5 types of canine cancer

The most feared word of any dog owner is “cancer.” For dog owners whose pets are part of the family, the news that your dog has any form of canine cancer is devastating.

Although this news can be frightening and challenging to accept, the more information you have and the more knowledge you gather about treatment options, the easier it will be for you to decide what steps to take to provide the best care you can for your dog.

Understanding canine cancer

Understanding a little about the disease, its various forms, and the possible outcomes will make things clearer and assist you in making decisions along the way. You will understand what changes your dog will go through, what is likely to happen to him, and what treatment and complementary therapies are available for him.

In simple terms, cancer is the abnormal division of the cells and multiplication. Cells in all organs and the body grow and divide as part of the normal life cycle. The division of the cell results in two cells, which is why it is known as the “multiplication” of cells. When the multiplication of cells is unchecked, they eventually destroy normal tissues and organs. Cancer can occur in any part of the body and at any stage of life.

The good news is that with the growth in “Veterinary Oncology” as a study field and the dedicated work of researchers and veterinary cancer specialists, cancer treatment for dogs has evolved significantly in the past thirty years.

Many types of canine cancer CAN be cured through conventional treatments or knocked into remission for increasingly longer periods. Due to veterinary medicine’s synergy and crossover to human medicine and back again, many cancer treatments available for people are also available for dogs, and new cancer treatments are being developed every day.

Many pioneering organizations are trying to research and work on canine cancer treatments hoping that discoveries and drug therapies will provide a treatment where currently fatal cancers can be halted before that stage or even cured.

Types of canine cancer

Normal cell division

Cell division is rapid in young growing pups to allow for quick growth in body size. As dogs become adults, this cell division slows and stops until only cells of the skin, bone marrow, and intestine continue to divide throughout life. The body has an inbuilt monitor that keeps a close check on the balance between cell multiplication and cell death, so there is always just the right number of cells in an organ. Genes are responsible for controlling cell division, and some genes switch on cell division, and some switch cell division off, thus maintaining the right balance.

Abnormal cell division

All of the causes of cancer are not fully known, but genetics, environment, and the state of an individual’s immune system are thought to play a role. The outcome of treatment depends on how successful the therapy is at stopping the abnormal cell divisions. Abnormal cell division puts the body out of balance and can damage a cell’s DNA. This, in turn, affects the genes involved in controlling the rate of cell division.

The body somehow loses the ability to kill the cells with damaged DNA, resulting in abnormal cells multiplying out of control. These cells, commonly known as cancer cells, can spread throughout the body leading to organ failure and death.

Cell division and multiplication occurs in every organ of the body. This means cancer can occur anywhere. However, some cancers occur more frequently in our dogs than others, and different breeds have more cancer susceptibility.

The most prevalent cancers in all dogs are:
•    Breast cancer
•    Bone cancer
•    Skin cancer
•    Mouth cancer 
•    Lymphatic system cancer.

Breeds that tend to be more prone to developing canine cancer include Golden Retrievers, Boxers, German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels, Flat Coat Retrievers, West Highland White Terriers, Rottweiler’s, Doberman Pinschers, Schnauzers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Great Danes, Greyhounds, and Standard Poodles.

Treatment options vary depending on the type of cancer, but researchers have found CBD oil and treats can ease pain, reduce inflammation, and help boost dogs’ appetite. 

Breast cancer in dogs

Breast cancer is most common in female dogs, but it can occur in male dogs also. It usually occurs in middle-aged to older dogs, particularly if they are not spayed or were spayed later on in life. This is because the hormones associated with the heat cycle can trigger abnormal growth of the mammary cells. This is a good reason to spay your female puppy.

Symptoms

The symptoms are firm, irregular lumps, or masses that are found under or near a nipple. The lumps usually appear in the mammary glands between the back legs. They grow rapidly and can develop smelly ulcers on top. Veterinarians rely on a biopsy to confirm that it is cancer. Sometimes the lumps are benign, but there is a real risk that these benign lumps will turn cancerous over time. It may be a good idea to remove the lump before it becomes dangerous.

Treatment

Treatment for this type of dog cancer is surgery to cut away the lump, followed by chemotherapy. If the dog is female, you will be advised to have her spayed to remove the chances of hormonal activity that could set off cancer again. Unfortunately, by the time breast cancer is diagnosed in many dogs, it has already spread to the internal organs, and the outcome is not good.

Canine osteosarcoma (bone cancer)

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in dogs. It tends to occur in middle-aged, large breed dogs, and it most often develops at the ends of the long bones of the leg.

Symptoms

The first indication of a problem is usually when the dog starts to limp. The limp progressively gets worse, and painful swellings may develop where the tumor is growing. The cancerous bone is not as strong as normal bone and may suddenly break.

A veterinarian can usually diagnose based on the dog’s age and breed and take an x-ray of the sore leg. A bone biopsy will give a definite answer. Bone cancer is excruciating, and by the time it is diagnosed, it has usually already spread to the lungs.

Treatment

Treatment commonly involves amputation of the affected leg. Most dogs do very well with only three legs, and they feel better with the painful tumor removed. Chemotherapy can extend their life, but for many dogs, osteosarcoma’s survival rates are one year even with treatment.

Skin cancer in dogs

Skin cancer is generally thought of as being caused by too much time spent in the sun. This is the case with dogs, too, but the most common skin cancer is not related to sun exposure at all.

Symptoms

Skin cancer tumors are called mast cell tumors, and they usually appear as fast-growing ulcerated nodules on the legs or body. They can be aggressive and spread to the internal organs from time to time.

Treatment

Treatment involves surgical removal of the tumor, where a wide margin of skin is also removed around the tumor to ensure all traces of cancer are removed. Follow-up treatment may be radiation or chemotherapy. The outlook is very positive after skin cancer, and your dog will likely enjoy a good quality of life for several years.

Canine mouth dancer

Different types of tumors may develop in a dog’s mouth and throat. They all cause similar symptoms: Most tumors are not found until the disease is relatively advanced, so it is a good idea to regularly look inside your dog’s mouth. These tumors can spread into the bone of the jaws.

Symptoms

The symptoms of mouth cancer are bad breath, pain and difficulty eating, and sometimes bloody saliva.

Treatment

Treatment often includes surgical removal of part of the jaw. Although dogs do seem to cope with this, it can make eating more difficult. This is usually followed up with radiation therapy to try to increase survival time. These tumors do not have the best prognosis, and many dogs do not survive for much more than a year after diagnosis.

Lymphatic cancer in dogs

Lymphocytes are cells produced in the bone marrow and are part of the body’s immune system. As with any other type of cell, they too can become cancerous. When this occurs, it is called lymphoma, and the damage is possible to any organ with lymphatic tissue. The most common areas for lymphoma to develop are the lymph nodes, the gastrointestinal tract, the bone marrow, and the skin.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on which part of the body is affected, but in most cases, dogs will become ill and may vomit, stop eating, and develop a fever. Untreated, the dog rarely survives more than a few months.

Treatment

Chemotherapy is successful in many cases and can lead to remission, where the signs of cancer disappear, and the dog is essentially normal. Remission can last for as much as a year, but cancer often reappears.
This is a perplexing problem for veterinary oncologists as if cancer did not reoccur; this would be quite treatable with a positive prognosis.

Alissa Zucker is a copywriter working for the professional writing company Mcessay.com. She is interested in reading classic and psychological books, which inspire her to write articles and short stories.

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