Having a dog or cat or any other pet diagnosed with cancer is just as hard as having a friend or family member diagnosed. We have to determine the treatments and procedures since they can't speak up. A common cancer in dogs and cats is bone cancer. Osteosarcoma is the most common long bone tumor in dogs and cats. Often it is mistaken for arthritis or pulled muscles or stiffness in its early stages and so is not diagnosed sometimes until drastic measures have to take place. Cats and dogs differ in the way bone cancer matures and how treatment should be administered. Because of the rapid nature of osteosarcoma, treatment should be sought as soon as possible. The only trouble is that the most common sign -- lameness and pain -- usually happens when it is already taken firm hold.

There are several available options for the treatment of osteosarcoma. Chemotherapy in combination with surgery are considered to be the primary therapy in dogs without any detectable metastasis. Amputation or limb sparing will resolve the primary tumor and resolve the pain and lameness associated with osteosarcoma. However, on cases where surgery alone is performed, 90 percent of affected dogs will die of metastasis within one year. Also, chemotherapy significantly prolongs the survival of dogs with osteosarcoma when used in conjunction with surgery. Furthermore, radiation therapy is also used in the treatment of osteosarcoma. This is very important for limb saving procedures, since it aids in local control after marginal resection (removal). It usually provides pain relief after the 3rd or 4th session. This option is attractive for those who do not want to pursue amputation procedures.

There is no other way at this time but to say that the prognosis is poor in pets for long term expectancy although cats fair much better. However, it is important to note that if a majority of the pain is relieved a pet can enjoy a fairly content life until other organs become involved.