by the time the disease reveals itself, it has more than likely already metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body such as the lungs, other bones, lymph nodes, and internal organs. If the cancer has already spread to the lungs upon diagnosis, chemotherapy may not be as e ective and may only add a couple of months to the pet’s life. If treatment is started before clinically detectable metastasis, it is possible to extend life *It should be noted that most animals will instinctually hide by a year or more. Signs are dependent on severity of the disease their pain. Vocalization of any sort that is out of the ordinary and whether or not treatment options are elected. A personalized for your pet may indicate that their pain and anxiety has treatment plan is important to slow the progression of OSA. Talk become too much for them to bear. If your pet vocalizes due to to your veterinarian regarding the best treatment protocol for pain or anxiety, please consult with your tending veterinarian your pet. immediately.