My Rottweiler has suspected bone cancer. Why can't they test now?

Without being able to do a physical exam on Gypsy Rose, it is a little difficult for me to tell you what exactly is going on with her wrist. If it is very hard, then that could indicate that a small fracture did not heal properly, that her body is continuing to try to heal something in that area, or that there is bone cancer present. If it is soft, that could indicate a seroma (small pocket of fluid) or ongoing inflammation. Hygromas do not typically form in this area, but that is another possibility that would not necessarily turn into cancer. I would recommend that Gypsy Rose go back to the vet for additional x-rays. Rottweilers are prone to developing bone cancer, and I would want to make sure we caught it as early as possible. She may also benefit from anti-inflammatory medications

Yes, I would be worried. I don't want to scare you but it is actually very common for Rottweilers to get bone cancer. It will often times start out as an occasional limp but then will rapidly progress to a severe, constant limp. Sometimes you will see a noticeable swelling on the outside of the affected leg. Please take her to your vet for an exam and an x-ray of that leg. It is better to catch this sooner rather than later. If it is not that, the other option is arthritis which can be managed well with medications. Either way she sounds uncomfortable and in some pain so it would be best to find out what is going on. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Osteosarcoma can’t be totally diagnosed by an X-ray, and this doesn’t look definitive to me. I recommend taking him to an orthopedic specialist for a second opinion, and they can take another X-ray to compare with this. If it’s bone cancer the moth eaten area will probably be larger or more defined. They can also do a bone biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. He could be lame from a shoulder problem, or even pain radiating down his leg from a disc in his neck. Hopefully he is on pain medication. In my opinion the next step to be sure of the diagnosis would be to get an exam with a specialist. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Riot.

It's hard for me to say what could be going on without examining Oskar and seeing the x-rays. My concern in a Rottweiler that has persistent limping despite anti-inflammatories would be osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. I would recommend discussing additional diagnostics with your vet, including repeat x-rays, and possibly a biopsy or CT scan.

Poor Rosie! Yes, based on your description I agree that biopsies of the suspicious area would be the logical next step. Bone cancer is unfortunately common in Golden Retrievers, so I definitely recommend trying to get a diagnosis ASAP for the best chance of a positive outcome. Referral to a specialist for additional imaging studies could also be considered, if you would rather exhaust all non-invasive options first. If the biopsy does not show evidence of cancer, it may still provide some insight into what is causing her lameness issues so that she can be effectively treated.

Hi. There is an abnormality in the cores of the bone near shoulder. Cancer is a possibility, along with bone infections (bacterial or fungal), or inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately with her being older, cancer is higher on the list then younger pets. Based on this xray, we can't say for sure. I would recommend sending these x-rays to a radiology specialist, which your veterinarian can do. A bone biopsy can be done as well to determine if the changes are consistent w cancer. Good luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree that the primary differential based on this radiographs would be a primary bone tumor being osteosarcoma the most common one. However, other things such as a fungal infection depending on the state you live in, is also possible. The next step would be sampling of this lesion via fine needle aspiration or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. If confirmed, therapy can be discussed at that time. I'm hoping for the best!