The patient recovered well from surgery in the intensive care unit. She was managed postoperatively with fentanyl (2-5 g/kg/hr CRI) and meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg IV q24h). The dog was walking well with minimal support within 24 hours and was discharged 48 hours postoperatively on meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg PO q24h) and tramadol (3 mg/kg PO q8-12h).
The specimen was inked to assess the margins and submitted for histopathology. Histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. The mitotic index was 32 mitotic figures per 10 high-power (400) fields, with moderate-to-marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The margins of excision were complete. Chemotherapy with single-agent carboplatin (6 doses at 300 mg/m2 IV) was initiated and was well tolerated without complication. At 136 days postsurgery, the patient showed no evidence of local recurrence or metastatic disease on pelvic and thoracic radiographs, respectively, and was ambulating well (see Video).