The gastrointestinal tract includes the rectum, the large and small intestines, stomach, esophagus and oral cavity. Therefore, gastrointestinal cancer can refer to cancer affecting any portion of the dog's gastrointestinal tract, such as esophageal cancer, oral cancer or stomach cancer. Symptoms are often specific to the site of the cancer.
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Rectal Cancer
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In dogs, the main symptoms of rectal cancer are difficulty or straining during defecation and often blood in the stool.
Cancer of the Small or Large Intestine
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In the small and large intestine, symptoms of intestinal cancer can include diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty with defecation, anemia, anorexia, dark stool, gas and vomiting.
Stomach Cancer
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Also referred to as gastric cancer, stomach cancer can have symptoms such as dark feces, lack of appetite, weakness, loss of protein, weight loss and vomiting, with blood often present in the vomit.
Esophageal Cancer
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Esophageal cancer is relatively rare in dogs, but signs can include excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, weight loss and regurgitation.
Oral Cancer
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Symptoms of oral cancer include bleeding from the mouth, difficulty eating, facial swelling, nosebleeds, excessive drooling and halitosis (bad breath).
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