Lymphoma is a form of cancer that is very common in dogs. The only obvious sign of the disease is enlargement of the lymph nodes. Unlike in humans, the goal of treating lymphoma in dogs is to prolong life rather than to cure the disease. To this end, dogs are usually given a chemotherapy regimen consisting of several different types of drugs. By body weight comparison, dogs are given less medication per pound than humans, so they are less likely to feel ill during treatment.
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Stage I
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Lymphoma is classified as stage I early on in the disease process, when cancer is present in only one of the dog's lymph nodes. Vets very rarely see stage I lymphoma in dogs.
Stage II
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Stage II lymphoma occurs when two of the dog's lymph nodes contain cancerous cells. Usually the two lymph nodes involved in the cancer are close to each other. Like stage I lymphoma, stage II lymphoma is rarely seen.
Stage III
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During this stage, caner is present in several lymph nodes. At stage III, the lymph nodes involved in the cancer are not necessarily close to each other. When receiving treatment for stage III lymphoma, 80 to 90 percent of dogs will go into remission.
Stage IV
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Stage IV lymphoma occurs when the cancer moves from the lymph nodes and into the liver or spleen. At this stage of the cancer, 60 to 80 percent of dogs receiving chemotherapy will enter remission.
Stage V
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When lymphoma has progressed to the fifth stage, cancer is present in the bone marrow, blood or internal organs other than the spleen and liver. If the cancer is present in the bone marrow, the dog has leukemia in addition to lymphoma. At this stage of lymphoma, a dog receiving treatment has a 50 percent chance of going into remission.
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