My dog is limping, X-rays show a hole in her femur. What's wrong?

I would also consider getting another bone biopsy if the surgeon was convinced it was cancerous, but only if Maggie's condition warrants looking into this again. As long as she is doing well it is justifiable to put her through another invasive procedure such as this.

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.

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.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Muneca is limping. Based off the radiograph, it looks like her fibula, the smaller bone in her lower leg, may be fractured. It is difficult to know for sure without an orthogonal view, but that may be the reason for her limping. I recommend restricting her activity to cage rest and leash walks only, do not let her run or play for at least 4 weeks to allow time for the bone to heal. I recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian who can perform bloodwork and see if it is safe to prescribe her anti-inflammatory pain medications to help her feel more comfortable. NEVER give human pain medications to dogs as they can be markedly toxic. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The fact that these biopsies have come back inconclusive does not mean that this is not cancer. Unfortunately, this is very likely an aggressive form of cancer. After seeing these images, my main concern is that this is possibly a tumor arising from one of the ribs or sternebrae such as osteosarcoma for instance. In one of the images I see that there is likely pulmonary nodules which are most likely due to metastasis or spread of this cancer. It is hard for me to advice further without being able to look at more images or know more about the case. I would encourage you to check in again with them as another biopsy could be performed. Also, if there is truly already signs of metastasis, the treatment options and prognosis are also limited. I would mention to them the possibility of being referred to a veterinary oncologist who can look at the case with more details and advice further. I really hope they can help you and your boy!

Limping is a sign of pain in dogs, so yes Allegra is in pain if she is limping. I would recommend having a bone biopsy done. There is a possibility that she is suffering from an osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and a biopsy is a logical next step. Dogs are very good at hiding pain and oftentimes don't show how painful they truly are until much further along in their illness. I do recommend having this bone biopsy done.

Osteomyelitis and osteosarcoma can look similar, but there are some distinct characteristics that can be seen on x-rays. The image you provided is very blurry, but I do see the lesion and it does look more suspicious of an osteosarcoma. This is not only because of the location (the knee is a common location for osteosarcoma), but also the fact that it is solitary and has not crossed the joint. However, a biopsy and histopathology is the only way to definitively diagnose the condition. Osteosarcoma is unfortunately a rather severe form of cancer that tends to spread quickly and cause a great deal of pain. If Ben is in good spirits though, then I would not advise euthanasia until he doesn't seem happy anymore. Considering that you are interested in more diagnostics and potentially treatment (there are treatment options for osteosarcoma), I recommend you ask your vet about this, or seek a second opinion. I hope that helps and I'm really sorry to hear about poor Ben.