Chest Cancer in Dogs

Identification

• Chest cancer may begin in the lungs (primary lung cancer), although this is rare. Primary lung cancer occurs in less than 1 percent of all cancers in dogs. Canine lung cancer is typically an aggressive cancer and may metastasize (spread) to the tissues in the thorax (chest) as well as the airways, bronchioles and the lymph nodes. Metastatic lung cancers may spread to the lungs and chest from elsewhere in the body. The lungs are a common place for cancer to spread to from other areas and in these cases multiple tumors are usually present.

Types

• Carcinomas are cancers that develop from the the tissue within the lungs or airways. Carcinomas are an aggressive form of cancer in dogs. Adenocarinoma may spread to the central nervous system and is classified according to location (bronchial adenocarcinoma or alveolar carcinoma).

Symptoms

• Symptoms of lung and chest cancer in dogs may include coughing, intolerance to exercise, coughing up blood, weight loss, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. According to Caninecancer.com, the most common symptom associated with dogs that have lung cancer is chronic cough. This is a non-productive cough that can cause dogs to cough up blood. Dogs with lung cancer may show signs of lameness, perhaps because the cancer spread to other areas such as the bones of the legs.

Risk Factors

• The risk factors associated with lung or chest cancer in dogs may include genetic pre-disposition. Most lung cancers are diagnosed in dogs that are medium to large in size and older than 11 years. Short-nosed dogs that are exposed to cigarette smoke may also be at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Exposure to second-hand smoke is as dangerous for dogs as it is for humans.

Diagnosis

• Your veterinarian may perform a physical evaluation and a series of diagnostic tests in order to determine if your dog has cancer of the chest and lungs. These tests may include X-rays, a CBC (complete blood count), urinalysis, a biochemical profile and an abdominal ultrasound. If a mass is found in the lungs, the veterinarian may perform a biopsy of tissue from the lungs to determine if cancer is present. A bronchoscopy may also be performed. A bronchoscopy is a scope with a camera attached that allows the veterinarian to visualize the chest cavity.

Treatment

• If the dog is in otherwise good health, surgery to remove the tumor is typically recommended. If the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, surgical removal may not be an option and chemotherapy or radiation may be given to slow the progression of the disease.