Multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of vertebral osteosarcoma in dog

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs. In 15–25 % of cases, it is localized in the axial skeleton. Vertebral damage is less common and accounts for less than 5 % of cases. This article describes the multimodal treatment of osteosarcoma of the fifth lumbar vertebra in a 7-year-old dog. Diagnostic workup included computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and open biopsy. Treatment consisted of preoperative chemotherapy with carboplatin, cytoreductive surgery using a custom-made porous titanium plate, followed by radiotherapy, chemotherapy (carboplatin, doxorubicin, docetaxel), and targeted therapy (dasatinib, toceranib, bevacizumab). The dog maintained a satisfactory quality of life for 311 days, with an overall survival of 400 days. This case demonstrates the high effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach in managing vertebral osteosarcoma in dogs.