Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Dog limping, vet suspects bone cancer, but swelling isn't painful?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 2 months old | 53 lbs

Is bone cancer in a dog cancer always painful touch? My vet believes my dog has it but while he does limp he lets us touch the swelling and seems to want it touched. Could it be something else? We're reluctant to biopsy since it could break the leg and still be inconclusive. Blood work was also normal. But X-ray and cat scan looked similar to cancer.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Susan England-Foster

Veterinarian

Published on August 25th, 2017

I have had many cases where the dogs/cats limp but don't seem overly painful. I think if you do not want a bone biopsy amputation is the best way to go because even with an invasive fungal disease most of the time you cannot treat the bone properly and you amputated to remove the fungal infection.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on October 20th, 2017
Fungal infections and bone cancer can look identical on x-rays and physical examination. The only way to tell the difference is to do a biopsy. Some general practice veterinarians are comfortable doing this type of biopsy, and the sample is sent to a lab for histopathology and hopefully diagnosis. Both possible causes of the lesion can be extremely painful and hard to treat.

Amputation is often chosen in cases where money is an issue - this could be curative for fungal diseases and cancer when caught very early. Often chest x-rays and/or abdominal ultrasound is recommended prior to surgery to look for signs of spreading of the disease or metastasis.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My dog is limping and has a shoulder lump. Should I get a bone biopsy?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has lumps, a swollen leg, and is limping. Is it cancer?

Oh no, I'm so sorry Harvey has taken a turn for the worse! Yes, it is possible that this is cancer, and if he has a swollen front leg and can bare little weight, I would be concerned that he is suffering from osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone). I would have him seen by a vet immediately to have his leg examined and x-rays. This will be very painful for him, and the x-rays can diagnose if he does have an osteosarcoma. Unfortunately, an osteosarcoma is a highly malignant, fast spreading type of cancer. Amputation of the leg is an option, and with amputation, the dog can have an addition three months of life depending on if the cancer has spread or not. I would take Harvey into a vet now. I'm sorry :-(

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is limping from a paw lump. Is it possible it's bone cancer?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Abby. I am glad that she will see her veterinarian. She could have a cancerous growth, but hopefully it is a benign mass such as a cyst or other type of growth. A procedure known as a fine needle aspirate is commonly performed to diagnose a mass. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. Based on these results, treatment recommendations can be made. For example, if the mass appears cancerous, then surgery will be recommended. Bone cancer occurs in dogs, but is not common in the location shown in your pictures. So this is less likely. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's mysterious leg pain improved. Could it be a rare bone cyst?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My young dog has bone cancer but no other symptoms. Is it cancer?

I am so sorry to hear about baxters diagnosis. I have unfortunately seen very young dogs with bone cancer before. Just like with humans we do not know why young dogs are sometimes affected. If he is doing great with the rest of his body have you all considered amputation. I have seen dogs do great with three legs!! Also a bone biopsy can help you get a diagnosis but does run a risk of breaking the leg. If you are really unsure I would recommend a second opinion to help you all make such a tough choice. Hope that helped.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Dog's leg swelled after vet said cancer. Is it a tumor or fluid?

If I read this correctly your dog's leg was swelling to this size within a few hours. If your vet took x-rays and found bone lesions then there is indeed a possibility of bone cancer. However only a biopsy of the bone or the tissue of the swelling will prove that there is cancer. Without the possibility of examining the leg myself I can only give you possibilitites of why there is a swelling: 1) Check for puncture wounds or an injury. this could be a peracute infection of the joint. 2) this may be an injury of the joint such as a fracture or tendon injury, You should take your dog back to a veterinarian for an exam, especially since this is painful.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My old dog is limping with a lump. How to ease pain without surgery?

It really depends on the cause of the swelling, but usually pain medication the route you would have to go. Generally for issues like this that are not treated surgically, we manage the pain and inflammation with long-term medication at the lowest effective dose. While there are some potential side effects, most dogs can be treated rather effectively this way. It will be worthwhile to have a blood screen done to make sure the liver and kidneys are functioning well prior to starting the medication and it may be necessary to take blood periodically to ensure they are not causing any damage. Your veterinarian should be able to help you out with all of this. I hope that helps and Oscar feels better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share