Each owner cares about the health of his pet. Some are engaged in self-treatment, but most at the first signs of an animal’s illness, they turn to the veterinarian with a view to treating him as soon as possible. After all, even the smallest deviation in the condition of the animal can be a symptom of a serious disease, for example, such as cancer.
One of the cancers that dogs are prone to is lymphoma.
Description
Lymphoma, or lymphosarcoma, is a malignant formation (tumor), as a result of the development of which the lymphatic system in the dog’s body is affected. Most often in dogs, lymphoma develops when they reach 6-8 years. There is also a certain predisposition to certain dog breeds for this disease. So, in most cases, it develops in the following breeds:
- boxer;
- saint bernard;
- Airedale;
- bassethound;
- rottweiler;
- Cocker Spaniel;
- Golden retriever.
Pathology is a general concept in which more than 30 diseases are combined. Each of them is characterized by certain signs and course. Often, lymphoma in dogs develops as an oncology of the skin or lymphosarcoma. The disease received this name because its effect is aimed at the defeat of the lymph nodes only.
Is lymphoma cancer or not?
At the first mention of the disease by the veterinarian, the owner of the dog immediately raises many questions. The first of them: "Is lymphoma a cancer or not?"
As indicated above, lymphoma is a malignant tumor. However, not all so simple. Here is what an experienced specialist answers this question:
“It is impossible to unequivocally answer this question. Much depends on what kind of cancer the lymphocyte is diagnosed in the dog, whether mutated cells behave aggressively, and how they appear in the body. ”
Disease development
Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system of the body. They are interconnected by small vessels, consisting in a common system, which is an important and integral component of the immune system. Thanks to the immune system, the body is able to resist threats of varying degrees of danger. One of the most important elements that make up this system are lymphocytes. The development of lymphoma in dogs involves the uncontrolled division of lymphocytes, which later penetrate the lymph nodes or internal organs. This provokes very serious pathologies that affect their functionality.
Causes of occurrence
The causes of lymphoma in dogs have not yet been determined. Nevertheless, scientists are confident that the development of this disease is directly related to a genetic predisposition.
In addition, there is an opinion that a deficiency of immunity can also cause a disease. This is associated with prolonged use of immunostimulants, corticosteroid drugs, or radiation. All of them are able to provoke the development of lymphoma, become its cause.
There is also a theory of the viral origin of the disease, however, it is still in question, since scientists have put forward many denials.
Lymphoma classification
Depending on where the lesion is located, lymphoma can be:
- Mediastinal. It is accompanied by the presence of a strong cough, slowing of the pulse, shortness of breath and cyanosis of the mucous membranes.
- Alimentary. It provokes a sharp decrease in the weight of the animal, in which the volume of the abdomen only increases. Indigestion, vomiting, anorexia, and dehydration are observed. Perhaps an increase in certain internal organs (spleen, etc.). In addition, there is a violation of the mucous membrane in the rectum, which causes a mixture of feces of the dog with blood.
- Cutaneous. This type of lymphoma can manifest itself in different ways: dermatological formations, ulcers or eczema on the skin of an animal. At a late stage of the disease, soreness appears in the lymph nodes located close to the skin.
- Multicentric. During the development of this form of the disease, an increase in lymph nodes occurs, but they do not lose mobility, do not cause pain.
- Extronodal. Initially, this type of lymphoma affects organs that are not part of the lymphatic system. Most often, the pathology develops in the eyes, kidneys, heart, nasal mucous membranes, as well as the central nervous system of the dog. The symptomatology of this disease completely depends on the location of the focus of the pathology.
In the vast majority of cases, dogs develop cutaneous or mediastinal lymphoma.
Scientists have also developed a special classification of the stages of pathology. It is based on the severity of the disease and the rate of its progression. According to this classification, five main stages of lymphoma in dogs are distinguished. From the first to the fourth stage, the development of the disease is localized. At the fifth stage, the disease begins to spread throughout the body of the animal.
The treatment and prognosis of lymphoma in a dog directly depends on what stage of the disease it went to the veterinarian, and whether there are signs of general intoxication (weight loss, periodic increase in body temperature).
In order to more accurately determine the general condition of the dog, one should take into account the state of its internal organs, namely the spleen and liver.
Clinical picture
The most obvious symptom of a dog developing lymphoma is a significant increase in the size of the lymph nodes. Even taking antibiotics does not help reduce their size. In addition, at the initial stages of the development of the disease, the dog may not show any abnormalities in behavior and feel normal.
