Brain tumors are very serious and affect thousands of dogs each year. The only way to properly diagnose a brain tumor is to give the dog a CT scan or an MRI. Once a tumor is detected, it is up to the owner to decide whether to treat the tumor. It is helpful for dog owners to know the treatments options that are available for brain tumors, and what the prognosis is for each.
Things You'll Need
- Veterinary Surgeon
- Radiation Machine
- Chemotherapy Drugs
Instructions
Treating a Brain Tumor
Surgically remove the brain tumor. The most common way to treat a brain tumor in a dog is to try and remove it through surgery. This is normally done by a board certified veterinary surgeon, not a general practice clinic veterinarian. The main goal is to remove enough of the tumor to relieve pressure in the cranium, and the negative effects it is having on the dog are alleviated. This can only be done if the tumor is in an area that can be reached safely by the surgeon. Rarely will the entire tumor be removed, as some of it will have grown deeper into the brain where the surgeon simply cannot reach. Surgery is usually the first step in treating a brain tumor, though it may not be the last.
Use radiation to treat the tumor. Radiation can be used to treat brain tumors in dogs, as it is usually effective, and has few side effects. The dog will normally receive small doses of radiation for two consecutive weeks on the afflicted area of the brain. Larger doses cannot be used, as it is dangerous and can damage the brain and surrounding areas of the body. Radiation will normally slow down if not completely kill most types of brain tumors, and is often used to treat any parts of a tumor left in the brain after an initial surgery. The drawbacks to radiation include price (average treatment can top $4,000) and few veterinary clinics have the radiation machines and specialists needed to perform the treatment.
Use chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy is now available to some dogs suffering from brain tumors, though the results are often questioned by some veterinarians. The drug temozolomide has been shown to be effective, but only in certain types of tumors (such as gliomas). Chemotherapy drugs are normally administered orally, and you may give them to your dog. The drugs are usually given every three weeks, and often you must wear gloves because the drugs can be toxic. Chemotherapy often has the most adverse side effects of all the treatment methods; liver and bone marrow damage are common.
Give palliative care. Once your dog undergoes cancer treatment, there are many things an owner can do at home to support their recovery. Changing your dog's diet may be in order, such as switching to a more nutrient rich food, or switching to more canned or wet food, which is easier to digest. Owners will often be required to give medications, which can include pills, IV fluids, and even injections. Your dog may even need to be cleaned daily, as urinary incontinence is common in recovering animals. It is imperative that this is done well, as urinary tract infections can result from failure to clean the urine. Loss of bowel control is also a possibility, and you should be prepared to clean up after your dog in that manner in order to prevent infections and other problems that can result from poor hygiene. Most importantly, you need to make sure your dog is living with a good quality of life, and that if treatment has not helped, or your dog is worsening, euthanasia may be the only choice remaining.