What Causes Canine Liver Cancer?

Your dog: He's part of the family, one of your kids, your best friend, your protector. Unlike a child, your pet can't tell you when he feels sick. And in the case of canine liver cancer, the symptoms are not obvious at first. There are two main causes of this disease, and the best you can do is avoid precipitating factors and be watchful.

  1. Environmental Factors

    • Primary liver tumors, those that originate in the liver and not in some other organ, can be caused by cancer-causing substances in the environment. According to PetPlace.com, the higher the exposure, the higher the risk for your dog. Some of these carcinogens are poisons in fungi that can thrive in spoiled food, chemicals added to food, some pesticides, plants and even the flesh of other animals. Dogs most susceptible to this type of canine liver cancer are those over 10 years old. Males are slightly more vulnerable than females.

      Your best defense is to provide a safe, clean environment for your dog. His water and food should always be healthy and fresh, and the dishes he eats and drinks from should be washed daily with hot, soapy water and rinsed throughly. Do not allow your dog to eat garbage or walk on lawns that have just been sprayed for pests and weeds.

    Cancer From Another Organ

    • Another cause of canine liver cancer is that residing in another part of the dog's body, such as a mammary gland, the lymphatic system, or smooth muscle tissue. Because the liver has two sources of blood supply, the hepatic artery and the portal vein, the chances are doubled that cells from a tumor in some other part of the dog's body will enter the blood and find its way to the liver. It may take a long time for symptoms to appear. Liver cancer is usually far along before it's diagnosed.

    What to Look For

    • Although the following symptoms can arise from diseases other than liver cancer, be on the lookout for vomiting, lack of appetite, swollen abdomen, weight loss, rapid breathing, shortness of breath and pale gums. See your veterinarian immediately if your dog displays these signs, and ask about the possibility of liver cancer.