Nevertheless, after a certain time, the dog begins to appear weak, significantly increase body temperature, decrease weight. All these symptoms are accompanied by indigestion, vomiting, partial or complete refusal of food intake. In rare cases, the animal may lose vision. Depending on the location of the lymphoma, symptoms may appear that indicate a malfunction of a certain organ.
Symptomatology
At different stages of the development of lymphoma in dogs, the symptoms are different. Nevertheless, the following general symptoms are characteristic of the early stages:
- lack of appetite;
- weight loss;
- regular digestive upsets or vomiting;
- increase in body temperature;
- lethargic and depressive state;
- hair loss or thinning;
- an increase in the amount of water consumed and, as a result, frequent urination;
- an increase in the size of the lymph nodes, which cause pain.
Stages of the disease
As described above, there are five stages of the development of lymphoma in dogs. Each of them is distinguished by its severity, prevalence and progression:
- The first stage is characterized by damage to single lymph nodes.
- The second is called localized lymphadenopathy. It differs from the first in that several lymph nodes located close to each other increase.
- During the third stage, an increase and mutation of all or most of all lymph nodes in the body occurs.
- In the fourth stage, the spleen and liver are affected. All this happens against the background of an increase in lymph nodes according to the second and third stages.
- The last stage of lymphoma in dogs involves the further spread of the disease, affecting the bone marrow, certain areas or the entire nervous system, as well as other organs.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is impossible to determine that the dog is sick with lymphoma, without the help of a specialist. In order to make a correct diagnosis, the veterinarian will need to analyze the clinical picture of the disease, study the results of a general blood test, conduct a lymph node biopsy, and examine their contents in order to determine the presence of lymphoma cells in them.
For a biopsy, it is necessary to take a puncture from the lymph node. For this, doctors use a syringe with a thick needle. Often, anesthesia is not used to take pathogenic contents. The results of this procedure can provide the veterinarian with absolute certainty when making a diagnosis. In cases where it is necessary to remove the lymph node to diagnose the disease, it is advisable to use local anesthesia.
There are a number of studies that are used to diagnose this disease in dogs:
- histology (skin lymphoma);
- roentgenogram;
- general blood analysis;
- biopsy;
- bone marrow biopsy;
- ultrasound procedure;
- general urine analysis;
- lymph node aspiration.
Treatment methods
The treatment and prognosis of lymphoma in dogs depends on the stage, shape and condition of the animal. However, in the vast majority of cases, doctors prescribe a course of chemotherapy. The procedure for undergoing such therapy consists of two stages:
The very passage of chemotherapy. In dogs, the procedure involves the gradual introduction of special substances into the body that inhibit the spread of cancer cells. Its intensity depends on the treatment regimen prescribed by the veterinarian.
Therapy aimed at eliminating the side effects that chemotherapy causes. Often, treatment is carried out by cytostatics. These drugs are widely known for their effectiveness. Their action is aimed at stopping the growth of malignant tumors. Nevertheless, despite their effectiveness, they cause great harm to almost the entire body: the esophagus, bone marrow, as well as many other body tissues, are affected. In addition, hair loss occurs. The severity of complications after chemotherapy depends on the characteristics of the body of each individual dog. After the course has been completed, the animal is prescribed drugs in the form of tablets or continued treatment in a hospital.
One of the features of lymphoma is the inevitability of its return. And there is a risk that those drugs that have been used for chemotherapy before, for the second time, may be ineffective.
Despite all the possibilities of modern medicine, lymphoma is incurable. Nevertheless, chemotherapy makes it possible to extend the dog’s life and ease its condition. After taking the course of taking drugs, a remission of 6-8 months is achieved. According to statistics, a dog can survive up to a year after undergoing chemotherapy.
In case of inadmissibility of chemotherapy in connection with the condition of the animal, the treatment is carried out by Prednisolone. This drug improves the quality of life, but does not prolong it. In such cases, the dog can live up to 2 months.
Prevention
Due to the fact that the nature of the origin of lymphoma is unknown, preventive measures to prevent its development do not exist. Nevertheless, the owner of the dog should maintain the immunity of the pet; contact the veterinarian immediately for any deviations from normal behavior. In addition, you must try to protect the dog from injuries that the infection can penetrate. Of great importance is the regular and timely vaccination, as well as the planned visit to the doctor for an examination.