cgingrich Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I'm new to this page, so pls forgive any unintentional stepping on toes. I have a 9 yr. old grey, my first. A friend's 6 yr old grey has osteosarcoma -- devastating and very sad. She was told by her "greyhound savvy" vet that 52% of all racing greyhounds will get osteo in their lifetime. Honestly, if this were true, I would probably never adopt a second greyhound. I'd be very happy to hear what others have heard about this statistic -- the numbers that I've seen are much lower. Thx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Two of my ten have/had OS. I believe Dr Couto stated that it was about 25%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Don't know, but all three of mine had osteo. Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrunners Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I just lost my Julio to osteo. He was my 9th grey, but the first to have osteo. I believe there are certain bloodlines that carry a greater risk, but I can't remember whose they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neighsayer Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Three out of thirteen here. Ages 9, 7, and12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 The more accepted numbers are more like 1-in-4 than 2-in-4. Still high, but since there's no requirement anywhere for reporting we'll probably never know for sure. Being a large breed dog, they are more inclined to contract osteo, just like other large breed dogs. There is most likely a genetic component, though most of our greyhounds have such intertangled breeding lines it would be impossible to predict. And just like with people where some families have a higher probability for contracting cancers of various kinds, many members of the family get "skipped" for whatever reason. Every dog you adopt is most likely going to pre-decease you for one reason or other. Osteo is only one of those reasons. Please don't let that be something that keeps you from having a wonderful companion in your life. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 12 greyhounds here, no osteo. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoutsmom Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 6 greys here, only 1 had osteo and she was 12 so she had a good long life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 3 greyhounds, my 9.5 year old was just diagnosed with osteo (leg was amputated a week and a half ago), my 13.11+ year old is ok, I lost her littermate to sepsis (possible osteo, possible bone infection) at age 11. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 One of the details that none of the stats I've seen look at is a breakdown of the age at which osteosarcoma (OSA) develops. All dogs are going to die of something, so I think it makes a difference to know what percentage get it in their middle-aged years vs their senior years. There has been no proof that any specific bloodlines carry more risk of OSA. Some of the sires that have been named are ones that have a huge number of offspring, so you're naturally going to hear about more cases from those lines. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerilyn Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 It's not just greyhounds that are affected. A friend of mine lost all three of her Rottweilers to osteo when they were about 9-10 years old. Quote Jerilyn, missing Lila (Good Looking), new Mistress to Wiki (PJ Wicked). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Shelly Lake DVM was doing a huge study on osto in greys - not sure if it is done as of yet. Six here - one osteo. Mine have all gone with non grey specific things like GME, lymphoma and AIHA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwiggysMom Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 One of the details that none of the stats I've seen look at is a breakdown of the age at which osteosarcoma (OSA) develops. All dogs are going to die of something, so I think it makes a difference to know what percentage get it in their middle-aged years vs their senior years. There has been no proof that any specific bloodlines carry more risk of OSA. Some of the sires that have been named are ones that have a huge number of offspring, so you're naturally going to hear about more cases from those lines. Yes & Fast-growing, tall dogs are all highly prone to Osteo. Greyhounds, by all statistics I've seen, are far from the top breeds in terms of developing osteo. Among those are Great Danes, Goldens, Rotties, Burmese Mtn Dogs, and Pitties. (Pitties are more from personal experience than from published statistics). Twiggy, my only greyhound (aside from my fosters), got osteo at 6 years old. She is now 12, & just hit her 5 year, 5 month "ampuversary". Her age and tireless enthusiasm is catching up to her, but she has absolutely & completely kicked Osteo to the curb. Quote Wendy with Twiggy, fosterless while Twiggy's fighting the good fight, and Donnie & Aiden the kitties Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Yes & Fast-growing, tall dogs are all highly prone to Osteo. Greyhounds, by all statistics I've seen, are far from the top breeds in terms of developing osteo. Among those are Great Danes, Goldens, Rotties, Burmese Mtn Dogs, and Pitties. (Pitties are more from personal experience than from published statistics). Twiggy, my only greyhound (aside from my fosters), got osteo at 6 years old. She is now 12, & just hit her 5 year, 5 month "ampuversary". Her age and tireless enthusiasm is catching up to her, but she has absolutely & completely kicked Osteo to the curb. 5 years 5 months, that is beautiful! Bowie is 12 days post amp. Hoping to replicate Twiggy's good health! Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gryhndsr4us Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Out of 6 greyhounds here. Two were lost to osteo, one to cancer in her spine and one at almost 14 went in her sleep. Two are still with us. Quote Sue ,Sky and Dood, Bridge angels Clark, Gypsy, Dreamy and Sneakers, Oshkosh,WI Heartbound Greyhound Adoption<p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 I think the general estimate is that about half of all dogs (not just greyhounds) will get cancer. Some of those dogs will have cancers that can be successfully treated. But about half of the greyhound cancer patients will have osteo. Some of them will have successful amputations and chemo, but the cancer usually will come back. But if half the dogs get cancer, and half the cancers are osteo, that's 1-in-4 or 25% facing osteo. In the old days, dogs didn't live as long as they do now (better nutrition, better health care today). Longer lives mean there's a longer time for cancer to strike. Osteo is considered an ailment of middle-aged (7+) to old dogs, although sometimes we lose young dogs to osteo. But if you look up osteosarcoma in dogs, you'll see it's not a peculiarly greyhound affliction; it's common to large breed dogs. The National Canine Cancer Foundation says, "Larger breeds have a high propensity for the disease. Dogs like Great Dane, Irish setter, Doberman pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever are at greater risk of contracting osteosarcoma because of their size and weight." I've lost three dogs at the age of 8: one osteo, one immune mediated thrombocytopenia (an immune-system disorder), and one to a blood clot in surgery (although she might have had osteo that didn't show in the x-ray; she was in surgery for a broken leg). I lost one 11-year-old to hemangiosarcoma (a different cancer), and I lost one 13-year-old to old-age issues, including kidney trouble. These days, I try to adopt older dogs. I'm getting too old for crazy youngsters, and I dread growing too frail or sick to care for a dog that will then have to be rehomed. My baby is 4 years old, and if I'm lucky enough to have him into his teens, I'll be into my 70s. Losing them hurts, but having them heals. It balances out. