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Tumors in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatment

Tumors in dogs range from mast cell tumors to bone tumors and testicle tumors. Read on to know more about the various types of tumors in dogs, their symptoms and treatment.

Tumors in dogs is one of the frequently encountered dog health problem, found especially in older dogs. Tumors can either be non-cancerous or cancerous, but either of them can be hazardous to the dog’s health. Tumors can affect the skin, bones, nasal cavity, stomach, etc. of the dog. The various tumors in dogs, their symptoms and treatment are discussed below.

Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)

Mast cell tumors consist of cancerous mast cells and account for about 20-25 percent of the skin cancer in dogs. Mast cells are found in the body tissues. These cells release excess of a chemical called histamine which causes allergic reactions like hives and other health-related issues like gastric ulcers and bleeding.

Symptoms: The most common symptom of a mast cell tumor is a lump in the skin which can occur in the liver, spleen or the bloodstream. When the lump is massaged, it forms hives due to the excessive release of histamine from the mast cells. This is known as the Darier sign. Diagnosis can be made by conducting a biopsy.

Treatment: The treatment for mast cell tumors involves the surgical removal of the tumor along with some of the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. Drugs and radiation therapy may also be used as a form of treatment.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors occur in the stomach, intestines and in the region between the genitals and the anus. Such tumors tend to spread throughout the body, especially to the surrounding organs like the lungs, spleen, lymph nodes and liver.

Symptoms: The symptoms of gastrointestinal stromal tumors include weight loss, vomiting, anorexia and diarrhea, ulceration and anemia. Diagnosis can be made by radiography, ultrasonography of the abdomen and laboratory testing.

Treatment: Treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors would include surgery, chemotherapy and administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Nasal Cavity Tumors

Tumors of the nasal cavity are uncommon in dogs, they account for only 1% of all the tumors. The tumors are mostly malignant and the cancers affecting the nasal cavity are known as carcinomas and sarcomas. Metastasis (spreading of the tumor) commonly occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys and brain.

Symptoms: The symptoms of nasal cavity tumors include nasal discharge, nasal bleeding, breathing difficulty, sneezing, deformed facial bones, protrusion of the eyes, etc. Diagnosis can be made using methods like biopsy, cytology and CT scan of the nasal cavity.

Treatment: The treatment of nasal cavity tumors would include surgery known as rhinotomy and radiotherapy or chemotherapy or a combination of both.

Mammary Tumors

Mammary tumors occur in female dogs who have not been neutered and it is the second most common tumor in dogs. About 50% of the tumors are benign. The types of mammary tumors are fibroadenoma, adenocarcinoma and inflammatory carcinoma. Metastasis may occur in the lymph nodes.

Symptoms: Mammary tumors occur in the form of a swelling and can be detected by palpating the mammary glands. They are hard in texture but multiply rapidly. Mammary tumors can also be diagnosed by conducting a biopsy.

Treatment: Treatment of mammary tumors includes surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Prevention of mammary tumors is possible by spaying the female dog.

Testicular Tumors

Testicular tumors occur in older male dogs who have not been neutered. It is more likely to develop in the dog testicles, wherein one or both the testicles of the dog have not descended. The different types of testicular tumors are sertoli cell tumors, seminomas, and interstitial cell tumors.

Symptoms: Symptoms of testicular tumors are swelling in the testicular area, swelling in the area where the testicle that has not descended is located, enlargement of the prostrate and mammary glands, etc. Diagnosis can be done on the basis of a biopsy and microscopic examinations.

Treatment: The most important treatment of testicular tumors is castration, wherein the testicles of the dog are removed surgically. Chemotherapy is also an option for treatment.

Timely detection and appropriate treatment can help the dog lead a happy life after treatment of the tumor.

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