Treatment for Lymphoma in Dogs

According to CanineCancerAwareness.org, lymphoma is the third most common cancer in dogs. Lymphoma attacks the dog's lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and certain blood cells. The cause of lymphoma is unknown, but dogs between 6 and 9 years of age are more likely to be diagnosed with this cancer. Your vet can diagnose lymphoma and recommend the best treatment course for your dog's particular stage of lymphoma.

  1. Chemotherapy

    • Chemotherapy is the treatment method used by most veterinarians for lymphoma in dogs. Chemotherapy treatments use injectable drugs, oral drugs or a combination of both. Depending on the exact methods and drugs, chemotherapy can be expensive. Your vet can counsel you about your dog's condition, which drugs are best suited to your pet's particular needs and cost of the treatment.

      Many chemotherapy protocols use more than one drug to achieve maximum results. Multi-drug chemotherapy typically has the best results. COP is another combination chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. COP uses intravenous injections of vincristine and a tablet form of other chemotherapy drugs. Doxorubicin is a common chemotherapy drug that is given on its own. Prednisone is a steroid that pet owners can give in pill form at home.

      Chemotherapy side effects in dogs are minimal. CanineCancerAwareness.org estimates that only 5 to 10 percent of dogs experience side effects, which are usually mild. Hair loss, fatigue, infection, nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects seen in dogs that experience them.

    Bone Marrow Transplant

    • Washington State University (WSU) announced it was beginning a bone marrow transplant treatment option for dogs with cancer in May 2008. Some experimental vets have used bone marrow transplants in dogs, but it has not been a common practice. The transplants offered by WSU are expected to provide a highly effective alternative treatment option for dogs with cancer, including lymphoma, but they are very expensive. In 2008, vets at WSU stated bone marrow transplants could cost pet owners $20,000 or more.

    Prognosis

    • The prognosis for dogs diagnosed with lymphoma is largely based on the stage of the cancer, how far it has spread, how quickly treatment is begun, the specific drugs used and the dog's overall health. According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at WSU, most dogs respond well to chemotherapy treatments and experience a remission lasting six to nine months. CanineCancerAwareness.org estimates that about 80 percent of treated dogs with lymphoma will go into remission. Multi-drug treatments have the best overall success rates, while the life expectancy for dogs treated with Prednisone tablets alone is only about 60 days. Most dogs treated with chemotherapy have a survival time of about one year according to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine.