Tips For Taking Care of Your Dog While Suffering Canine Lymphoma

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It will be a difficult time for you and your dog if your dog has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is undergoing canine lymphoma care. But it's important to remain positive and enjoy as much as you can with your dog every day. Dogs are really sensitive, and this may evoke a similar emotional reaction from them if they feel like you're down and upset. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to please your dog, and they will still have a decent quality of life even in such unfortunate circumstances. Any quick steps you should take to help ensure the best possible result when coping with a diagnosis of canine lymphoma are as follows: 

Speak to the veterinarian

Keep in good contact with your veterinarian and/or veterinary oncology specialist first and foremost. Not only is it vital to ensure you are staying on top of your job to help your pup's care, but veterinarians can be a great source of relief in what can be a very stressful period. They will reassure you that your loved one receives the best possible care and can also help you understand during the treatment of canine lymphoma what to expect from your dog.

Train your dog according to your instructions

When your dog is treated for canine lymphoma and faces an uncertain future, you may tend to stay with them at home so you can keep them happy and enjoy them all the time. Exercise, however is beneficial for dogs in general and can benefit cancer staff. A type and amount of exercise to help your dog remain so healthy as possible during care is recommended by your veterinarian. Furthermore, it's nice to walk outdoors, or play with your dog, as a workout, as a stress reliever.

Keep alert and watchful

As we note in our blog the signs of dog distress, dogs rarely "complain" anything other than crying sometimes to go out or to starve. It is also necessary to remain alert and notice changes in everyday habits and patterns for your dog and notify your veterinarian of any unwanted findings. Sometimes these subtle changes will give you a sense of how the lymphoma and/or the medication cause your dog distress or pain. To identify early signs of pain will enhance the prognosis and care approach for your veterinarian and help to make your dog easy.

Feed as much as your veterinarian tolerates and approves 

The appetite of your dog can differ significantly during canine lymphoma treatment. Make the most of your hungry times and feed them as much as they eat (with the permission of your veterinarian, of course). Dogs that fight cancer must be well nurtured to preserve their strength. But don't abandon your route to make them feed, or make any drastic adjustments to their normal diets—such as "people food" in their bowl—if you haven't done so before, unless your veterinarian suggests it.

Mobility help

Treatment for any severe illnesses such as canine lymphoma, will cause your dog's weakness. It may make getting into and out of the vehicle, ascending stairs or even standing in some cases difficult for them. Speak to your doctor about the correct and safest approaches to support your pet with mobility. Be alert and polite regardless of the tool you use. For most dogs, the inability to do things by yourself is a new and familiar experience.

Limit improvements to their home atmosphere

 

Although dogs can adjust over time to changes in their environment, try to limit any significant changes to your home and its environment. Since they are still experiencing some lymphoma-related unfamiliarity and any care they are undergoing, sticking as much as possible to their usual home/environment routines will help keep additional stress to a minimum. Moving homes also can be very stressful for your dog, and yourself.

Find some opportunities to enjoy fun together 

Ideally, the treatment of cancer would help put dogs in remission for as long as possible. The truth, however is that you don't know how long you'll have with them. Take the time to do some of the "special occasion" things they enjoy. They love walking the trail. Go for a drive with the windows down. Have a gentle playdate with their favorite furry friend. It will be a good experience for you to watch them have fun as well.

Keep positive and motivating

 

Dogs are animals who are really intuitive, and they can sense your mood. Although keeping your spirits up when your dog faces a serious health problem can be hard, do your best to maintain an optimistic attitude, as during their dog lymphoma treatments, that will have a positive impact on them. Dogs are people-pleasers, and your encouragement can give them the energy they need to make it through tough times. 

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Prednisone Treatment for Canine Lymphoma

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Lymphoma in dogs or canines is a kind of cancer described by a proliferation of malignant lymphocytes within solid body parts such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver and spleen. The most common presentation of lymphoma in dogs is peripheral lymph node enlargement, in an otherwise healthy dog. This kind of animals disease also may infect in the eye, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. The disease also known as lymphosarcoma. 

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for lymphoma in dogs. Chemotherapy treatment is considered the gold standard for this aggressive form of cancer and usually consists of a combination of oral and injectable drugs given on a frequent basis. The exact treatment protocol will vary depending on the veterinarian and financial resources of the dog's family.

Prednisone Treatment for Canine Lymphoma

Prednisone therapy is the other dog lymphoma treatment. Prednisone is one of the most widely prescribed drugs in veterinary medicine, and also one of the most controversial. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can kill tumor cells. However, it is not as effective as chemotherapy for treating lymphoma in dogs. Prednisone is primarily used to manage symptoms of the disease.  Prednisone at high doses is extremely immune suppressive, making it a key drug in the treatment of a wide variety of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases.

