Predisposition to Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive and painful bone cancer. The most common specific locations were (i) head / skull, (ii) femur (thigh bone' in the hind leg, the biggest bone in a dog) and (iii) humerus (end of the bone at the top of the front leg )
Osteosarcoma can affect any dog breed. A recent study in the UK looks at breed predisposition. If your pup is a high-risk breed, be especially alert for signs of lameness and painful boney swelling.
Rottweiler has the highest risk at 13.3 times of a crossbred pup. Rhodesian Ridgebacks come next at 11.31 times of a crossbred pup. Cavalier King Spaniel has the lowest odds at just 0.2 times of a crossbred pup. French bulldog also has low risk at 0.3 times.
| Breed | Odd Ratio of Osteosarcoma |
| Rottweiler | 13.30 |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 11.31 |
| Great Dane | 10.03 |
| Mastiff | 9.09 |
| German Pointer | 8.84 |
| Pinscher | 7.19 |
| Greyhound | 6.98 |
| Lurcher | 4.94 |
| Collie | 3.74 |
| Golden Retriever | 3.70 |
| Akita | 2.92 |
| American Bulldog | 2.67 |
| Labrador Retriever | 2.64 |
| Boxer | 2.23 |
| Standard Poodle | 2.23 |
| Weimaraner | 2.03 |
| German Shepherd Dog | 1.96 |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | 1.95 |
| Fox Terrier | 1.75 |
| Labradoodle | 1.62 |
| Hungarian Vizsla | 1.52 |
| Scottish Terrier | 1.33 |
| Cairn Terrier | 1.24 |
| Alaskan Malamute | 1.23 |
| Tibetan Terrier | 1.22 |
| Bulldog | 1.17 |
| Whippet | 1.10 |
| Dalmatian | 1.00 |
| English Springer Spaniel | 0.89 |
| Border Collie | 0.82 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 0.74 |
| Beagle | 0.66 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 0.51 |
| West Highland White Terrier | 0.5 |
| Husky | 0.43 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 0.38 |
| Border Terrier | 0.35 |
| Bichon Frise | 0.30 |
| French Bulldog | 0.30 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 0.21 |
Source: Edmunds et al. (2021) “Dog breeds and body conformations with predisposition to osteosarcoma in the UK: a case-control study”