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Dog Owner’s Guide To Lymphoma In Canines
June 26th, 2009
Lymphoma in dogs is a very serious disease. It occurs when lymph tissue is affected by cancer cells. Virtually every organs grows lymphoid tissue. Therefore, this cancer can affect any area of your dog’s body. This type of cancer is more common in middle-aged dogs. Keep reading to learn more about lymphoma in dogs.
Symptoms
The most prominent sign of dog lymphoma is swelling of the lymph nodes. This cancer can affect almost any area of the body, as stated earlier. So, your dog will display symptoms based on the area that is affected.
Many dogs have problems with their gastrointestinal tract or chest. If the gastrointestinal tract is affected, your dog may experience diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Shortness of breath occurs when the chest is affected.
Diagnosis
Lymphoma may be suspected if the lymph nodes are swollen. After your dog receives a physical exam, he will need to submit a urine and blood sample. A biopsy can also be taken of one of the swollen lymph nodes. This will also gives clues as to the severity of the cancer.
Treatment
If your dog has lymphoma, he will need to undergo chemotherapy. Chemotherapy successfully leads to remission in most dogs. These chemotherapy drugs can be given as an injection in your vet’s office or at home orally. Dogs in the later stages of the disease likely won’t respond to this medication though.
Prognosis
As stated earlier, treatment can bring about a remission. Unfortunately, this disease has a high incidence of recurrence. At this point, a second round of chemotherapy can be given, but remission will only last half as long. It can become quite costly to treat a dog that has lymphoma. The disease is usually fatal within a couple years of diagnosis.
Dogs can be affected by many different conditions such as dog hot spots. Fortunately, dog-illnesses.com provides a wealth of information on a range of these conditions. So, come by right now to become informed.
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