Last Updated on November 7, 2024 by Dr. Julie
Cancer in any dog is scary and a mystery for most dog owners. Rottweilers have the misfortune of being a breed that is more likely to get certain cancers more than many other breeds. One of those cancers is found in the bones and is called Osteosarcoma.
As a veterinarian who has seen many Rottweilers in my career, diagnosing Osteosarcoma is one of the most devastating things I can say to a client. However, it is important to know what this is, what to look for, and how you can help your Rottie if you think they may have this condition.
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What Is Osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is a malignant cancer of the bones. It can occur in any bone in the body. I’ve seen it in the front legs, back legs, the spine, shoulder blades, and even in the bone located in a dog’s penis. The way this cancer works is that it basically eats away at the bone in the location of the cancer.
What Does Osteosarcoma Look Like To A Rottweiler Owner?
In the early stages, even the most diligent Rottie parent won’t be able to detect anything wrong. It’s not until enough bone is lost that the dog either begins to feel the pain of a weakened bone when walking or that swelling begins to appear in that area.
When the swelling does appear, it will be a hard swelling that won’t seem like it causes pain to the Rottweiler. Softer swellings usually contain fluid and are infections or cysts but the harder swelling of an osteosarcoma may not seem like much at first.
As it worsens and the bone becomes weaker, there will be a limp. This limp will be bad if there are any other issues going on, such as weakness or arthritis that it already in that leg.
What Will The Vet Do To Diagnose Osteosarcoma?
When a client of mine brings in a middle-aged or older Rottweiler with a limp, I always recommend an xray. It’s at this point that I will mention the possibility of cancer to the client as I don’t want to completely shock them if I come back into the exam room with bad news.
The image below is of a case I saw just yesterday. This is the rear leg of a Rottweiler with osteosarcoma. The bone plate was for a TPLO surgery to repair an ACL years ago. You can see how the bone looks patchy and has black areas within it. This is where the cancer has eaten away at the bone cells and the calcium inside of that area has gone away.
Could It Be Anything Else Other Than Osteosarcoma?
While there’s always a small chance that it could be a different kind of cancer or infection, a definitive diagnosis can be made by a bone biopsy. It’s usually not needed unless the client wants to pursue treatment as the xray is almost always going to be very clear on what’s happening.
The only time when I’ve ever felt unsure about a diagnosis of Osteosarcoma is when we’ve caught it very early before there has been hardly any bone destruction. It could look like arthritis or an old injury instead of bone cancer at that point. However, unlike those things, osteosarcoma wil progress rapidly and taking additional xrays in even just 30 days after these initial ones will make the cancer far more obvious.
Is There Any Treatment For Osteosarcoma?
Absolutely, there are treatment options. If you’re the kind of person that will pay anything to make your Rottweiler healthy, you will need to be referred to a veterinary oncologist (cancer specialist) who will be able to guide you in those next steps.
If you are less likely to be able to spend the kind of money it would take to get rid of the osteosarcoma, whether it’s because your dog is very old, the cancer is very progressed, or you just don’t have the money, the focus of treatment is to alleviate pain.
What To Expect With Osteosarcoma Treatment…
When You Do Everything
Expect a bone biopsy, additional xrays, and potentially other tests such as CTs and genetic testing. These tests alone can cost anywhere from $2,000 – $5,000 depending on how many of these you do and where you live.
Treatment for osteosarcoma can range from chemotherapy to amputating a leg to doing both of these treatments. There are always new and experimental therapies as well that are options. An oncologist will be able to guide you in which of these options are best for your dog with their osteosarcoma. Every dog is different and every Rottweiler will have a treatment plan tailored to them.
Treatment will likely last for the life of the dog whether this is another month or another couple years. There is no cure for osteosarcoma; there is only treatment which can put the cancer into remission so your dog is less painful and can live a better quality life.
When You Have Some Money But Can’t Do A Lot
It’s unfortunate that, in many cancers like osteosarcoma, the treatment options are few and far between. You either go full petal to the metal and do everything or you focus on treatments like pain control.
Controlling pain is the single most important thing you should do for your Rottie at this time, no matter how you decide to proceed. There are many pain control options ranging from oral pills and liquids to pain patches to homeopathy and more natural remedies. Some are more effective than others but you may be limited by finances here.
Open and honest communication with your veterinarian is essential at this time. Letting them know what you can spend and what you’d like to do for your Rottie is key to managing your expectations, your family’s finances, and the comfort and happiness of your beloved pet.
What If I Can’t (Or Don’t Want To) Do Anything?
Choosing to not attempt treatment is a very valid option for many pet owners. My patient from yesterday was an elderly dog with a long history of arthritis and who could no longer walk. Even doing surgery wouldn’t get this dog to walk on its own anymore. His parent also had just been through another very expensive emergency and there just wasn’t any money that could be devoted to treatment.
It’s essential that you don’t feel guilty. I know you will. All pet owners will feel some level of guilt about this situation…did I do anything that caused this? What if I found it earlier?
At this point, the biggest decision going forward is when to say it’s time to let go. That’s a decision that is best reached after you discuss your concerns with your veterinarian and your family. For some people, they will choose to euthanise immediately, not wanting to bring their dog home if they can’t fully control the pain. For others, they may want a day or two to have loved ones come say goodbye to their beloved friend and take a little time to process it.
Things To Remember
- Any limping in a middle-aged or older (at least 5 years old) Rottweiler should be checked out by a vet
- Xrays are the fastest way to diagnosis Osteosarcoma
- Be up front with your vet about how far you want to go in pursuing (or not) treatment
- Have the “when is it time for euthanasia” discussion with your vet at the time of diagnosis
- The most important thing is that you make sure your Rottie isn’t painful, no matter what you decide.