Brain Tumor in a Bichon

Risks

• Age increases a bichon's risk of brain tumors. Canine Cancer reports up to 95 percent of meningiomas -- slow-growing benign tumor -- develop in dogs 7 years of age or older. Genetics probably play a role in a bichon's brain tumor risk, as do serious head injuries. Exposure to radiation, pesticides and solvents also increase the risk of tumors. As Canine Cancer points out, while no definitive causes of tumors in dogs have been identified, by scientists looking at what causes tumors in humans, they can extrapolate then that some of those same things may cause dog tumors.

Symptoms

• As with humans, a brain tumor in a bichon frise causes neurological symptoms. The size and location of the tumor determine the severity of symptoms, and symptoms can either appear without warning or worsen gradually. Common symptoms of canine brain tumors include forgetting commands, aggression, staggering, seizures and loss of bladder control. The dog may not recognize people it knows or develop obsessive, repetitive behavior such as pacing or constant circling. Changes in appetite, vision problems, hearing loss and breathing difficulties can also develop.

Diagnosis

• Many neurological conditions mimic the symptoms of brain tumors, so a complete physical and neurological examination are necessary to identify the cause of symptoms. The examination must include blood work to rule out other conditions and X-rays to check if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. The cancer may not originate in the brain; brain tumors can also develop when cancerous cells spread from other locations. A biopsy of affected cells is the only way to definitively diagnose brain tumors.

Treatment

• Treatment options depend on the location, size and stage of the brain tumor. Small tumors on the surface of the brain may be removed with surgery. Partial removal of tumors can relieve symptoms caused by the mass pressing on surrounding brain tissue. Radiation therapy can slow the tumor's growth rate and shrink the tumor prior to surgical removal. Chemotherapy has limited use as a treatment for canine brain tumors as the blood brain barrier prevents most of the medication from reaching the tumor.

Palliative Care

• Palliative care focuses on relieving brain tumor symptoms in bichons frises, especially when circumstances make direct treatment of the tumor impossible. While not a cure for bichon brain tumors, palliative care improves the dog's quality of life. Medication can control seizures, which generally affect dogs with brain tumors. Corticosteroids help reduce swelling around the tumor, relieving symptoms caused by pressure on the brain tissue.

Prognosis

• Sadly, most canine brain tumors cannot be cured. The outcome of the disease depends largely on the location and size of the tumor, the level of malignancy and whether the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. By the time symptoms develop, the disease is often well-advanced. Treatment options can, however, often extend life and control symptoms.