Veterinarian-written / veterinarian-approved articles for your dog.

Most Common Canine Tumors

dog_buttMore than half of dogs over 10 years of age are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. Cancerous tumors are masses of tissue that result when cells divide more rapidly than normal or do not die when they should.

Because tumors can develop from any tissue, there are many types of tumors that can occur in a variety of locations. Knowing more about tumor types and their possible locations can help you monitor your dog and catch cancer early, which may help treat the disease before it gets out of control. Early detection is key, so you should always contact your veterinarian if you find a new mass or swelling on your dog. Many times. veterinarians are able to provide treatment in their clinic, but other times they may need to refer the patient to a veterinary oncologist—a veterinarian that specializes in the treatment of cancer.

Treating Canine Cancer

Most treatment plans for canine tumors involve surgical removal of the tumor. Depending on the tumor type and location, your veterinarian may recommend adding other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy drugs work by damaging rapidly dividing cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Because of this, normal tissues that also rapidly divide, such as those found in the intestine, bone marrow, and hair, can be transiently affected by chemotherapy. Many owners hesitate to pursue chemotherapy in their pets based on their knowledge of side effects in human cancer patients. It is important to remember that chemotherapy protocols are very different for dogs. Veterinary oncologists have a different goal, which is to provide a good quality of life with minimal side effects. For this reason the doses of chemotherapy are lower in dogs than in people, and side effects are much less common. Should side effects occur, the drug doses are lowered for future treatments.

Common Types of Cancer in Dogs

Below is some information on clinical signs, tumor behavior, breed predisposition, and treatment options for the most common cancers seen in dogs.

  1. Lymphoma or Lymphosarcoma
  2. Lymphoma is among the most common type of tumor seen in dogs, representing 20 percent of all canine cancers. Currently, dogs are 2-5 times more likely than people to develop lymphoma. This tumor can affect any breed of dog at any age. Some breeds, such as the golden retriever, are more likely to be affected, indicating a likely genetic component to the development of lymphoma.

    Signs of lymphoma vary depending on the location of the disease:

    Peripheral Lymphoma or Lymphosarcoma

    The most common sign is enlargement of the peripheral (outside the body cavity) lymph nodes—particularly the nodes under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, and behind the knees. Owners may bring their pet to the clinic with the complaint of swollen glands. In these situations, the dog may not have any other signs or may be showing subtle signs, such as a decreased appetite or lethargy.

    Internal Lymphoma or Lymphosarcoma

    Another form of lymphoma affects the internal lymph nodes or tissues that are made of similar lymphoid material such as the liver or spleen. Signs of internal lymphoma are often severe, consisting of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or difficulty breathing. Left untreated, these can become fatal. Most internal lymphoma canine patients that do not receive treatment will die from the disease in as little as 3 or 4 weeks.

    Treatment options for lymphoma consist of either a single drug such as prednisone or multi-drug chemotherapy. Owners who choose to use prednisone, a steroid, may see a quick reversal of signs or disappearance of swollen lymph nodes possibly lasting for 2-3 months before the signs return. Most dogs (75-90%) respond quickly to chemotherapy with multiple drugs and enjoy a good quality of life for an average of 12-16 months of remission, depending on which drugs are used.

  3. Hemangiosarcoma
  4. Hemangiosarcoma is a tumor that develops from cells that line blood vessels (endothelial cells). This tumor most commonly affects middle-aged or older dogs of any breed. There is an increased frequency in golden retrievers and German shepherds. Hemangiosarcoma is described as indolent in onset, meaning it develops slowly over time and is not painful to the dog. Signs usually do not show up until late in the disease, when the dog suffers from internal bleeding due to the tumor rupturing. The organ most frequently affected is the spleen, which can cause extreme blood loss, with the dog showing signs of shock such as sudden weakness, pale gums, and labored breathing. This tumor also frequently affects the heart, liver, and skin.

    Because the signs do not show themselves until the disease is very advanced, a complete cure is unlikely even with extensive treatment. This treatment usually involves surgery to remove the spleen and control bleeding, with recommendations for chemotherapy starting 2 weeks later. Even with aggressive treatments, most dogs do not survive very long once diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. Survival times with surgery alone are reported to be 2 to 3 months and 5 to 7 months when surgery is combined with chemotherapy.

  5. Osteosarcoma
  6. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone tumor in the dog. It most frequently affects the long bones (front and rear limbs) of the dog, but it can be found in any bone including the skull or ribs. This tumor is usually associated with the giant dog breeds, with Great Danes being 200 times more likely than toy breeds to be affected. Most dogs are between 7 and 10 years of age at the time of diagnosis.

