Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumour in dogs, causing severe pain and requiring compassionate management focused on quality of life throughout treatment.
Osteosarcoma causes some of the most severe pain of any cancer in dogs. The tumour destroys bone from within, causing constant aching pain that becomes acute with any limb use. Dogs with osteosarcoma that go undiagnosed carry a profound pain burden that owners may attribute to ageing or muscular strain. Adequate pain management is both a welfare imperative and a prerequisite for any quality time remaining. Amputation, counterintuitively, often dramatically improves quality of life by eliminating the constant pain source - most dogs adapt remarkably well to three-limb mobility. The welfare discussion in osteosarcoma ultimately centres on recognising and relieving pain throughout the dog's remaining life.