Neoplasia in Dogs

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Boston Terrier looking into the camera Neoplasia is the term for various types of abnormal growths. According to Dr. Ananya Mandal, of NewsMedical.net, neoplasms can be benign or malignant. The terms neoplasia, tumor and cancer are sometimes used interchangeably and may refer to various types of growths (even non-cancerous or benign growths).

How do neoplasms arise?
To understand how abnormal cells grow, you have to understand how normal cell growth is regulated. Throughout life, cells are continually being born and dying¹. When that process is disrupted, cells behave abnormally and abnormal tissues form (neoplasms).

General types of neoplasia
There are two primary types of neoplasia:

Benign— Benign neoplasms do not invade normal tissue, do not spread to other parts of the body and are rarely fatal, unless they put pressure on a vital organ.
Malignant— Malignant neoplasms (commonly referred to as cancer) invade and destroy tissue around them. They grow faster than the tissue around them and bits of the tumor, called metastases, can break off and spread to other parts of the body forming other tumors.

Where could neoplasms occur?
Neoplasms could appear in:

The Skin— Skin neoplasms are common in dogs
The Breast (Mammary Gland)— Half of all breast neoplasms in dogs are malignant
The Head & Neck— Neoplasia of the mouth may result in a mass or tumor on the gums, bleeding, odor or difficulty eating
The Testicles— Testicular neoplasia is common in dogs particularly with retained (undescended) testicles
The Abdomen— Neoplasms inside the abdomen are common. Weight loss or abdominal swelling can be signs of abdominal neoplasia
The Bones— Bone neoplasms are common in large and “giant” breeds of dogs. The leg bones, near joints, are the most common sites
The Lungs— Lung tumors are uncommon, but possible, in dogs
The Urinary tract— Tumors of the reproductive and urinary tract are not uncommon. Neoplasia can arise from the prostate, urinary bladder and even the kidneys.
The immune system— Lymphoma is a common form of neoplasia in dogs

Neoplasia and the kidneys
In dogs, neoplasms of the kidneys are uncommon, but dangerous; metastatic tumors are more common^2,3. Renal carcinoma is the most common renal tumor in dogs and may occur bilaterally.

What are the symptoms of neoplasia in dogs?
Symptoms include:

Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
Sores that do not heal
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Bleeding or discharge from any bodily opening
Offensive odor
Difficulty eating or swallowing
Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating

Most forms of malignant neoplasia will ultimately result in weight loss, listlessness and reluctance to eat. Specific signs of cancer may vary, depending on what part of the body is involved. For instance, gastrointestinal cancers often result in vomiting and diarrhea, while tumors of the nervous system may result in seizures.
Early detection of cancer is always important to improve the odds of success if treatment is elected.

How much of a risk are neoplasms to your dog?
It has been pointed out that some breeds of dogs are more prone to develop neoplasms than others. As is often the case in human medicine, the cause of cancer in any individual dog is often unknown and may include genetic predispositions or exposure to a number of things that induce changes in cells. Older dogs are more at risk for neoplasia than young dogs.

Is neoplasia becoming more common?
Neoplasia is already common in pet animals and the incidence increases with age. Cancer accounts for almost half of the deaths of pets over 10 years of age⁴.

In general, cancers affect older dogs more commonly than younger dogs. In many cases, cancers will grow over quite a long period of time. Because some dogs are living far longer than they used to and veterinarians are much more aware of the potential for neoplasia, we are probably at least seeing and diagnosing more dogs with neoplastic diseases.

How are neoplasms diagnosed?
In addition to a thorough physical examination, your veterinarian will likely recommend blood and urine tests, and imaging studies such as radiographs, ultrasound, CT or MRI studies to define the extent of the cancer. If there is a suspicion of neoplasia, your veterinarian will recommend a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and the source of the neoplasm.

What can you do to prevent your dog from developing neoplasia?
When a neoplasm is diagnosed, a natural and common reaction is ‘What have I done wrong?' or ‘What could I have done to have prevented this from happening?'

Actually, in the vast majority of cases, we don't know what will have led to the development of the disease, and therefore it would have been impossible to prevent.

Some very simple steps can take to help include:

An early spaying (ovario-hysterectomy). Spaying before 1 year of age has been shown to reduce the potential for breast cancer in dogs by limiting hormonal exposure. If dogs are spayed before their first heat cycle or estrus cycle their risk of developing mammary cancer is very small⁵.
Avoid exposing your dog to chronic irritation such as environmental toxins and second hand cigarette smoke.

Just as in people, early detection and early treatment are important in reducing the chances of death from cancer in your pet. See your veterinarian at least every year and see them at once if you notice any of the warning signs of cancer.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

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