Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with worsening front leg lameness diagnosed with bone cancer
By Tayna Padilha Basqueroto Antunes·Published in Pubvet·2026
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Original publication title: Canine fibroblastic osteosarcoma: case report and diagnostic approach
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old male Flat-Coated Retriever was brought in for worsening limping on his left front leg. After a thorough examination and tests, the vet diagnosed him with a type of bone cancer called fibroblastic osteosarcoma. The treatment involved amputating the affected leg and giving chemotherapy with carboplatin every three weeks. Fortunately, the dog responded well to the treatment and showed no signs of cancer spreading to other parts of his body.
People also search for: dog limping cancer · Flat-Coated Retriever bone cancer treatment · chemotherapy for dog osteosarcoma
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone neoplasm in dogs, particularly in large-breed animals, and is characterized by the proliferation of malignant mesenchymal cells with osteoid matrix production. This study aims to report a case of fibroblastic osteosarcoma in a male Flat-Coated Retriever, approximately 8 years old and weighing 33 kg, which presented with progressive lameness of the left thoracic limb. Clinical evaluation included physical examination, hematological tests, and radiographic, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses. Radiographic findings revealed bone lysis associated with a proliferative reaction, while histopathology confirmed the presence of characteristic neoplastic cells, with a Ki-67 positivity index of 20%. Treatment consisted of amputation of the affected limb followed by carboplatin chemotherapy administered every 21 days, for a total of six cycles. The patient showed a favorable clinical response, with no radiographic evidence of metastasis to date. It is concluded that early diagnosis, combined with a multimodal therapeutic approach, is essential to improve survival and quality of life in dogs affected by osteosarcoma, and that the association of surgery and chemotherapy represents an effective treatment strategy.
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