Canine Lymphoma Treatment - What Are the Options?

Canine lymphoma is a common malignant cancer in middle aged dogs. Although it can affect any breed, Golden Retrievers are more at risk of developing this type of cancer.

What are the treatment options for canine lymphoma?

Chemotherapy Treatment

Canine lymphoma is highly responsive to chemotherapy. Multi-agent chemotherapy protocols that use a combination of drugs are more effective than single-agent (single drug) chemotherapy protocols.

At least 80% of dogs treated with multi-agent chemotherapy protocols go into remission for at least a year. Although second remission may be possible, it is shorter than the first remission. Some cancer cells have become resistant to the initial drugs used so finding the right protocol for the following remission is only by trial and error. There is no one protocol that works the best.

Although multi-agent protocols increase life span, they are more toxic and costly than single-agent protocols.

The success of chemotherapy treatment depends on the location of the tumor, clinical staging and well-being of the dog at the time of diagnosis. Lymphoma of the thymus (mediastinal lymphoma) and bone marrow reduce the chances of remission. Dogs that don’t feel ill or display any clinical signs (vomiting, diarrhea, etc) when first diagnosed with lymphoma, seem to do better with chemotherapy treatment.

Most dogs do not suffer from side effects of chemotherapy. The common side effects include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and low blood cell count. Even if a dog has side effects, they are usually mild. It is rare for dogs to suffer from serious side effects that need hospitalisation.

Prednisone Treatment

Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid that provides 2-3 months of remission. It is used when the dog is not a candidate for chemotherapy or the pet owner cannot afford the high cost of chemotherapy treatment.

Although not as effective as multi-agent chemotherapy protocols, prednisone alone can make the dog’s life more comfortable. It does not contribute much to extending the life span.

Prednisone treatment reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapy, so should not be used prior to a chemotherapy treatment.

Canine Bone Barrow Transplant

This treatment has been widely used in human patients with lymphoma. North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is the first university to offer this treatment for canine lymphoma.

Healthy stem cells are harvested from the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The dog has to undergo total body radiation to kill off remaining cancer cells before the harvested stem cells are transplanted into it.

The cure rate is at least 30%. For now, bone marrow transplant may be the only canine lymphoma treatment that offers a cure.

If your dog has lymphoma, your vet can advise you on the best treatment option. It’s up to you to decide if you want your dog treated. Some questions to ask yourself are:

- can you afford the cost of treatment?

- how old is your dog?

- is your dog currently suffering and in pain?

- do the benefits outweigh the risks of treatment?

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