The disease lymphoma in dogs is nothing more than a cancerous lesion of the animal’s lymphatic system. Even in humans, this disease sounds like the most severe and terrible court sentence, let alone in a dog, especially when the owner does not always have the opportunity to use the most advanced technologies and treatment methods. That is why it is so important for all owners of four-legged friends to notice any deviations from the health norm. In this article, we will analyze in detail the symptoms of lymphoma and how to distinguish it from other equally dangerous diseases that can lie in wait for your four-legged friend?
What are lymph nodes in dogs?
The lymphatic systems are one of the most important elements of the immune system, which are distributed throughout the dog’s body and communicate with each other through channels proudly called lymphatic vessels. These peripheral nodes are located in various patterns in the armpits, neck, abdominal cavity, front and hind legs, as well as in different parts of the canine body.
What is lymphoma, its stages
Lymphoma is an oncological disease in which tumor cells are formed from the dog’s immune system. Most often these are lymphocytes. But also any cell can form a malignant pathological process. Based on the morphological characteristics of the cells, lymphoma in dogs is divided into large cell and small cell.
There are about 70 types of lymphomas of small domestic animals. This is always a fatal disease. The age range when dogs develop this type of oncology is 3-8 years, with the peak occurring at 5 years of age.
Based on anatomical characteristics, lymphoma is divided into types:
- Multicentric - lymphoid organs are affected, all superficial lymph nodes in the pet are enlarged.
- Extranodal - a non-lymphoid organ is affected: eye, kidney, lungs, etc.
- Cutaneous – epitheliotropic (multiple) or single lymphoma. In dogs, lesions are most often noted on the back.
- Alimentary – the gastrointestinal tract is affected.
- Lymphoma of the central nervous system.
- Lymphoma of bones.
The stages of development of pathology are arbitrary, since the course of the disease is individual and can occur with certain features:
- At the initial stage, only a few lymph nodes are affected. Usually the process begins with the submandibular, then moves to the prescapular and gradually to all the others.
- The intermediate stage is characterized by the involvement of most lymph nodes and some internal organs (liver, spleen) in the process.
- The last stage is accompanied by multiple organ failure, severe condition of the animal and acute pain syndrome.
What to do at home
The owner of the dog must monitor its health. If symptoms are detected, see a veterinarian. Monitor whether tests have been done and examinations have been carried out. The doctor may prescribe treatment that can be done at home.
The dog is provided with good living conditions. Strict diet, feeding by the hour. Provide drinking water.
It is important to understand that lymphoma is incurable. Even in the early stages there is no guarantee of a complete cure. The owner must understand this and prepare for the possible death of the pet. No matter how sad it may sound.
Causes of Lymphoma in Dogs
The reasons for the development of the disease are not precisely known. Lymphocytes of an uncharacteristic structure begin to accumulate in the lymph nodes, which carry a neoplastic process. Development factors can be viral diseases, severe chronic pathologies, or a long course of taking steroid drugs.
To the question of whether dogs get lymphoma from vaccinations, the answer can be unequivocal - no. This process is in no way connected and independent of the vaccine used and the procedure as a whole.
Breeds that are most susceptible to this disease
It is difficult to unequivocally state breed predisposition. Lymphoma occurs in all dogs. Perhaps due to its widespread popularity, the disease is more often noted in the following breeds:
- mastiffs;
- retrievers;
- German Shepherds;
- Dobermans;
- dachshunds;
- boxers;
- Sennenhunds.
Reasons for the development of the disease
The origin of the disease is unknown. Scientists around the world put forward a theory of the origin of cancer as a viral disease. Living in an industrial zone, on large agricultural lands, where there is constant irrigation with chemicals and fertilizers, greatly increases the possibility of getting cancer. A severely weakened body with reduced immunity is also at risk.
The ability to immediately pay attention to a dog’s discomfort can not only simplify the treatment process, but also save the animal’s life. It is important to seek help from a specialist in time.
Symptoms of Lymphoma in Dogs
The manifestation of the disease may differ in the localization of the process and the nature of the course. General characteristics:
- swollen lymph nodes;
- apathetic state of the pet;
- weight loss;
- tendency to secondary infections due to reduced immunity;
- elevated temperature (up to 40°), which is extremely difficult to bring down.
Also, the clinical signs of lymphoma in dogs vary depending on the affected organs and systems:
- In the ocular form, tumor growth is observed under the conjunctiva.
- Affected kidneys are manifestations characteristic of diseases of the urinary system (problematic urination, changes in the color and smell of urine, etc.).
- Lymphoma of the nasal mucosa in dogs is characterized by nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, and sneezing.
- The oncological process on the skin is similar to many dermatological manifestations - seals of various sizes appear along the back, they can be hairless or with hair.
- Lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract is accompanied by digestive disorders (diarrhea or constipation, vomiting).
Methods for diagnosing pathology
Pathology can be identified by going through a series of important studies. Diagnostics includes several stages:
- Anamnesis collection, general examination of the pet, palpation of all accessible superficial lymph nodes.
- Carrying out biochemical and general clinical blood tests. In lymphoma, hematological abnormalities are noted: anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis.
- Chest X-ray. The picture looks at the condition of the lymph nodes, lungs and heart.
- Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. The method allows you to assess the condition of internal organs and lymph nodes that are inaccessible to palpation. Ultrasound of the spleen and liver helps to clarify the diagnosis, since these organs have characteristic changes in this pathology.
- MRI is indicated for lesions of the nervous system.
- Endoscopy if the process affected the gastrointestinal tract.
Additional and most informative morphological studies:
- Cytology is the fastest method that is relied upon before starting treatment for lymphoma. The material is taken using a fine-needle biopsy from the lymph nodes or affected organs (spleen, skin, intestines, etc.).
