I saw it already on Grey’s Anatomy that Merediths’ dog had canine cancer, but like all things TV and especially all things cancer: you only listen when it happens to you. And in the case of this canine cancer, I am listening because I can see the tears in my neighbours eyes when she got the news her dog had canine liver cancer.
Types of Canine cancer
There are many types of canine cancer and as with human cancer, it is caused by an uncontrolled growth of cells.
Tumors originate from these harmful and malignant cells and it then spread to other parts via the bloodstream. Cancer occurs in dogs in many different forms from liver to kidney cancer to skin cancer and leukemia.
- One common type of canine cancer is orophayngeal cancer which is basically mouth cancer.
- Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is the third most common cancer in canines. This form of cancer can originate from many different parts of a dog’s body including lymph nodes, liver and spleen.
- Osteosarcoma is a cancer that does not have too many symptoms in its early stages. This is a type of bone cancer.
- Mastocytoma is a type of tumor that occurs in the skin frequently but it can spread to the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Most skin tumours are benign but if you do spot a lump, do get it checked out by the vet immediately to rule out cancer.
Canine cancer symptoms
It is difficult to define accurately the exact symptoms to look for in canine cancer but some of it are:
- reduction in the energy level,
- stiffness,
- difficulty in breathing,
- sores that wont heal,
- any discharge or bleeding from any orifices,
- lumps that get bigger,
- unusual odours and
- difficulty in urinating or defecating.
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