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Bone Cancer in Dogs.....

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. It is also mistaken by owners at first as arthritis, stiffness or pulled muscle in which veterinarian care is usually not immediately sought.

Osteosarcoma is the most common long bone tumor in dogs and cats. This is a very aggressive tumor causing lysis (disintegration of bone) or bone production or both. There is some degree of soft tissue involvement and metastasis (transfer of the disease to another part of the body) is common in the early part of the disease.

Canine Osteosarcoma Treatment

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% of affected dogs will die of metastasis within one year.

The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor along with a clean healthy cell margin. This is usually accomplished by amputation. Limb sparing could also be done with insertion of an allograft after removal of the affected segment of bone. An allograft is a graft of tissue taken from a donor of the same species sufficiently unlike genetically to interact antigenically.

Also, chemotherapy significantly prolongs the survival of dogs with osteosarcoma when used in conjunction with surgery. Medicinally, Cisplatin alone or in combination with doxorubicin markedly improves survival time to a median of 8-10 months with the percentage of dogs alive after 11 months at 50%. Carboplatin another drug with less renal toxicity has the same survival time as Cisplatin.

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.

Most animals adapt mentally well to amputation. Probably because survival is a basic instinct and they do not have any social pressures associated with it. Physically, animals that are young and not overweight adjust the best.
As a veterinarian, I find that the immediate key to a successful amputation is the aftercare and the ability to keep the pet from licking or biting at the wound. Animals that are not compulsive in this manner require less care and heal more quickly with less chance of additional infection.

Feline Osteosarcoma

Unlike its canine counterpart it has a much lower rate of metastasis and longer term survival can be expected with complete excision. Median survival for cats with osteosarcoma is approximately 2 years with many cats outreaching that. Due to the slow metastatic rate, radiation therapy can play an important role in osteosarcoma that cannot be totally excised.
Though, chemotherapy is not routinely warranted due to the slow metastatic nature of feline osteosarcoma, it should be considered in a case to case basis.

Conclusion

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. Therefore, routine examinations should be maintain to monitor how the body is coping and the speed of metastasis.

Care of the Mother after Birth.....

Pregnancy and nursing puppies constitute a severe strain on the mother's health. Though most mothers handle the task admirably, the wise owner can take certain precautions to protect the health of both mother and puppies.

Important Points in Postnatal Care

Physical examination: Within 48 hours after birth, the mother and puppies should be examined by a veterinarian.

Diet: Usually no special diet is required, but the mother will require approximately twice as much food as normal.

Fluids: Provide clean, fresh water at all times.

Activity: Ordinarily the mother will spend most of the first 3 weeks with her puppies. Allow her as much exercise as she desires.

Bowel Movements: Due to increased food consumption and the enlarged uterus, your pet may have to relieve herself more frequently. The stools may be soft for the first few days. If diarrhea or straining develop, call the doctor.

Mammary gland care: Check the nipples daily and clean with warm water if dried milk begins to accumulate. Inform the doctor of any discoloration of the skin, swelling, tenderness or sores. Trim the puppies' nails if they are scratching the mammary glands.

Vaginal discharge: A reddish vaginal discharge, with clotted blood, is normal for the first few days. This may occur intermittently for several weeks.

Behavior: Call the doctor if the nursing mother appears nervous, restless or uncomfortable, or refuses to nurse the puppies.

General effects: Normally the mother experiences heavy coat shedding during the nursing period. Brush her regularly, and call the doctor if any bald spots develop. A slight weight loss is normal, but consult the doctor if the mother appears overly thin.

Estrus (heat period): Pregnancy should have no effect on the next heat period. This period should occur within 6 months after birth of the puppies.

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy): If you desire surgical sterilization for your pet, an appointment should be scheduled after the puppies are weaned and milk production has ceased, but before the next heat period.

Newborn Puppie Care.....

During the first few weeks of the newborn's life, the mother provides the necessities of warmth, nutrition and stimulation. The owner's responsibilities consist of careful observation to detect problems before they become serious.

Warmth: Room temperature should be at least 70 F. The puppies should be kept off cold floors because chilling can be fatal to young puppies.

Nursing: A well-fed healthy puppy has a round stomach and seems content.
Notify a veterinarian if the puppies seem uneasy or cry frequently.

Crying: Extended crying is usually a sign of trouble and should be reported to a doctor immediately.

Tail docking/dewclaw removal: Puppies of breeds in which these procedures are done should be presented at 2-5 days of age.

Eyes: The puppies' eyes should be open at 10-14 days of age.

Weaning: Soon after the puppies' eyes are open, pan feeding of puppy milk may be started. Other puppy foods may then gradually be added.

Worms: A stool specimen should be brought to a veterinarian's office for laboratory examination when the puppies are as early as 2-4 weeks old (especially if any puppy in the litter is ill or under developing.

Vaccinations: A series of immunizations should begin at 6-8 weeks of age.
Your doctor will recommend a schedule for the appropriate vaccinations.

Information regarding your pets is meant as general information. Our goal is to help in general situations and is not meant as an absolute especially when evaluating the health and well being of your pet. We are not Veterinarians nor is this intended as veterinary advise. We highly recommend that you speak with your Veterinarian, animal specialist, or Veterinary clinic.