There are several side effects of Prednisone treatment.

a) The most common side effects associated with prednisone treatment consist of increased urination and thirst, increased hunger and weight gain, and panting. 

b) Muscle wasting, which can result in severe hind limb weakness, decreased stamina and perceived decrease in quality of life despite the patient achieving complete remission of the lymphoma.

c) Changes in behavior: Prednisone use also results in dogs becoming restless and even aggressive.

d) Loss of hair and changes in coat: Hair loss is a frequent side effect of using prednisone on dogs. In some cases, not only does the dog's coat become thinner, the healthy sheen also disappears. Some dogs will also develop hard to heal skin infections.

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Canine Lymphoma Treatment Cost

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Canine lymphoma is defined as the presence of malignant tumors in the above listed organs of your dog. Typical untreated life expectancy of a dog with lymphoma is usually nine to twelve months. However, it isn’t very difficult to force canine lymphoma into remission, allowing a much longer and happier life for you and your dog together. Like human forms of cancer, canine lymphoma travels (metastasizes) quickly and causes death in the same manner, it causes the internal organs to fail and shut down, at which time death occurs. Just like in humans, stress can increase the rapidity of the spread of lymphoma in dogs.

The initial visit and tests, along with setting up the treatment plan with your vet will probably cost around $200. If surgery is used, that will cost around $1,500. Chemotherapy can cost in the area of $2,000 for three to six months of treatment. Radiation therapy, if used, can cost between $2,000 and $6,000. These costs can be significantly defrayed by purchasing a canine health insurance policy before your dog is diagnosed with cancer.

Canine lymphoma, if caught at an early stage, has a very high rate of remission and treatment success.

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T-Cell Lymphoma in Dogs

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T-cell lymphoma in dogs, also known as canine lymphosarcoma, is a type of malignant cancer that attacks white blood cells known as T-cells. The disease usually begins in the lymph system or in the bone marrow, and it will eventually spread to the rest of the body if not treated.

Symptoms

Symptoms of T-cell lymphoma in dogs vary depending on which organ systems the cancer has spread to first. In most cases, the first sign of this disease is a swollen lymph node, which may grow to such an extent that the dog’s owner notices it through touch. T-cell lymphoma may also cause small tumors on the skin (normally around the chest or leg areas) or in the mouth. Additional symptoms of this disease include: loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, depression, fever, weakness, abdominal pain and weight loss.

Diagnosis

The most definitive diagnosis of canine lymphosarcoma is obtained through a microscopic examination of lymph tissue. The tissue is obtained through a biopsy, which is collected while the dog is sedated. Microscopic evaluation of the tissue will determine whether the dog’s symptoms are caused by canine lymphosarcoma or another type of condition (such as leukemia), and the evaluation will identify if the cancer is T-cell lymphosarcoma or B-cell lymphosarcoma.

Treatment

Chemotherapy treatments administered through intravenous routes are the most effective treatments for T-cell lymphoma in dogs. These treatments are given on a weekly basis for approximately 6 weeks and then reduced to every two weeks and then to every three weeks. Dogs tolerate chemotherapy very well and usually do not experience the side effects that are associated with chemotherapy treatments in people.

Prognosis

Canine T-cell lymphoma has a poorer prognosis than B-cell lymphoma cases, but with both of these cancers, dogs do not usually live longer than two years after their diagnosis. Dogs with T-cell lymphoma tend to have less of a response to chemotherapy treatments and a shorter remission period. However, if the disease is caught in the early stages, a dog’s chances of extended survival are much better; for this reason, it is important to see your veterinarian immediately if you notice any unusual lumps on your dog or additional symptoms associated with this disease.

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New Joint Venture Launches Canine Lymphoma Test

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A new canine lymphoma diagnostic kit can differentiate patients with lymphadenopathy due to lymphoma from ones with lymphadenopathy due to other ailments, such as lymphoid hyperplasia.

The Tri-Screen Canine Lymphoma Assay Kit is the first product to be offered by Tri-Screen—a new joint venture between Ireland-based animal diagnostic technology firm Tridelta Development Ltd. and animal cancer test developer Petscreen Ltd. of the U.K.

Petscreen developed the Advanced Lymphoma Blood Test on which the kit is based. The test combines relative values of the acute phase proteins haptoglobin and C-reactive protein in a patient’s blood serum into an analytical algorithm to determine if a patient’s lymphadenopathy is due to lymphoma or another ailment.