    Osteosarcoma is a very aggressive and rapidly spreading tumor with even microscopic (not visible to the naked eye) spread assumed at the time of diagnosis. Because of this, recommended treatment is surgery, usually an amputation, to remove the primary tumor followed by chemotherapy to treat distant spread or metastasis. With surgery alone, most dogs survive 4-6 months, which can be increased to 10-12 months with additional chemotherapy.

  7. Mast Cell Tumor
  8. Mast cells are immune cells found throughout the body that play an important role in allergic reactions. Most mast cell tumors are found on the skin and may be detected by a sudden swelling or growth. The mast cells contain small granules that make them fairly easy to diagnose with a simple needle aspirate in your veterinary office. Boxers and bulldogs are more frequently diagnosed with mast cell tumors compared to other breeds.

    Treatment for mast cell tumors depends on the location of the tumor and how the tumor looks when removed and biopsied (called the grade of the tumor). Sometimes, the recommendation is surgery alone, and other times, chemotherapy is recommended. Mast cell granules contain histamine, which can be irritating to your dog’s intestinal tract, and your veterinarian may recommend long-term treatment with antihistamines such as Benadryl to counteract this problem.

    This tumor has an unusual pattern of growth, therefore your veterinarian will need to remove a much larger area of skin surrounding the tumor than you expect, due to small projections or tendrils of the tumor that grow within the skin.

  9. Melanoma
  10. Melanoma or malignant melanoma is a tumor made of pigmented or dark skin cells that can be found anywhere on the dog’s body. Any dog can be affected, but dogs with dark skin or hair coats, such as the Scottish terrier or doberman pinscher, are more frequently diagnosed. Melanomas behave differently depending on which part of the body they are affecting. Your veterinarian will remove the tumor and submit the sample for analysis, called histopathology, that can give information about prognosis and help to guide treatment. Tumors located in the mouth and distally on a limb, such as on the foot or toes, or those that have spread to lymph nodes are usually associated with a worse outcome or prognosis.

    Historically, treatment recommendations for melanoma included surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In the past few years, a vaccine has been developed that has shown much promise in providing another strategy for control of the tumor after surgical removal. (http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-dept/canine-practice/canine-melanoma-vaccine-gets-conditional-ok.aspx)

  11. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  12. Squamous cell carcinomas can develop on the skin and inside the mouths of dogs. Location of squamous cell carcinomas is strongly associated with survival times in the dog. Growths on the skin are often found early by owners and respond very well to surgery alone with little likelihood--less than 20%—of spread to other locations. Tumors within the mouth that affect structures like the tonsils or tongue are very difficult to remove and can grow quite large prior to being detected. For this reason, oral squamous cell carcinomas are considered very aggressive and less than 10% of dogs with tumors in these locations survive to 1 year after diagnosis.

  13. Mammary Carcinoma
  14. Tumors of the mammary glands are the most common tumor seen in unspayed female dogs. They can affect any of the mammary gland and may behave locally and respond well to surgery or more aggressively with ulceration or open wounds of the mammary gland and rapid tumor growth. A high number, 40 to 50 percent, of these tumors are malignant, meaning they have spread to other locations—primarily the lungs or lymph nodes—at the time of diagnosis. Treatment usually involves surgery of the affected gland or removal of the entire chain of mammary glands on the affected side along with the lymph nodes. Chemotherapy is recommended in cases where the tumor has spread to other areas. Factors that have been associated with poorer outcomes include large tumor size, spread to lymph nodes, and the grade (based on histopathology results) of the tumor.

  15. Apocrine Gland Carcinoma (Anal Sac Cancer)
  16. Apocrine gland carcinomas are also known as carcinomas of the anal sac in the dog. Approximately 50% of these tumors are diagnosed by your veterinarian during a routine rectal exam and show no apparent clinical signs. They can also be diagnosed if your dog exhibits increases in blood levels of calcium because the tumor secretes a hormone-like substance that causes hypercalcemia (elevated calcium).

    Anal sac carcinomas are described as locally invasive, meaning they grow and invade tissues around the anal gland. This can make complete surgical removal difficult. If the tumor cannot be completely surgically removed, your veterinarian may recommend radiation therapy after surgery, which has been shown to be very effective in reducing the size of the tumor. If the tumor has spread to other areas such as lymph nodes or lungs, chemotherapy may also be recommended. In some cases, the tumor has grown very large or an owner may not wish to pursue aggressive treatments. In this case, reduced doses of radiation therapy called palliative radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor enough to relieve signs of pain or discomfort for a period of time.

    Dogs that have surgery alone for apocrine gland carcinoma usually survive 1 year while additional treatments can increase this to 18 months.

