Canine bone cancer, responsible for the deaths of over six million dogs aged two years and older, now has new hope. The USDA has recently approved immunotherapy, a treatment that harnesses the dog’s immune system to fight the disease. Previously, this treatment was available only through clinical trials as an experimental option.
Osteosarcoma is the name given to this malignant, deadly bone cancer. This painful disease is rapidly progressive and affects the limbs of young, giant breed dogs, targeting Saint Bernard, Mastiff, Swiss Mountain Dog, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Shepherd, Rottweiler, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhound, Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cane Corso, and Golden Retriever.
- Until now, amputation and chemotherapy offered pets minimal survival time at best.
- This newly approved treatment is state-of-the-art and significantly different from chemotherapy.
Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic was the first and only U.S. animal hospital to attempt to treat cancer by modulating the dog’s immune system. A patient’s immune system cycles “on” and “off,” where on indicates active immunity. The immunotherapy was precisely timed so that it was given to the dogs when their immune system was “on” or functioning at peak capacity.
The results in over 40 patients were auspicious. Three dogs achieved complete remission, and several others achieved a partial response, meaning that although their cancer was still present, it had stopped progressing.
Carol Osborne, a functional medicine veterinarian at Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic, successfully conducted trials on dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma using immunotherapy a few years ago. It is noteworthy to understand that this newly approved treatment is state-of-the-art and significantly different from chemotherapy. Osborne performed the previous trials with Biotempus Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, is a practicing integrative veterinarian and a nationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of functional medicine. She is the founder and director of the Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic and an Emmy-nominated television journalist. Her first two books, Naturally Healthy Dogs and Naturally Healthy Cats hit the international best-seller lists. She is a regular contributor to several television shows and networks including FOX & Friends, The Today Show, Discovery’s Animal Planet, and Good Day LA.Dr. Carol is board-certified in Anti-Aging Medicine and developed and patented PAAWS: Pet Anti-Aging Wellness System for dogs and cats. Today she has turned her passion for functional pet medicine, real food, nutrition, and wellness into activism. Dr. Osborne is leading a pet health revolution that challenges us to reimagine our pet’s biology and the process of aging to create and sustain your pet’s health for life. Learn more at http://www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com
