Brain Tumor in a Dog

A brain tumor is a type of cancer that develops in the brain or skull. There are treatments available that can prolong a dog's life, but the prognosis for long-term survival is generally poor.

  1. Symptoms and Risk Factors

    • A dog with a brain tumor may have changes in its behavior. It may have seizures, walk with an irregular gait, or have weakness or paralysis in its limbs. According to Dr. John Bukowski and Dr. Susan Aiello, writers for Webvet.com, dogs with "pushed-in" faces such as Boston terriers, boxers, and bulldogs are more likely to develop brain cancers than other breeds.

    Diagnosis

    • If a veterinarian suspects that a dog has brain cancer, he will refer the dog's owner to a veterinary teaching hospital to have a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan or an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan performed. These scans are non-invasive methods that allow doctors to look inside the brain to check for tumors.

    Treatment

    • Brain tumors can be treated using chemotherapy and radiation, and sometimes they can be removed through surgery. However, given the poor prognosis, most of the treatments for brain tumors revolve around making the dog more comfortable during its last few weeks or months of life.