Fibrosarcoma in dogs

Video: Maxillectomy with Carotid Ligation Dog Surgery At Specialist Veterinary Hospital, Melbourne

Fibrosarcoma is a fairly rare but serious and often fatal form of cancer. It is important to know exactly what it is, what symptoms will present themselves and what treatments can be given to try to treat it.

Defining Fibrosarcoma

Fibrosarcoma is a kind of tumor. This tumor forms from the tissues that connect bones and is typically found in older dogs. It can effect bones within the skull, legs, spine or pelvis, however it is not limited only to these areas. While it is known to happen occasionally in younger dogs, it is a rare occurrence. When it is seen, it is usually in the mouth area. The causes behind Fibrosarcoma are as of yet unknown.

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What to Look Out For

Dogs that have developed Fibrosarcoma display several serious symptoms:

• Swelling of the bones

• Difficulty eating

• Difficulty swallowing

• Signs of pain

• Signs of lameness

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• Poor mouth odor

• Bleeding from the mouth

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is imperative that you take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that the necessary tests can be run to see whether or not this is what your dog is suffering from and treatment can begin.

Treatments for Fibrosarcoma

It is important that in-depth tests be run for this cancer, as it can be mistaken for osteosarcoma and the treatments are different. In order to determine which one your dog has, larger biopsies will be needed. When it has been determined that your dog is suffering from Fibrosarcoma, there are several treatment options.

• As with any tumor, surgery is often suggested. Radiation is usually used as a back-up to help up your dog`s chances of not having reoccurring tumors.

• Chemotherapy is another option, when surgery cannot be performed for whatever reason, such as poor health wherein the dog cannot be placed under anesthesia.

Video: Squish post-surgery to remove fibrosarcoma. I am sharing to help cat owners know what to expect.

• Pain medications can also be given to your dog, since this cancer is painful and can cause your dog much discomfort.

Prognosis

The outcome for dogs with Fibrosarcoma varies. It all depends on how aggressive it is, how successful the vets are in removing all of the tumor and how soon it is recognized and treated. As there is always a likelihood for the reappearance of the tumor, it is important to keep up with aftercare and to get your dog looked over regularly by your veterinarian.

However, if successfully treated, prognosis can be good. This type of sarcoma is not prone to spreading to other parts of the dog`s body.

Home Care after Fibrosarcoma Treatment

It is important that you limit your dog`s activities while he is healing. As he will be weak from treatment, it will be very easy for him to seriously injure himself until he has recovered. Try not to let him do things like jump or run and help him up stairs so that he does not have to strain himself. If your dog has surgery, it is also imperative that you keep the area of surgical entry as clean and dry as possible until it is healed.

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