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Analysis of predisposition factors for limb amputation in dogs with survival analysis in those diagnosed with appendicular cancer

22 September 2014
Research
12 mins read
02 September 2014
Volume 5 · Issue 7

Abstract

Aims:

This study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of epidemiological factors contributing to limb amputation in dogs. A survival analysis for limb amputees from cancerous causes was also performed.

Methods:

Data were collected in 2010 from 152 owners of amputee dogs. And a statistical analysis was performed to differentiate effects of gender, castration, age, breed, treatment and behaviour after surgery. A cox regression was also performed to analyse these same effects in survivability.

Results:

A larger proportion of amputee bitches than dogs are associated with cancer while a larger proportion of amputee dogs than bitches are associated with trauma; castrated/spayed dogs were diagnosed older than intact dogs; cancerous causes of amputation were diagnosed later in dogs' lives than traumatic causes; dogs showing an animal behaviour in the first week after amputation were diagnosed with cancer younger than dogs showing a vegetal/rock behaviour. Treatment by chemotherapy has a better survivability than holistic therapy, and patient receiving chemotherapy exhibit animal rather than vegetal/rock behaviour.

Conclusion:

The survival analysis gives clear indication of the benefits of chemotherapy over holistic treatments. Animal behaviour post surgery is also related to survivability.

Several causes have been identified for limb amputation in dogs including trauma, bacterial infections, birth defects and appendicular cancer.

Canine appendicular cancer has been reported ‘as an increasingly important disease’ (Segal-Eiras et al, 1982). Osteosarcoma accounts for approximately 85% of canine bone tumours (Boerman et al, 2012), and 8–15% of other tumours classed as subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas (Dennis et al, 2011). The treatment of choice for these conditions is surgical excision by limb amputation (Boerman et al, 1982; Farese et al, 2009), but limb salvage techniques have also been reported (Lascelles et al, 2005). In this survey 71% of the dogs undergoing limb amputation due to cancerous causes underwent chemotherapy, with 29% of them being treated holistically. Around 60% of the dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma die in the first year after diagnosis with another 10 to 20% dying in the second year (McCleese et al, 2011).

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limb amputation
dogs
epidemiology
survival;
surgery;