Canine Thymoma

Thymoma, or cancerous cells around the thymus, is a rare disease in canines. It can be treated, and removal of cancerous tumors is an effective method.

  1. What is thymoma?

    • Thymoma is a tumor of the cells outside the thymus, an organ located near the breastbone. It is in a class of cancers called mediastinal cancer, which is a form of lymphosarcoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes.

    Thymoma in dogs

    • According to pubmed.gov, thymoma is a rare cancer that can affect any breed of dog. It is most prevalent in German Shepherds, and it generally occurs in older dogs.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of thymoma include dsypnea (trouble breathing) and excessive thirst and urination.

    Diagnosis

    • In order to determine whether your dog has thymoma, your veterinarian will perform tests that will include a urinalysis, a complete blood count, aspiration of the suspected infected area, an abdominal exam and a chest x-ray, according to Oncolink.org.

    Treatment

    • According to pubmed.gov, removal of thymoma tumors is an effective cure. In more complicated cases, radiation and chemotherapy treatments may be necessary.