Risk factors for appendicular osteosarcoma occurrence in large and giant breed dogs in western Canada

Objective Risk factors for the development of canine appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA) have been investigated in numerous studies, but with contradictory results. The aim of this study was to analyze weight, age, breed, sex, neuter status, body condition score, and previous lameness in a population of large and giant breed dogs in western Canada with and without appendicular OSA. Animals and procedure Medical records of 227 large or giant breed dogs diagnosed with appendicular OSA were compared to records from a control population of 454 large and giant breed dogs from the years 2000 to 2020. Results Gonadectomized dogs, body condition score (BCS), and a history of lameness condition(s) (other than OSA) were associated with increased odds for presentation with OSA. Breeds shown to have increased odds for appendicular OSA occurrence included Rottweilers and Great Danes relative to Labrador retrievers. Conclusion and clinical relevance Obesity and lameness appear to be independently associated with appendicular osteosarcoma. This study demonstrated that spayed females had the greatest risk compared to other sex and neuter status combinations; further investigation of these factors would be beneficial.