Lymphoma is the number one cancer in dogs. Lymphoma is seen in nearly 20 percent of canine cancer cases, according to Canine Cancer Centers. While there are specific breeds that are more at risk for lymphoma, the cancer can affect any dog at any age.
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What is Canine Lymphoma?
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Lymphoma is also referred to as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is a malignant cancer that attacks the lymphoid system. This means the cancer attacks all of the lymph nodes throughout the dog's body. Lymph nodes in canines are found on or near the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, skin and gastrointestinal tract. The lymph nodes are important to the canine because they are responsible for aiding the immune system in attacking infections and viruses.
Other Lymphoma-related Illnesses
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Canine lymphoma can be multicentric occurring in the lymph nodes. It can also occur in the gastrointestinal tract in which case it would affect the lymph nodes in the abdomen, the liver, intestines and stomach. Lymphoma affecting the skin is called cutaneous lymphoma.
Symptoms of Canine Lymphoma
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There are very few symptoms of lymphoma and those symptoms are difficult to diagnose. Occasionally the dog will have swollen lymph nodes. These can be felt under the neck of the dog, behind the knees and behind or near the shoulders.
Treatment Options
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When a dog is diagnosed with lymphoma there are different strategies of treatment presented by the veterinarian. The most common treatment for lymphoma is chemotherapy. Other common treatments for lymphoma in dogs are a multi-drug protocol which is a cocktail of different drugs administered to the dog, including prednisone.
Alternative Treatment Options
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Alternative treatments for lymphoma in dogs are becoming increasingly popular. Some of these alternative treatments for lymphoma in dogs are nutritional therapy, behavior modification, acupuncture, homeopathy and veterinary chiropractic.
Nutritional therapy as an alternative treatment to lymphoma in dogs is exactly that: an organic, preservative free and natural diet.
Alternative treatments for lymphoma in dogs involving behavior modification incorporate different aspects. To be successfully carried out behavior modification as an alternative treatment to lymphoma in dogs will involve nutrition, lifestyle evaluation, biology and ethology. The theory behind behavior modification is that each one of these disciplines affects behavior.
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that has been practiced in China for over 3,500 years. The theory behind acupuncture is to stimulate and strengthen the immune system. Acupuncture is also said to relieve pain in patients.
Homeopathy as an alternative treatment for lymphoma in dogs is based on the same theory of vaccinations in modern medicine. Essentially homeopathy introduces a diluted dose of a toxic substance into the body of the dog. The belief is that if the toxin is entered into the body in small doses the body will build immunity to the toxin, thus being capable of fighting off the cancer when it attacks the system.
Chiropractic in canines is the same as chiropractic medicine in humans. As part of the alternative medicine community, veterinary chiropractic has become a well-respected alternative treatment for lymphoma in dogs.
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