Symptoms of Lymphoma in Dogs

Dogs diagnosed with canine lymphoma, a type of cancer, often seem fine beforehand. That's why the diagnosis often comes as a shock to the owner. Unfortunately, lymphoma spreads rapidly throughout an affected dog's body. While chemotherapy can prolong a dog's life, there's no cure for lymphoma. Untreated dogs usually die within two months of diagnosis.

  1. Canine Lymphoma

    • Lymphoma is among the most common canine cancers. Different types of the disease exist. Multicentric lymphoma accounts for approximately 85 percent of canine lymphomas. Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphocytes, which are white blood cells located in lymph nodes. Since the lymphatic system is located throughout the body, aiding immune response, lymphoma moves quickly. Eventually, lymphoma spreads to major organs including the liver and to the dog's bone marrow.

    Lymphoma Lumps

    • Early signs of lymphoma include lymph node swelling. These lumps don't cause your dog pain. The swollen nodes might occur under your dog's legs -- canine armpits -- beneath his jaw, on his chest or on the hind legs above the hocks. These lumps feel hard and firm, with a rubbery texture. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, affected lymph nodes swell to three to 10 times their normal size.

    Other Lymphoma Symptoms

    • Dogs suffering from lymphoma might stop eating, lose weight and exhibit excessive thirst, with subsequent frequent urination. As the cancer spreads, dogs might develop breathing difficulties and abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation. Because lymph node swelling prevents normal fluid drainage throughout the body, dogs often experience edema. This type of swelling usually appears on the leg and face.

    Lymphoma Treatment and Prognosis

    • Your veterinarian diagnoses lymphoma via blood and urine testing, along with an aspiration and biopsy of affected lymph nodes. While an untreated dog usually dies within two months after diagnosis, dogs receiving chemotherapy have a 75 percent chance of going into remission and living a lot longer -- up to a year or more. During the remission period, most dogs enjoy a good quality of life. When the lymph nodes begin swelling again, the dog is no longer in remission. It's possible that a new chemotherapy drug can buy your pal additional time.