Elderly dogs are far more likely to get liver cancer than younger dogs. According to Dr. Erika De Papp, male dogs are more susceptible than females, but this is not known why. If the cancer is caught early enough, before it has a chance to spread, chances are good that the dog will survive.
-
Causes
-
It is not entirely known why dogs get liver cancer. It is possible they may have been exposed to carcinogens such as pesticides, dyes and tobacco smoke or spoiled food.
Types
-
The two types of liver cancer in dogs are primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer. According to Dr. Papp, 98 percent of dogs with liver cancer get the metastatic type.
Symptoms
-
Symptoms of liver cancer include vomiting, listlessness, pale gums, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin and sudden weight loss. Some dogs also pant all the time.
Diagnosis
-
Your vet must examine the dog and perform tests, including a complete blood count, a liver biopsy, X-rays and an ultrasound, as well as a test to see how well the blood clots.
Treatment
-
If the tumor is small enough, it can be surgically removed. If not, chemotherapy and radiation are used to shrink the tumor.
-