Lymph nodes are glands that are found throughout a dog's body, so lymphoma can occur anywhere on the body. Have you ever been petting your dog and noticed something unusual, such as swelling of the face, neck or armpits? Or have your four-legged friend show no appetite, vomit, diarrhea, weight loss or difficulty breathing? If you have any of these symptoms, your dog may have symptoms of lymphoma.
MaWhat is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is an abnormal growth of the lymphatic system and abnormalities of white blood cells. It usually occurs in middle-aged to older dogs, approximately 6 to 9 years of age.
Dog breeds that are more likely to develop lymphoma
- Boxer
- Golden Retriever
- St. Bernard
- Basset Hound
- Airedale Terrier
- Scottish Terrier
- Bulldog
Signs and symptoms of the disease
The initial symptoms of lymphoma include vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, lethargy, weight loss, difficulty breathing, blindness, and seizures. Multiple myeloma shows painless enlargement of the lymph nodes in the lower extremities, which can be seen in areas such as under the jaw, armpits, groin, and behind the knees. The enlargement of the liver and spleen causes the abdomen to expand. In addition, there are other symptoms of lymphoma that often show up initially, as follows:
-Lymphoma in the blood vessels can cause fluid to build up around the lungs, causing coughing and difficulty breathing.
- Gastrointestinal lymphoma causes vomiting, diarrhea, and black stools (blood in the stool), low blood albumin levels, and hyperglycemia.
Signs of lymphoma in other areas of the body depend on where it is in the body. For example, if the nervous system is involved, it can cause seizures or paralysis. If the early signs of disease in the eye system are present, it can cause glaucoma, internal bleeding, retinal detachment, and blindness. Or if the lymphoma is in the bone marrow, it can cause anemia, low platelet and white blood cell counts.
Stage of disease
The staging of lymphoma begins with examining lymph nodes throughout the body, checking for complete blood counts, examining liver and kidney function, urinalysis, chest and abdominal X-rays, ultrasound examinations, and bone marrow examinations. Many methods may be used together to help determine the physical condition of the pet and make it easier to assess the stage of the disease in order to plan the most accurate treatment.
The stages of the disease can be divided into 5 stages:
Stage 1: Only one lymph node is found in the involved organ.
Stage 2: Multiple lymph nodes are enlarged but limited to one part of the body.
Stage 3: Lymph nodes are enlarged throughout the body.
Stage 4: Cancer has spread to the spleen and liver.
Stage 5 has the disease spread as mentioned above, along with the presence of cancer in the bone marrow.
Diagnosis and treatment
The most popular treatment for lymphoma is “chemotherapy”, which is an anti-cancer drug that is administered intravenously, subcutaneously, or orally, and must be administered under strict veterinary supervision.
Dogs receiving chemotherapy often experience side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, and secondary infections. Therefore, veterinarians must consider providing treatment, which sometimes uses a supportive treatment model, starting with low-dose anticancer drugs to reduce the side effects that may occur and affect the life of the patient.
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