- Histology provides more accurate data about the process, but the result takes several days to prepare.
- Immunohistochemistry classifies oncology morphologically and makes it possible to give a tentative prognosis of the course of the disease.
When performing a biopsy, the dog is left under the supervision of doctors for 6-8 hours after the procedure. This is due to the fact that the affected organs are well filled with blood and when piercing there is a risk of bleeding and hemorrhage, which can even lead to death. They try not to take material for research from the submandibular lymph nodes, because Nearby is the oral cavity and teeth, where there is a lot of infection.
Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic
If clinical signs of illness are detected in a dog, the owner must immediately take the pet to a veterinarian. In addition to examining and palpating all internal organs, many tests are prescribed. Ultrasound of organs that cannot be palpated. Radiography. All superficial lymph nodes are examined.
A blood test that looks at the number of leukocytes. An alarming factor is considered to be immature red blood cells in the blood, increased protein. Based on this, a serological blood test is performed.
They take urine for analysis. Cytological examination of the affected organ, when a tissue sample is taken. With the help of this study, a final diagnosis is made.
How to treat lymphoma in dogs?
Lymphoma in dogs always has a poor prognosis, regardless of the treatment used. The primary task is to confirm the most accurate diagnosis in order to form a prognosis and start taking medications as quickly as possible.
► The main method is chemotherapy. Treatment is aggressive and ineffective in mono mode (when only one drug is prescribed). To combat cancer, several drugs are used at once and in large doses.
Chemotherapy is a costly process. The total cost will include preparatory infusion therapy, a course of antiemetics, relief of side effects and the use of antitumor drugs directly. Throughout treatment, constant monitoring of the animal’s condition is required (an extensive blood test is performed before each subsequent administration of chemistry).
The treatment regimen for oncology is different and depends on the drugs of choice and the general condition of the pet. If the dog owner agrees to undergo chemotherapy, he must understand that the entire course must be observed at intervals between procedures.
Antitumor drugs used for animals:
- Vincristine.
- Vinblastine.
- Endoxan (Cyclophosphamide).
- Imatinib.
- Lomustin.
Glucocorticosteroids (Prednisolone) are used in complex therapy.
► Surgical treatment is secondary for lymphoma and is indicated in cases of:
- if the process is detected in a limited area of the intestine;
- if the spleen is damaged, the organ is removed completely;
- with single lesions on the skin.
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Kuzmenko Olga Olegovna
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Before the operation, the animal is examined by an anesthesiologist to assess the condition of the body. The specialist weighs the possible risks of the anesthesia used and makes a decision on subsequent actions.
Treatment
If the dog is not treated effectively, it will begin to die within 4-6 weeks. It is not possible to completely cure a dog of lymphoma, so treatment is aimed at prolonging the pet’s life and easing the course of the disease itself.
The main method of treating the disease is chemotherapy. The means should be selected based on the results obtained after a morphological study. The main drugs in the course of treatment will be vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone and cyclophosphamide.
Chemotherapy as the main method of treatment is combined with surgery and radiation therapy. It suppresses the development of cancer cells in the body, and also significantly slows down their growth and development. Together with their effect on cancer cells, chemotherapy drugs have a negative effect on internal organs. Most often at this time, the digestive and nervous systems, as well as the bone marrow, are affected. The pet's pain begins to go away with the use of traditional medicines.
Without chemotherapy, you can alleviate your pet's condition with prednisolone. It will not be possible to prolong the life of a pet in this way; the drug helps reduce pain in the dog’s body. A pet can live with this therapy for two to three months.
In this case, medications are prescribed in combination, since monotherapy has almost no special effect.
The results of treating a dog will directly depend on the stage of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the individual’s body. On average, the SOR method (vinucristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone) leads to the development of remission up to 168 days, the life expectancy of the animal reaches 290 days. This treatment method is considered the least expensive. The most popular regimen is ASOR (vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone), during which remission lasts from six months to a year.
It is worth noting that detection of the disease at an early stage of development allows for long-term remission, and also prolongs the pet’s life up to three years.
There are no ways to prevent the proliferation of cancer cells in the lymph, since this disease has not been studied until now. In any case, the owner must support the dog’s immunity by all means, which can partially delay or prevent the disease.
The choice of treatment method for the disease will directly depend on its stage, as well as on the condition of the pet. But in most cases, veterinarians prescribe a whole course of chemotherapy. The treatment process itself includes two parts:
- The chemotherapy itself. It involves the introduction of special substances into the pet’s body that prevent cancer cells from continuing to actively divide.
- Follow-up therapy is the treatment of side effects that occur after undergoing chemotherapy. Cytostatics are known for their action - they stop the process of growth and development of pathogenic formations in the body, but at the same time they cause irreparable harm to almost all systems: the pet’s fur, esophagus, bone marrow and a large number of organ tissues suffer. The severity of complications after chemotherapy depends directly on the individual characteristics of the pet’s body. After completing the course of treatment, the dog may be prescribed medication in tablets or treatment in a hospital.
Complications during illness
Animals often develop effusions into the abdominal cavity or under the capsule of internal organs. This condition worsens the pet’s quality of life and carries an extremely unfavorable prognosis.
Complications of chemotherapy:
- Vomit.
- Diarrhea.
- The appearance of urine mixed with blood.
- Anorexia (the next day after chemotherapy, the pet does not eat. There is no need to force-feed, usually the appetite returns after a day. The animal’s tastes in food may also change).
- Anemia.
- Diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart.
Often a side effect is noted in animals, but it is impossible to predict which one - the individual reaction of a particular organism.
