Dog Cancer
In the same way that the lymph gland can cause health problems in humans, so
it can do the same for dogs as well. One of the worst-case scenarios is
lymphoma, or dog cancer – where the body organs controlled by the lymphoid
system such as the liver, spleen, lymph nodes themselves and
gastrointestinal tract are affected. Depending on which area is affected the
most, this will determine what type of lymphoma your dog has.
For instance, if it were the actual lymph nodes that are affected, this
would result in multicentric lymphoma. If it were more the stomach,
including the intestinal passage and liver, then this would be where
gastrointestinal cancer is the cause. However, it's the multicentric type of
cancer that is sadly the most common, with as many as eighty per cent of
dogs that contract cancer suffering from this type.
Lymphoma Symptoms
Although younger dogs can be affected, generally it's older ones that are
most at risk from lymphoma dog cancer. Some of the symptoms you should be
looking out for are swelling or unexplained lumps on your dog. However,
since there are so many types of lymphoma, these are not the only things to
be looking out for. If it is just swelling that your dog has, then it's
likely that it's the more common multicentric lymphoma.
However, your dog may have the gastrointestinal type if he or she shows any
of the following symptoms:
· Weight loss and loss of appetite
· More frequent and runnier stools, or diarrhoea
· Unable to digest food properly, and frequent vomiting
If your dog is unable to breathe properly, or seems laboured, then it's
quite possible that he's suffering from lymphoma of the chest. Similarly, if
he has lumps or bumps near his mouth, this could be a sign that he's got
skin cancer, or cutaneous lymphoma.
If you're concerned in any way that your dog may have any of the types of
lymphoma, you should arrange for him to see a vet immediately. He or she can
ensure that all the relevant tests are carried out, such as blood tests, or
biopsies, x-rays, even ultrasounds if required. These will determine what
type of lymphoma your dog may have.
Treating Lymphoma
At the moment, unfortunately there is only chemotherapy available in the
treatment of dog lymphoma. This is because unlike human cancer, which can
also be treated by surgery or radiotherapy, the very nature of lymphoma
prevents this type of treatment from being feasible.
There are a variety of drugs that are administered as part of the
chemotherapy treatment. These include vincristine, prednisone,
cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, and are given on a weekly basis using a
combination of injections and fed via the mouth. Although the treatment can
be highly uncomfortable for your dog, it at least offers him more than a
mere six weeks survival rate if the lymphoma is left untreated.
By ensuring that you check your dog regularly, and make a note of any
unusual behaviour or dietary changes, you can make sure that your dog not
only remains healthy, but continues to be an important part of your everyday
life.
