Canine Lymphoma

By Moses Wright

Canine lymphoma, also known as lymphosarcoma, is a type of cancer that affects the spleen, lymph nodes, liver, and other organs. Dog lymphoma most commonly affects dogs that are middle aged and older.

Cancer is a legitimate concern for dog owners. One fourth of the deaths of dogs are cancer related. Cancer in dogs claims the lives of fifty percent of dogs over the age of ten.

The cause of canine lymphoma is not known. The symptoms of dog lymphoma depends on what part of the body that the is affected by the lymphoma tumors.

If only the lymph nodes are being affected by dog lymphoma, the dog may develop abnormal swelling. Dog lymphoma affecting the lymph nodes often causes the lymph nodes to harden which can be felt as lumps. The dog with only lymph nodes damaged by the cancer may not experience other dog cancer symptoms.

Vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss can be caused by dog lymphoma. Dog lymphoma can also cause lumps on the skin, shortness of breath, and bumps in or near the mouth.

Diagnosing dog lymphoma may involve blood tests or biopsies. While diagnosing dog lymphoma, a veterinarian may also use x-rays or ultrasound. The severity of the dog lymphoma is classified by how many lymph nodes have been affected by the cancer and if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

There are five stages of dog lymphoma with stage I being the least severe. If the cancer is only affecting one lymph node, this is typical of stage I dog lymphoma. If the dog lymphoma has spread to multiple lymph nodes, bone marrow, and at least one organ, this is classified as stage IV canine lymphoma.

Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for lymphoma in dogs. During chemotherapy treatment, the dog may receive weekly injections of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.

Dog lymphoma is a life-threatening type of dog cancer. A dog that has been diagnosed with dog lymphoma and is not receive treatment typically lifts four to six weeks after diagnosis.

The dog may live up to one year after diagnosis if the dog receives chemotherapy for the lymphoma. Dogs been treated for canine lymphoma rarely live more than one year after diagnosis even with treatment.

The dog owner should not feel guilty about the dog’s medical condition. Some dog owners may be concerned that they may have done something to cause dog lymphoma. Though the causes of dog lymphoma are not well understood, dog lymphoma is not caused by the actions of dog owners. – 29953

About the Author:

Moses Wright has been a lover of dogs for many years. He set up this site to provide information on list of large dog breeds and signs of dog diseases to help fellow dog owners learn more about their pets.