Adeno Carcinoma in Dogs
Adenocarcinoma attacks the glandular tissue of older dogs, especially the mammary glands and anal glands of females. Males can also develop adenocarcinoma in the same places plus the prostate, but this is very rare. The exact cause is unknown, but many researchers believe that one or more of the female hormones may be play a part in the development of adenocarcinoma. Although this is a very aggressive cancer, early surgical removal of the tumor can lengthen the afflicted dog's life, and relieve symptoms dramatically.
-
Symptoms
-
Adenocarcinoma presents as a hard mass or group of masses under the skin of the abdomen or perianal area. The area may be inflamed and swollen, and may even develop a sore. The dog will obviously be uncomfortable, and will lick the area obsessively. She may also refuse food and lose a good deal of weight suddenly, and be generally lethargic and weak. If the tumor is located on the abdomen, her hind legs may swell noticeably, and if the tumor is in her anal glands, she may have difficulty passing stool. What ever stool she is able to pass will likely be deformed from being squeezed past the internal mass.
Diagnosis
-
The vet will check the dog's blood cell count to rule out an abscess or cyst and to gain an overall picture of the state of the dog's health. He will also test different chemical levels in the blood to look for calcium and phosphorus levels, and check kidney function to determine how well the dog may handle aggressive treatment. If a tumor is found, he will X-ray the tumor, to determine its full extent, and the pelvis, to see if any lymph nodes are affected. In some advanced cases, a chest X-ray may be called for to see if the tumor has spread to the lungs.
-
Treatment
-
Surgery is the best treatment by far. The tumor will be removed in its entirety, if possible, and any affected lymph nodes may be removed as well. This is not a cure, because most of the time the disease has spread, but it will return the dog to a nearly-normal state of health for a period of time. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy used separately or together can slow the advance of the disease, or even send it into remission.
Home Care
-
Dogs undergoing cancer treatment require patience from their owners. The surgical site must be kept clean, and all medications must be administered on schedule. All chemotherapy or radiation treatment appointments must be kept, as should all recheck appointments. Dogs undergoing chemotherapy may be nauseous for a day or two following treatment, and extra care should be taken to ensure that they are getting adequate nutrition. Because the dog will likely have lost her appetite, this may require hand-feeding or even cooking specialized diets. Dogs who are very weak may need to be supported by a sling during walks.
Prognosis
-
According to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, about half of all adenocarcinomas have a good prognosis with surgery. If the tumor is large, ulcerated, deep or fast-spreading, the prognosis is less optimistic, although further treatment is worthwhile.
-
References
- Photo Credit dog image by Oleg Salamaha from Fotolia.com
