Dog Cancer Symptoms

Reports state that cancer is one of the principal causes of death in dogs. Indeed, 1 in 4 dogs die of cancer every year. An early diagnosis of cancer will help combat the disease effectively and greatly improve the prognosis. As a dog owner, it is exceedingly important to be aware of and understand the various manifestations of dog cancer.

Dog Cancer Symptoms

The general symptoms and manifestations of cancer that are seen in dogs are:

• Weight loss and loss of appetite are significant dog cancer symptoms.
• Equally vital dog cancer symptoms are bloody discharges, vomiting of blood, bloody and stools.
• Abdominal swelling may occur
• There may be difficulty in urinating
• Difficulty in eating is also one of the dog cancer symptoms
• Abnormal growths develop on the body
• Wheezing or gasping may occur
• Bad breath or odor
• Extreme tiredness
• Increased frequency of urination and excessive thirst are prominent features

Commonly Occurring Cancers in Dogs

The following are the most commonly diagnosed malignant conditions in dogs. Along side, are mentioned their specific symptoms.

Liver Cancer: Liver cancer in dogs is manifested as vomiting, jaundice, bloody stools, increased thirst, weariness and exhaustion, loss of appetite and significant weight loss.

Bone Cancer: Bone cancer or osteosarcoma affects the arms, legs, jaw, skull, ribs and spine. The affected part will swell and become painful.

Lung Cancer: chronic cough, coughing up of blood, gasping and wheezing, weight loss, fever and extreme fatigue are common.

Stomach Cancer: stomach cancer in dogs is relatively rare. The symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, irregular bowel movement, lethargy and weakness, and rapid breathing.

Prostate Cancer: enlargement of the prostate, swelling of the abdomen, pain during urination, increased frequency of urination, unusual secretions from the genitals and extreme weariness and fatigue are commonly seen.

Treating Dog Cancer Symptoms

Depending on the type of cancer, the vet decides what will be the most optimal treatment option. More often than not, the treatment consists of: radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgical intervention.

Surgery

The surgeon excises the tumor, along with some of the adjacent healthy tissues, in order to make certain that no malignant tissue is left behind. He will also excise the nearby lymph nodes to prevent a spread to other parts of the body.

Occasionally, before the surgery, the surgeon may recommend radiotherapy and chemotherapy, to shrink the size of the tumor.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy forms an essential part of the treatment regimen. The drugs wipe out the cancerous cells effectively and prevent their multiplication.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses powerful beams of X-rays. They target the tumor mass and kill the cancer cells.

There are two approaches of radiation therapy in dogs; one is curative while the other is palliative. Curative radiation is an out-patient radiation treatment, which lasts for about 15 to 20 days, whilst, palliative radiation is less powerful and only provides respite from the symptoms of cancer, such as pain, loss of function and bleeding.