What Are the Treatments for Liver Cancer in Dogs?

The liver is the largest organ of a dog's body and is directly involved in many processes and functions as the body's main detoxifier. It stands to reason, then, that metastasizing cancers target the liver as they circulate through the blood stream and lymphatic system.

Forms of Liver Cancer

Dogs can develop either primary liver cancer or metastatic liver cancer. Primary, liver cancer arises from the development of a tumor in the liver itself, the most common form being hepatocellular carcinoma. This type of cancer invades only the liver and does not spread to the rest of the body. It is not so common as metastatic liver cancer and occurs mainly in dogs more than 10 years of age, with a slightly higher percentage occurring in male dogs. Metastatic liver cancer spreads to the liver from other parts of the body, and associated tumors typically contain multiple nodules.

Signs of Liver Cancer

Definitive signs of the disease do not develop until the cancer has progressed. These signs include vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, lethargy, excessive thirst and urination, bloody stools (indicating internal bleeding), pale gums and jaundice resulting from anemia which, itself, results from appetite loss and internal bleeding.
These signs are also indicative of other diseases, resulting in a rather late diagnosis of liver cancer and decreasing the chances for a good prognosis. If liver cancer is suspected, a veterinarian will typically order a complete blood count, biochemical profile, ultrasound and x-rays, a urinalysis, liver biopsy and blood clotting tests.

Causes of Liver Cancer

The major cause of liver cancer may be related to exposure to carcinogens such as chemicals included in commercial dog foods (such as additives, artificial colors and flavors) and pesticides.

Conventional Liver Cancer Treatments

Conventional treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which typically have fewer side effects in dogs than in humans.
Surgery can be curative through complete removal of the tumor, or palliative to improve the patient's quality of life and to relieve pain and discomfort. In situations where the cancer is advanced, the tumor is too large or it is located where total removal is not possible, additional therapies such as chemotherapy and/or radiation may be necessary.
Chemotherapy employs medications designed to destroy cancer cells as they grow and multiply. It does not often cure in and of itself, but it can put cancer into remission and improve the dog's overall quality of life. Dogs seldom experience the same side effects as humans due to the fact that the dosage required to treat a dog is much lower than that required for humans. However, side effects sometimes do occur, which can be treated with certain herbs such as ginger, echinacea, slippery elm, fennel and alfalfa.
Radiation employs high-energy ionizing radiation to break down the DNA molecules of cancer cells, thus preventing them from growing and dividing. It may be used prior to surgery to shrink a tumor or after surgery to kill off any remaining cells. If surgery is impossible, radiation can help to shrink the tumor and slow its growth. As with chemotherapy, certain herbs, such as aloe vera and grapefruit seed extract, are useful in minimizing side effects.

Natural Liver Cancer Treatments

Many natural remedies can sufficiently support a dog's immune system, and her overall body, to allow it to fight diseases such as cancer. Herbs, homeopathic remedies and supplements can go a long way toward strengthening the body's systems and can be used along with conventional treatments to combat the spread of cancer. Boosting the immune system and waste-removing organs with certain herbs can slow the spread of cancerous cells to other parts of the body.
Some of the herbs used most widely in connection with liver cancer treatment include red clover, known for inhibiting tumors and boosting the lymphatic system; burdock root, which supports and strengthens the liver; milk thistle, which protects the liver from the effects of chemotherapy and harmful by-products of the cancer; and echinacea, known for strengthening the immune system.
Many dog parents also swear by Essaic tea, an herbal cancer therapy containing burdock root, slippery elm, sorrel and Turkey rhubarb root.