Lymphoma In Dogs

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 causes of canine lymphoma are not well understood. Canine lymphoma causes different symptoms depending on which parts of the body are being affected by this cancer.

Canine lymphoma of the lymph nodes often causes swelling. Dog lymphoma that affects lymph nodes may cause the lymph nodes to harden and appear as bumps. Canine lymphoma of the lymph nodes does not often cause other symptoms.

Other tumors from lymphoma may cause diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Other types of dog lymphoma may cause shortness of breath, lumps on the skin, or bumps in or near the mouth.

Blood tests or biopsies may be used to diagnose dog lymphoma. A veterinarian may also use ultrasound or x-rays in the process of diagnosing lymphoma in dogs. The dog lymphoma severity is categorized by how many lymph nodes have been affected by the cancer and if the cancer has spread to the dog's organs or bone marrow.

There are five stages of canine lymphoma. Stage one is characterized by the cancer affecting only one lymph node. Stage one is the least severe. In stage five of canine lymphoma, the cancer may be affecting multiple lymph nodes, at least one organ, and the bone marrow.

The recommended treatment for her dog lymphoma is usually chemotherapy. Dogs receive weekly injections of cancer drugs during chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma in dogs.

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.

If the dog receives chemotherapy treatment for the dog lymphoma, the dog may live up to a year after diagnosis. Sometimes, the dog may respond exceptionally well to the chemotherapy and live more than a year after diagnosis.

A dog owner may be concerned or feel guilty. Dog owners may feel as though they may have done something wrong that caused the dog to get lymphoma. Even though the causes of dog cancers are not well understood, it is clear that the dog owner could not have caused the cancer. - 29957

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