While you might commonly associate canine lymphoma with middle-aged or older dogs, it's actually becoming more common in young dogs. Even puppies can get it. The good news is that discovering lymphoma early can mean a better prognosis for your dog. And at a young age, he will be in better shape to handle treatment.
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Identification
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Canine lymphoma is a type of cancer that attacks your dog's lymphatic system, according to an article titled, "Is Canine Lymphoma Common in Younger Dogs?" on the Vet Info 4 Dogs website. The lymphatic system is the area of your dog's body that plays a crucial role in fighting off diseases. golden retrievers, Scottish terriers, basset hounds, German shepherds, bulldogs, boxers, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards and beagles are particularly prone to canine lymphoma, says the Vet Info 4 Dogs site.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of Canine Lymphoma include high white blood cell count; swollen lymph glands; lumps around the knees, armpits, neck, shoulders, back, stomach or groin; listlessness; eating less; fever; trouble breathing; vomiting; increased water consumption; diarrhea; and bloody stools.
Diagnosis
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Veterinarians commonly diagnose canine lymphoma by biopsying any visible lumps (although many times lumps are not visible and only show up on a routine checkup), testing your dog's urine and blood and performing an ultrasound or taking x-rays, says the Vet Info 4 Dogs website. If cancer manifests in your dog's intestines, your vet will also likely perform an endoscopy.
Treatment
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Veterinarians often treat canine lymphoma with immune modulators, according to an article titled, "Here is How K9 Immunity Helps Canine Lymphoma (Lymphosarcoma)" on the K9 Immunity: Hope for Dogs with Cancer website. Immune modulators enable your dog's body to recognize and destroy cancerous cells and produce healthy scar tissue instead. Chemotherapy also works very well, according to the K9 Immunity website, but unlike immune modulators, chemotherapy drugs are toxic. Although these drugs attack the cancer cells, thereby reducing their numbers in your dog's body, they do not enable his immune system to "reprogram" and destroy the cancerous cells on its own. This is what the immune modulators accomplish.
Prognosis
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Detecting canine lymphoma early increases the likelihood of remission. Giving your dog a grain-free diet also increases the chance of recovery, according to an article titled, "Dog Cancer Diet," on the K9 Immunity site, because dogs with cancer usually die of resulting liver or kidney failure, and a diet that's grain free and high in meat and fat can prevent these complications.
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