Perhaps due to the increased life expectancy of dogs, it seems that the diagnosis of cancer is increasingly common, especially in older animals, in this article of Animal Expert we will talk about one of the most common lymphomas in dogs.this disease is, how it can be manifested, what options for its treatment and, finally, we will also talk about the life expectancy that, in principle, the affected dogs will have.
In this section, we’ll talk about canine lymphoma. This cancer, also known as lymphosarcoma, occurs in lymph nodes or organs that contain lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen, liver, or bone marrow.Lymphoma occurs in older and middle-aged dogs, however, lymphoma can also be detected in young and even very young dogs It is caused by a uncontrolled and malignant proliferation of cells of the lymphoid system, the cause is unknown, however, environmental risk factors such as herbicides or tobacco smoke, certain viruses or alterations in immunomodulation are noted, , as well as genetic predisposition.
- Although lymphoma in labrador dogs is thought to be very common.
- The truth is that there are no studies to prove it.
- According to the Morris Animal Foundation.
- In 2016 [1].
- Bullmastiff tends to increase the incidence of lymphoma.
Finally, lymphoma can be found in several clinical stages, which are
Depending on the clinical situation or the affected system, the symptoms vary, so we can suspect lymphoma if we find enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, groin, neck or chest, in addition, the dog may appear lethargic, anorexic, and underweight in consecuense. the liver and spleen may also appear enlarged, so you may notice an increase in the abdominal area.
If lactation is involved in the process, there may be fluid in the chest cavity, called pleural effusion, in these cases the dog will have difficulty breathing, when lymphoma affects the skin, we can see plaques or nodules that bite.on the other hand, if the intestine is the affected system, there will be vomiting and diarrhea.
Any of the symptoms described warrant veterinary consultation. To achieve the diagnosis of lymphoma in dogs, the blood formula can give us important information and we can discover anemia, immature lymphocytes and an increase in calcium levels, known as malignant hypercalcemia. Liver parameters can also be changed.
Another important examination in the diagnosis of lymphoma in dogs is the cytology that is performed on the enlarged lymph nodes extracted with a fine needle, by suction, these nodules can also be removed for biopsy. Chest and abdomen x-rays and ultrasounds allow an evaluation of lymph nodes, organs, and masses.Other tests, such as an MRI, may be done.
For proper treatment, each case should be evaluated taking into account the circumstances of the dog, the type of lymphoma and its extension, after the location or production of a metastasis. The goals of treatment are: to prolong survival and maintain a good quality of life.If we are faced with a single lymph node can be treated by surgical removal, however, the truth is that in many cases lymphoma will be widespread, so chemotherapy treatments are used, as this is usually the best option.that this treatment can have side effects, such as those related to the gastrointestinal system or lymphocytes, reducing them in number and making the dog more prone to infections.Other effects include intravenous extravasation irritation, hemorrhagic cystitis or allergic reactions.
In some cases, surgery is used palliatively, i.e. to improve the animal’s quality of life, even if healing or increasing life expectancy does not occur.Radiation therapy and immunotherapy may also be used. The prognosis will depend on the stage of lymphoma you are in.The dog suffers at the beginning of treatment, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible and not wait for a recurrence or metastasis, as this would complicate the situation.
It depends on the type of lymphoma and the clinical stage of the disease, as we saw in the previous section, there are cases of lymphoma in dogs that are cured by surgery or treatments, however, in other cases, the cure is not possible and treatment will be based on the improvement of quality of life.As always, the expert who answers the case will be the one who can best make a forecast.
Life expectancy is variable in cases of lymphoma in dogs because, as mentioned, it will depend on the type and stage in which it is located.Untreated lymphoma can kill the dog in weeks.With chemotherapy treatment, the average life expectancy of sick dogs is about a year or a year and a half and can even reach 2 or 3 years, always from diagnosis.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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