Pet diseases can be both heartbreaking to the owner and expensive to treat. Dogs can be susceptible to many different types of illnesses. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that does not appear to be more typical in any particular breed or gender of dog. Canine lymphoma is a very serious illness that is fatal if left untreated. It can take time for symptoms to develop but they can be severe.
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Lumps
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The most common symptom of lymphoma in dogs is the formation of hardened lumps on the dog's body. These can typically appear on the abdomen, neck, armpits or back. These are tumors that have manifested from the lymph nodes in the dog's immune system. They can be harder to detect in dogs with thicker fur. Some types of skin lymphoma can result in red and inflamed lumps on the skin or in the mouth that can also result in frequent scratching from the dog.
Dietary Changes
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As the dog gets sick, he will frequently start to lose interest in food and not show any enthusiasm at feeding time. If he does eat, he will frequently leave some or most of his food in the bowl when he would normally consume the entire amount. Vomiting may also start occurring as the dog's illness worsens. A hacking type cough is normally present as the dog begins to vomit. Rapid weight loss can also occur. A veterinarian should be consulted immediately if any of this occurs.
Lethargy
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If your dog has canine lymphoma, he will likely tire easily and be much more lethargic than normal. The internal tumors can obstruct the processing of food so he is not getting proper nutrition and any frequent vomiting can be exhausting for the dog. He will no longer show much enthusiasm for activities that he normally enjoys and will spend a significantly larger amount of time sleeping than he normally does.
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