Just like people, dogs can develop lymphoma too. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that is found in the lymphatic system and the lymph nodes, it can be present in one area only or be spread throughout the body.
Content:
- What Is Lymphoma in Dogs? Types & Common Signs Symptoms & Stages
- Diagnosis & Treatment Options for Canine Lymphoma
- Is Lymphoma in Dogs Curable? Life Expectancy & Survival Rates
- Conclusion
What Is Lymphoma in Dogs? Types & Common Signs Symptoms & Stages
The lymphatic system is essential in the movement of fluid and other substances through the body and for carrying out immune response to infections and toxins.
Lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, the spleen and tonsils form the lymphatic system. Lymphoma can affect other sites such as the intestinal tract, the skin, eyes, central nervous system, bone and liver.
There are four different types of lymphoma:
- Systemic (multicentric) lymphoma: this is the most common type found in dogs. The lymph nodes throughout the dog’s body are affected.
- Alimentary lymphoma: this is the second most common type of lymphoma found in dogs and affects the gastrointestinal tract.
- Mediastinal lymphoma: lymphoid organs in the chest are affected, this is a rare form of lymphoma.
- Cutaneous (extranodal) lymphoma: this type of lymphoma is also rare, but occurs when lymphoma develops in the skin, nervous system, lungs, kidneys or eyes.
Lymphoma is more likely to occur in middle aged and senior dogs. Some breeds of dogs seem to be at increased risk of getting the cancer, such as rottweilers and golden retrievers. When it comes to lymphoma in dogs it is a varied cancer with different clinical signs, responses to treatment and survival rates.
Common symptoms seen in dogs are:
Mediastinal lymphoma symptoms may include respiratory distress – excessive panting or abdominal breathing. If cancer is advanced, polyuria with secondary polydipsia may be seen.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea and weight loss when alimentary lymphoma is present.
Cutaneous (Extranodal) lymphoma is mostly found on the skin and usually first presents as dry, flaky, red, itchy patches anywhere on the body. The affected skin becomes red, thickened, ulcerates and moist as the disease progresses. This may progress slowly.
Symptoms that are associated with other extranodal sites may be organ specific, such as: skeletal pain (bone), seizures (central nervous system), renal failure (kidneys), respiratory distress (lungs).
In the article Diagnostic approach to polyuria and polydipsia in dogs it explains: “Polyuria (increased urine output, ie, in excess of 50 ml/kg/day) and polydipsia (increased water intake, ie, in excess of 100 ml/kg/day) (PUPD) are very common presenting signs in canine patients. Water consumption can vary considerably from one day to another, so it is very important to quantify water intake before undertaking any investigations to avoid unnecessary and potentially expensive diagnostics.”
There are five stages of lymphoma:
- involves one lymph node
- involves lymph nodes on only one side of the diaphragm (either the front or back of the body)
- generalized lymph node involvement
- involves the spleen and/or liver
- involves central nervous system, and/or other unusual locations
Diagnosis & Treatment Options for Canine Lymphoma
To confirm a diagnosis of lymphoma the following tests will most likely be recommended by your veterinarian:
- Fine need aspiration of suspected site sent to lab for cytologic evaluation
- Tissue biopsy sent to lab for histologic evaluation
In the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Volume 36, Issue 1, January-February 2022 it says: “Cytopathology is a minimally invasive and convenient diagnostic procedure, often used as a substitute for histopathology to diagnose and characterize lymphoma in dogs.”
Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for lymphoma in canines with surgical resection if localised.
Dr. Zandvliet says in his research on lymphoma in dogs: “Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice and a doxorubicin-based multidrug protocol is currently the standard of care. A complete remission is obtained for most dogs and lasts for a median period of 7–10 months, resulting in a median survival of 10–14 months. Many prognostic factors have been reported, but stage, immunophenotype, tumour grade, and response to chemotherapy appear of particular importance. Failure to respond to chemotherapy suggests drug resistance.”
Chemotherapy needs to follow a strict schedule. Blood tests need to be run before each treatment, and a very specific regime needs to be followed. The Petcube App can help you manage your dogs’ appointments, progress, track weight loss/gain and put you in touch with a licensed veterinarian immediately for advice. Anything that might be of import concerning your beloved pooch in one place.
Is Lymphoma in Dogs Curable? Life Expectancy & Survival Rates
The prognosis depends on various factors that can only be determined through specialised testing. Dogs that receive no treatment tend to only survive 6 weeks on average.
If treated with chemotherapy lymphoma can go into remission. The average remission with chemotherapy is 8 – 9 months with the average survival time of one year. Only a small percentage of dogs go into remission, so the main goal for treatment is palliative care.
Conclusion
Not all dogs with enlarged lymph nodes have lymphoma. Enlarged lymph nodes may also occur due to infections or autoimmune diseases, so your veterinarian will perform tests to determine the cause of your dog’s clinical signs.
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