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 We have had 7 greyhounds in total. Our first was hit by a car (4 yo). Our second survived 11 months post hemangiosarcoma tumor rupture on his spleen (11 years old). Our third was 12 1/2 yo when she was electrocuted. Our 4th was 14 years and his body wore out. Our 5th had laryngeal paralysis and we had her put to sleep when she had a very bad breathing episode which she wouldn't be able to recover from (12 yo). We lost Pogo in July to osteo. He was 8. Our third (Scarlett) also had cancer - mesenchymal spindle cell sarcoma but all signs were that she beat that cancer. Quote Annette, mom to Banjo (AJN Spider Man) & Casey (kitty), wife to Roy. Mom to bridgekids: Wheat (GH), Icabod (GH), Scarlett (Cab's Peg Bundy), Rhett (Kiowa Day Juice), Dixie (Pazzo Dixie), Pogo/Gleason (Rambunctious), and Miriam (Miriam of Ruckus) and Spooky, Taffy, Garfield, & Lefty (kitties) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferS Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 1 out of 5 for me. Quote Forever in my heart: my girl Raspberry & my boys Quiet Man, Murphy, Ducky, Wylie & Theo www.greyhoundadventures.org & www.greyhoundamberalert.org & www.duckypaws.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundrop Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) We've had 6, and lost 4 of them. Only 1 (@ 8 years old) was to osteo - two were different cancers (@ 13.5 and 10 years old) and the other was to a heart attack while sleeping (just shy of his 9th birthday). Edited February 22, 2017 by Sundrop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 One out of 16 for us. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 We have had 7 greyhounds in total. Our first was hit by a car (4 yo). Our second survived 11 months post hemangiosarcoma tumor rupture on his spleen (11 years old). Our third was 12 1/2 yo when she was electrocuted. Our 4th was 14 years and his body wore out. Our 5th had laryngeal paralysis and we had her put to sleep when she had a very bad breathing episode which she wouldn't be able to recover from (12 yo). We lost Pogo in July to osteo. He was 8. Our third (Scarlett) also had cancer - mesenchymal spindle cell sarcoma but all signs were that she beat that cancer. Off topic, I still remember that Dewey where you lost Scarlett. That was so horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 One of the details that none of the stats I've seen look at is a breakdown of the age at which osteosarcoma (OSA) develops. All dogs are going to die of something, so I think it makes a difference to know what percentage get it in their middle-aged years vs their senior years. There has been no proof that any specific bloodlines carry more risk of OSA. Some of the sires that have been named are ones that have a huge number of offspring, so you're naturally going to hear about more cases from those lines. This. My NYC vet told me when I lost my first girl to osteo at a very advanced age, that "at this age we lose as many to arthritis". I didn't want to hear it at that point but it is a fact, they will get arthritis as they age, they may get osteo. The important thing is that they GET to an old age... at that point, we are going to lose them to something, so we should not take away our opportunity to love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GoingGrey Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I thought racing greys were almost at the top as far as osteo breeds go. I know they've been doing the genetic studies to determine if certain bloodlines are more prone and did narrow it down somewhat... What's interesting is how much higher the incidence is in racing greys opposed to AKC greys. I think the racing greys are so inbred that it would be hard to really pinpoint genes, but what do i know. I lost Elvis to osteo last October. He was a couple months short of birthday number 12, so I can't really complain. But after much reading of other osteo stories and much talk with his vet (who was a senior track vet in Wisconsin for 14 years and saved his life from a different issue 6 mos earlier), I frustratedly asked, 'Do ANY of them just die of old age??" Her answer? "Nope." It's almost always osteo at the end if something else hasn't happened first. Wow. So it's SO common that it IS what causes them to die of old age, in a manner of speaking... If that's true, it makes me wonder if/how long their lifespan would increase with bone cancer not in the mix... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenwinniesmom Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Of 9 Greyhounds, 2 had osteo. But Lacey was an AKC Greyhound who was an abuse case, and she was about 13. Winnie had her leg amputated at age 8, and we lost her 3 1/2 years later when she was in kidney failure. She kicked osteo's butt too! Quote Nancy, Mom to Evangelina and Kiva Missing Lacey, Patsy, Buster, my heart dog Nick, Winnie, Pollyanna, Tess, my precious Lydia, Calvin Lee, my angel butterfly Laila, and kitties Lily, Sam and Simon My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Catsburgandhoundtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 AKC greyhounds are a whole lot more inbred than racing greyhounds. They have their own problems, some of which are worse than osteosarcoma. Look up greyhound neuropathy. And from Nancy's post above, it looks like AKC greyhounds aren't immune to OSA. There are no genetic studies I'm aware of that have confirmed certain bloodlines being more prone to OSA. Very few dogs just die of "old age". As a vet, most of my patients are euthanized due to things like cancer, kidney disease, debilitating arthritis, heart disease, etc. In the past week, I've had 2 young, healthy patients just drop dead at home in their yard without any warning. One was a 10-month-old lab, and the other a 4-year-old greyhound. You just never know, and there are no guarantees in life. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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