Canine Osteosarcoma: Hard Conversations and Honest Options

Dr. Rosemary Stolzer-Bolton, DVM, DVMCaninePre-RACE approval · 0.5–3 CE creditsFree Preview

Appendicular osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs and a disease that demands both clinical precision and honest communication — because by the time of diagnosis, 90-95% of patients already have micrometastatic disease. Follow Thor, a 9-year-old Rottweiler with distal radial OSA, from radiographic recognition through amputation, carboplatin chemotherapy, multimodal pain management, and the eventual metastatic conversation. Earn RACE CE credit (approval pending; hours assigned at approval).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Recognize the clinical and radiographic presentation of appendicular osteosarcoma in large-breed dogs and apply the staging workup including the prognostic significance of preoperative alkaline phosphatase
  • 2Compare treatment options — amputation plus carboplatin, limb-sparing surgery, palliative radiation, and comfort care — with their respective median survival times, complication rates, and quality-of-life implications
  • 3Construct a multimodal analgesic protocol for osteosarcoma bone pain using NSAIDs, gabapentin, amantadine, opioids, and bisphosphonates, targeting each tier of the pain pathway
  • 4Integrate evidence-informed complementary modalities — acupuncture, omega-3 fatty acids, turkey tail PSP, curcumin, and dietary modification — into a conventional osteosarcoma treatment plan with explicit evidence level ratings
  • 5Apply the HHHHHMM quality-of-life scale to guide monitoring and end-of-life decision-making for osteosarcoma patients, including the timing and framing of the euthanasia conversation

Course Syllabus

  1. 1
    Meet Thor — The Lameness That Isn't Getting BetterPreview

    module-1-meet-thor

    8 min
  2. 2
    Biology and Staging — Understanding the Enemy

    module-2-biology-staging

    8 min
  3. 3
    The Treatment Decision — Amputation, Limb-Spare, or Palliative

    module-3-treatment-options

    9 min
  4. 4
    Pain Management — The Real Story

    module-4-pain-management

    8 min
  5. 5
    Integrative Support for Osteosarcoma

    module-5-integrative-support

    7 min
  6. 6
    Thor's Journey — Decision, Treatment, and Living Well

    module-6-case-resolution

    8 min

Final Assessment

10 questions · Passing score: 70%

Complete all course modules to unlock the assessment. Upon passing, your CE certificate will be generated automatically.