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Cancer

Cancer is a very common occurrence in the dogs. It is one of the most common causes of death in dogs. Cancer is any malignant, cellular tumor; cancers are divided into two broad categories of carcinoma and sarcomas.

Some kinds of cancer are curable, some are treatable, and for some we can only provide comfort and care.

The appropriate therapy depends on:

1. The type of cancer
2. The grade or stage of the cancer
3. The location of the cancer

In order to be able to give you and your pet the best set of options, a definitive diagnosis and a staging workup should be performed. These procedures involve getting a biopsy or aspirate of the tumor, and examining for spread for that particular form of cancer. We can use ultrasound or radiographic studies to look at the lymph nodes, lungs, spleen, liver and other sites. It is also important to screen for related conditions. These other diseases may be more serious than the cancer, or may change what forms of therapy needed.

Cancer therapy in pets includes surgery, medications (chemotherapy), radiation therapy and other forms of therapy.

In general, most dogs receiving chemotherapy experience minimal side effects. Hair loss is exceptionally uncommon in most dogs, although some drugs only cause hair loss in specific dog breeds.

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