Canine Lymphoma Test

Petscreen enlisted support from veterinarians in the U.S. and the U.K. to test the method on samples from 194 canine patients with lymphoma, diseases with similar presentation to lymphoma, and healthy dogs.

Petscreen said it partnered with Tridelta because of the company’s reputation and experience with the international pharmaceutical industry in the niche sector of manufacturing and marketing acute phase protein diagnostic kits.

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Dealing with Canine Lymphoma

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Chemotherapy is extremely efficient in treating canine lymphoma. Most efficient are multi-agent chemotherapy regimens that utilize a mixture of drugs. There have been much more accomplishment with this program than with therapy utilizing only just one drug.

Eighty % of canines that obtain multi-agent chemotherapy regimens go right into a year-long remission. although it is feasible for them to expertise a 2nd remission, it is normally not as prolonged since the primary one. As some from the cancer tissue will produce a resistance towards the primary circular of prescription drugs used, there are heading to be a have to discover the proper program of prescription drugs for that 2nd remission to work. this can be accomplished by easy trial and error. It ought to be noted that even although the multi-agent program raises the dog’s existence span, they are much more high-priced and toxic than solo medicine regimens.

How profitable the chemotherapy therapy is is dependent upon exactly where the tumor is located, what phase the cancer is in, and how wholesome the puppy is once the cancer is diagnosed. Lymphoma from the bone marrow or even the thymus lower probabilities for any remission. canines that aren’t exhibiting any indications that include diarrhea and vomiting and appear to really feel properly in the preliminary diagnosis appear to respond far better to chemotherapy. part outcomes of chemotherapy in canines are typically minimal and mild. These might consist of deprivation of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting and lower blood vessels mobile count.

Prednisone, a sort of corticosteroid, can offer as very much as two to three weeks remission. This technique is utilized once the puppy is not a superb applicant for chemotherapy or even the proprietor cannot afford the cost of it. This essentially tends to make the dog’s remaining time much more comfortable.

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When The Diagnosis is Canine Cancer … (Canine Lymphoma)

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Canine lymphoma is the most common form of cancer in dogs. It can initally be limited to one organ or can spread throughout the body. Many parts of the body contain lymphatic tissue, and the disease can appear in different forms.

The most common target organs are primarily the lymph nodes, followed by the liver and spleen. The disease can also affect the gastrointestinal tract and, rarely, the eyes or skin.

Middle-aged dogs are most at risk, often after the age of 7 or 8.

Some breeds are more commonly affected, with the golden retriever, pit bull, Rottweiler, beagle and boxer often victims of lymphoma. In the golden retriever, there appears to be a specific inheritance pattern, although it is not yet completely clear.

In the common form, a dog has a poor appetite, feels “off,” and often has swellings that feel large and firm, especially in the neck, hind legs, groin and under the arms. These are large lymph nodes, and the doctor will usually take samples of these to send to the laboratory. In the gastrointestinal form, the patient can present with diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss or loss of appetite.

This disease is often very quick to spread and cause organ failure. The typical course from diagnosis to severe illness and death is often measured in months. In years past, we were unable to offer much more than cortisone tablets in an effort to make the patient comfortable for a short period of time. With the advent of chemotherapy, many owners choose to consult with a cancer specialist, or veterinary oncologist, to discuss options. Chemotherapy can be very effective at putting the disease into remission, sometimes for a long period of time, often without severe side effects.

If you should ever suspect that your dog might be affected by this disease, be sure to consult with your veterinarian. Often there is much we can do to be of help to you and your pet.

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Canine Osteosarcoma

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Canine osteosarcoma

Canine osteosarcoma usually appears in large dogs, often in the legs. Sometimes the tumor originates in a place where an earlier injury occurred. Warning signs include limping, especially progressive lameness, and swelling. The cancer weakens and destroys the bone as it progresses, which can sometimes result in fractures.

This is a primary tumor, which means that the cancer originates in the bone and then moves elsewhere in the body. It is extremely aggressive. The cancerous cells tend to metastasize first to blood-rich cells, such as those present in the lungs. Frequently, by the time the dog manifests visible symptoms, such as limping or swelling, the cancer has already spread. Repeated coughing is a sign that it may have invaded the dog's lungs. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The traditional surgical option is amputation, but recently a few universities have been performing limb-sparing procedures. This usually involves removing the tumor and strengthening the limb with a bone graft. Whatever surgical option is chosen, it must be combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in order to be effective. This is because surgery removes the main tumor, but if the cancer has metastasized to the lungs or spread elsewhere in the bones, it will only continue to advance.

Source: www.handicappedpets.com

Canine osteosarcoma

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