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WRITTEN BYKrista Seraydar, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Krista Seraydar was born and raised in South Florida. She is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine…,If you have a large dog or are thinking of adopting a large-breed dog, you’ll need to take a few special considerations into account. These include common health issues found in large dog breeds, their specific nutritional needs, and their physical activity requirements. You also need to know how these needs will vary as large dogs transition through different life stages. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about large dog breeds during every life stage. Jump to Section: Weight Range for Large Dog Breeds Health Issues in Large Dog Breeds Life Span of Large Dog Breeds Puppy: 0-18 Months Adult: 18 Months – 7 Years Senior: 7-16 Years What’s the Weight Range for Large Dog Breeds? Although there’s no generally accepted large dog weight range, most veterinarians consider any dog—regardless of breed or mix of breeds—that weighs between 50-100 pounds to be a large-breed dog. Some also define a large dog as one that measures up to 24 inches in height (measured from the highest point of a dog’s shoulders down to their paws). Examples of common large dog breeds include: Belgian Malinois Bernese Mountain Dog Boxer Catahoula Leopard Dog Doberman Pinscher German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer Golden Retriever Irish Setter Labrador Retriever Old English Sheepdog Rottweiler Siberian Husky Staffordshire Terrier Standard Poodle Vizsla Weimaraner

Bone Cancer Bone tumors in dogs and cats can arise in any bone of the body including the long bones within limbs, toes, spinal vertebrae, ribs and the skull. Tumors can begin either directly in the affected bone, or cancer cells can spread by a process known as metastasis, from other sites. Both primary and metastatic bone tumors occur infrequently in cats. The site of the bone tumor will dictate the associated symptoms. Tumors in the limbs typically manifest with lameness. Often long bone tumors fail to be diagnosed early as they present similarly to arthritis and acute injuries. If rest and pain medications fail to resolve the bone pain, X-rays often reveal bone cancer. Because there is an overlap of symptoms, it is often difficult to distinguish whether swelling and pain within a dog or cat’s toe is due to a tumor or infection. The radiographic changes to the bones within a pet’s digit do not always differentiate tumor versus infection. If no improvement is achieved through antibiotics and pain medications, toe amputation is often necessary to obtain a biopsy and definitive diagnosis. For all types of bone cancer, various tests are necessary to determine if the lesion is malignant and what type of tumor is involved. Your pet’s veterinarian will perform a physical exam, submit blood tests and take X-rays of the affected bone. Additional tests such as chest radiographs, CT scans and bone scans are used to evaluate evidence of metastasis and stage the pet’s disease prior to establishing a treatment plan. A bone biopsy will be submitted to a pathologist to procure a definitive diagnosis. Treatment options for bone tumors are based upon the type of tumor, staging at the time of diagnosis, the pet’s age and concurrent illnesses and the financial ability of the owner. Some people with geriatric pets that suffer from additional medical issues might opt for palliative care. The goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life while providing pain management and comfort care, rather than prolonging the patient’s life. Dogs with osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone tumor, will require amputation of the affected limb or limb sparing surgery. Although dogs of every size can develop osteosarcoma, the disease is most prevalent in large and giant breeds. Because of the highly metastatic nature of osteosarcoma, surgery is often followed by chemotherapy. Both dogs and cats do remarkably well following limb amputation and this option should not be overlooked for merely aesthetic reasons.,Don’t Despair Despite the overwhelming number of bone disorders, most can be successfully managed with early diagnosis and appropriate care. Your pet’s primary veterinarian as well as orthopedic specialists and oncologists can serve as helpful resources to address your dog or cat’s needs.,By Mindy Cohan, VMD   Maintaining good bone health is essential for a pet’s well-being since they provide crucial support for the entire body. There are a wide variety of bone diseases that can affect pets, yet many present with similar symptoms, such as limping and pain. It is important for pet owners to recognize the signs of bone disease and to seek treatment early to maintain their dog or cat’s optimal health.

When they brought Franklin to the emergency animal hospital in Jacksonville, FL, his owners complained that he was dragging his hind legs. Diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease, the Dachshund with the big, soulful eyes was confined to a kennel and treated with steroids and analgesics. But despite aggressive medical therapy for 24 hours, the Doxie got worse. Intervertebral disc disease is common in small dogs; it affects 25% of Dachshunds. Due to constant jumping—on and off beds, up to couches, or just bouncing for joy—the discs between the vertebrae in the spine experience wear and tear and become irritated. Franklin’s owners were faced with the choice of a $3,000-$4,000 surgery that would require intensive post-op physical therapy, or to keep the dog on steroids and see if he’d still be able to walk at the end of the month. “With his diagnosis, he had about a 50% chance that he wouldn’t ever walk again,” says Dr. Britany Timberlake, DVM, who was on her part-time shift at the animal ER when Franklin was admitted. “[We had] to say, ‘We’re going to do this really radical surgery and your dog may not really walk again. You have to sit and do physical therapy for four-to-six weeks, and hope that he gets better.’ That’s a hard commitment for some people to make.” But Franklin had already made his emergency medical team fall in love with him, and Dr. Timberlake was among his admirers. “My gosh, he was just so cute, and he was so kind,” she gushes. “He just had the kindest eyes. He was so young.”