Posted: August 2, 2011, 3 a.m. EDT
Approximately 50 percent of all dogs over the age of 10 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. Being aware of the possibility of cancer in your canine and having your veterinarian perform regular checkups can help to ensure that you are doing the best for your dog.
Dr. Heather Wilson, assistant professor in oncology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), names the three most common types of cancer in dogs:
- Lymphoma
Commonly affecting the lymph nodes, Lymphoma can also affect other parts of the body such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and the central nervous system. While this disease is generally not curable, it is very treatable with chemotherapy.
- Osteosarcoma
A bone tumor, it most often affects the limbs of large and giant breed dogs. These tumors are generally not curable, but can be treated with amputation of the affected limb and chemotherapy does increase survival explains Wilson. It is important to catch this early as most dogs will eventually succumb to the disease if it spreads to the lungs.
- Mast Cell Tumors
Mast cell tumors commonly occur on the skin and tare the most common type of malignant skin tumors in dogs. Most of these tumors can be removed and cured with surgery. However, some are very aggressive and are so likely to spread that chemotherapy must be integrated into the treatment protocol after surgery. Other tumors may require radiation therapy if they are not completely removed during surgery.
“Any dog can get cancer, but certain breeds such as the Golden Retrievers, Boxers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are predisposed to many forms of cancer,” notes Wilson.
It is important to regularly perform at-home physical examinations on your pet. You should look for any lumps, specifically around the lymph nodes in the neck. However, not all tumors are visible; therefore, regular veterinary visits are crucial to guarantee your pet’s health.
While cancer can be extremely stressful for owners and pets, the good news is that with the amount of resources and specialists that are now available to treat cancer in pets, owners now have the power to make educated and responsible decisions to get their companion animals through this illness.
In recent decades, veterinary medicine has progressively advanced to offer technology and treatment of human quality for pets to help aid in cancer treatment and other illnesses.
To learn more about canine cancer and how it can be treated, visit the oncology section at the CVM website.