Introduction
Despite the severity of a cancer diagnosis, with timely detection and therapy many types of cancer in dogs can be well managed.
Treating Cancer in Dogs
Surgical Options
Surgery is the treatment of choice for many canine cancers. Localized masses often can be surgically removed and, when detected early, the procedure carries an excellent success rate. Upon removal, the veterinarian will evaluate how aggressively the cancer has spread to other organs in the dog's body and will use this information to assess the outlook for the animal and establish a prospective course of action. The removed tissue will be submitted to a pathology lab for precise assessment of the exact type of cancer and whether appropriate surgical margins were obtained when it was removed.
Non-Surgical Options
In cases where tumors are inoperable, other therapies including radiation, chemotherapy or other biological therapies may be available. Radiation therapy is designed to kill malignant cells by exposing them to high levels of radiation. Similarly, chemotherapy (treatment with systemic drugs) is intended to kill cancer cells while trying to spare normal healthy cells. In some cases, veterinarians may use a combination of therapies, such as surgery together with radiation or chemotherapy. One of the possible down-sides of radiation and chemotherapies is that many normal cells can be adversely affected by the treatment. The goal of course is to eliminate cancerous cells, but it is not presently possible to completely isolate healthy tissue from these treatments.
Supportive Cancer Therapies
Modern cancer management in dogs goes well beyond the attempts to remove cancer cells. Nutritional support, pain management, ulcer prevention, physical therapy, radiation treatment, chemotherapy and a number of other supportive techniques are all key components to managing canine cancer and maintaining the dog's quality of life.