Sarcomas are cancerous tumors that affect dogs. They typically occur from various sources, including connective tissue, fat, muscle cells and blood vessels. Sarcomas come in a variety of types, such as lymphosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, hemangiosarcomas and histiocytic sarcomas. The severity of your dog's particular sarcoma depends upon its location and if it has spread to other areas. Unfortunately, according to Pets.WebMD.com, many sarcomas grow rather large inside the dog's body before they become detected. However, there are a few symptoms of sarcoma that will hopefully alert you of its presence before it is too late.
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Large Swelling or Mass
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One of the most obvious signs of a soft-tissue sarcoma is a large swelling or mass that you can see and feel. According to VetSurgeryCentral.com, many soft tissue sarcomas tend to grow in the dog's mouth, on or just under the skin and on the muscle. Typically, you can see the growth if it is on the skin, or see a swelling or feel a lump if it is under the skin. Some sarcomas are encapsulated with distinct margins, while others spread into the surrounding tissue and lack margins; therefore, there is no specific size or shape for a sarcoma. If you detect a mass or swelling, contact your veterinarian immediately. The doctor may be able to biopsy the lump by extracting cells with a syringe and looking at them under the microscope. It is also possible the dog may need to undergo surgery to remove part or all of the lump for biopsy. In addition, the lymph nodes may be swollen if the dog has lymphosarcoma.
Gastrointestinal Changes
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If your dog has developed a sarcoma, it may experience gastrointestinal problems as a result. For instance, Pets.WebMD.com states that dogs with lymphosarcomas may have poor appetites and lose weight. This is typically due to the sarcoma's appearance on the lymph nodes and organs that contain lymphoid tissue, such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Usually, the sarcoma attacks the nodes and the organs at the same time.
Physical and Behavioral Abnormalities
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Dogs with osteosarcomas---tumors of the bones---may limp or show discomfort when moving or being touched where the tumor is present. According to PetCancerCenter.org, dogs with disseminated histiocytic sarcomas may not show any physical symptoms, but will have abnormal results on certain laboratory tests, such as low red blood cells and platelet counts or high white blood cell counts. If a sarcoma has taken residence in the chest area, coughing or shortness or breath may be present. Similarly, the dog might experience vomiting and diarrhea if a sarcoma is affecting the intestines.
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