What Are the Causes of Dog Lymphoma?
For dog lovers, and pet lovers in general, the word cancer can spark fear and confusion, and personal blame when spoken in relation to a beloved pet's health. Many dog owners go through this daily as they care for their pets. Canine lymphoma, or lymphosarcoma, can go into remission, but it is considered a terminal disease. A dog owner is left wondering why and how their pet developed such a disease.
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Identification
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Canine lymphoma usually presents itself as malignant tumors in a dog's organs, often occurring in the lymph nodes. However, tumors can occur in any tissue. Affected lymph nodes can be detected externally as the swelling raises them into nodules. However, if the cancer is in the dog's internal organs, there may be no outward signs.
Symptoms
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Some dogs do not experience symptoms of lymphoma. Other dogs may experience vomiting, loss of appetite, thirst, malaise, or weight loss. Symptoms may or may not indicate the severity of the lymphoma and, because these are general symptoms that can also indicate other conditions, owners may not immediately take their dog to a veterinarian.
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Causes
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There is no known exact cause of canine lymphoma. Some pet owners believe that pesticides or home cleaners may cause the disease, though that has not been proven medically. Some dog breeds are genetically prone to the disease. According to the Canine Cancer Awareness, these breeds include larger dogs such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, but can also include smaller dogs such as Westies and Scotties. Older dogs are more susceptible to lymphoma. Gender does not appear to be a factor in the development of the disease.
Treatment
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There is an 84 percent chance that a dog, when treated properly for canine lymphoma, will go into remission, according to Dr. Anita R. Weidinger. Intensive treatment is quite expensive, but for many pet owners, it is worth it for their dog to live as long as possible.
Prognosis
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Although remission is a possibility for the majority of dogs, eventually they will succumb to the cancer and die. Left untreated, a dog diagnosed with lymphoma will probably only live about six weeks. With treatment, and if the cancer goes into remission, a dog with lymphoma can live up to a year or longer.
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