When a dog is ill or diagnosed with some form of cancer, the owner looks to a veterinarian for advice and guidance. Lymphoma can be a serious, life-threatening health issue. Therefore, it is important that an owner trusts, and is comfortable with, the veterinarian.
-
Identification
-
Not all veterinarians have extensive knowledge of cancer. In the veterinary world, a pet cancer specialist is known specifically as a veterinary oncologist. A true veterinary oncologist has specialized training in his chosen field and is board certified. This means the vet took on additional training after receiving his degree, completing a residency and passing exams. If an owner's regular, trusted veterinarian is not specifically knowledgeable in lymphoma, the owner should seek a recommendation for a reputable veterinary oncologist.
About Lymphoma
-
Lymphoma is also known as lymphosarcoma, lymphoma carcinoma and malignant lymphoma. No matter the name, this cancer can affect any animal of any age or gender. Gerbils, cats, ferrets, dogs and hamsters are just a few of the many different household pets that may develop lymphoma. Furthermore, symptoms of lymphoma can vary from pet to pet, but one of the most common signs are enlarged lymph nodes.
Diagnostic Tools
-
An ill canine may undergo a variety of basic tests before a veterinarian will begin to suspect some form of cancer. These tests may include a physical exam, patient health history evaluation, blood tests, urinalysis and fecal exam. Once lymphoma is suspected, additional tests are conducted. These include X-rays or ultrasound, biopsies, more blood tests and drawing lymph node fluid. Sometimes the owner is referred to a specialist, a veterinary oncologist, who may run additional tests or rerun others to confirm lymphoma and ensure no misdiagnosis has occurred.
Treatment Methods
-
Once lymphoma is confirmed, the veterinarian will likely discuss treatment options. Unfortunately, not all veterinarians are trained to deal with lymphoma, so a referral to a treatment specialist may occur. Treatment options for pets include chemotherapy along with lifestyle changes like increased exercise, nutritional supplements or a change in diet.
Causes
-
Many owners often wish to know what caused their pet’s specific type of cancer. Unfortunately, the causes are often unknown. For this reason, even a well-trained veterinarian or veterinary oncologist cannot always identify the specific cause. However, it is clear that various carcinogens may contribute to the development of cancer. These include certain medications, pesticides and cigarette smoke.
-