  17. Transitional Cell Carcinoma
  18. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common tumor of the lower urinary system (bladder and urethra) in the dog. This tumor is considered locally invasive and is moderately to highly likely to metastasize to another area. Much like the tumors of the anal gland, surgical options are dependent on the location, and often, these tumors cannot be completely removed. In such cases, chemotherapy or even anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended. Occasionally, in certain cases, radiation therapy may also be recommended. Signs of transitional cell carcinoma also depend on the location. Tumors of the bladder are often associated with blood in the urine. Tumors below the bladder, i.e., the urethra, are associated with straining or urinary obstruction.

  19. Soft Tissue Sarcoma
  20. Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of several different types of tumors that share similar characteristics. These tumors are made of connective tissue and are located either within the skin or in tissues just below the skin. Owners often find these tumors when casually petting or grooming their dogs. Tumors that are included in this group are fibrosarcomas, hemangiopericytomas, liposarcomas, leiomyosarcomas, and nerve sheath tumors.

    Soft tissue sarcomas are locally invasive, spreading by small tendrils of cancerous cells into adjacent normal tissues. Your veterinarian will surgically remove these tumors and submit them to the lab for evaluation (called histopathology). Histopathology will determine the grade of the tumor, which can predict if it is likely to spread to other locations. As a group, soft tissue sarcomas have a 10-40 % chance of spreading to other areas of the body.

    Treatment depends on the location of the tumor and whether there has been metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy have all been used to treat this tumor type.


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Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs

Mushroom Toxicity in Dogs


Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at DogHealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site. Just Answer is an external service not affiliated with DogHealth.com.

Comments (57)

  • avatar
    My wee irish terrier had to get her front leg removed due to Osteosarcoma two weeks ago, and i wasn't aware off how long she would be expected to live.
    This web site was very useful in that it has made me aware now of the facts.
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    My dog is 11 years old he has a growth that is right next to his buthole on his butt I have to know does this mean my dog has cancer and is going to die???
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      Not necessarily, but your dog will need to be checked out by a veterinarian to determine what's going on and give you an accurate prognosis.
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    • avatar
      our dog has the same thing as the previous poster Jaimie. We went to vet, had an aspiration and it is an aggressive cancer. We are going to have chest xray and lower extremity xray tomorrow. our Wyatt is a Golden Retriever and is 10 years old.
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    • avatar
      My dog had a mast cell tumour on her on her bum, it was successfully removed and she lived another 6 years. 
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  • avatar
    Hello all and especially to Anonymous with a wee Irish Terrier. I grew up with Duffy, a fine tribute to his kind. I wish you and yours all the best. 
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  • avatar
    Michelle Coombs Friday, 11 August 2017
    Hi my 13 yr female staff had been ill only last Thursday clear sick but not able to go out just sleeping or resting went vets on Monday she was given some treatment seemed to perk up when I picked her up over night went down hill again went back in morning it took me ages 1 half hours to walk a short distance they took her in again by the afternoon she was diagnosed with cancer upon cancer we had to put her to sleep very upsetting the worst thing I've ever had to do .but I'm baffled as to how unwell she got within 3 to 4 days
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  • avatar
    I totally relate to you, my male staffy is 11 years old and been diagnosed with mouth cancer around 2 weeks ago. We are absolutely broken hearted and cannot believe the speed that this horrendous disease takes hold!. We are going to see a surgeon today to see if there is anything he can do to relieve the size of tumour in front of his mouth-However this is not a cure just maybe a small extension of his life. I absolutely hate cancer and am determined to do the best for my dogs health. And I'm sure that when he is too ill to carry on I will make the right decision for my best friend ever .
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  • avatar
    Lost my beautiful Mabel 10 yrs old (Goldendoodle)  on Tuesday of this week, she most likely had a brain tumor. Everything seem to happen very quickly, she lost her eyesight within 2 weeks , it all seem to start with a ear infection. I am so heartbroken Mabel was a huge part of our life. I will miss her everyday., she went with me everywhere that I could take her. Trying to adjust to life without her, my baby. Diane Carol Tennessee ?
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  • avatar
    I just noticed my little Pomeranian had a swollen face on Wednesday night and the next day the swelling went down but a hard bone like knot remained. I immediately made a vet appointment thinking it was a tooth infection. The vet informed me on Friday that he thought it was tumor in her cheek and could be cancerous. He claimed he would not know until he removed the growth for biopsy.  He put her on an antibiotic called Clavamox and told me to schedule her surgery. The vet tech informed me that she needed the surgery immediately, but when we went to schedule the surgery was scheduled a month out. Is that not way too much time to pass to plan a surgery?? Everything I read stated that the sooner the tumor is removed the better her chances are to get all of it. She has no symptoms that would suggest she has cancer, other than the growth in her face, but if it is an agressive type of cancer will her chances of nipping it in the bud be destroyed by the wait?? I am devastated and lost.....
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    • avatar
      We're sorry to hear that you and your dog are going through this. When it is suspected that infection is present in these types of situations, a veterinarian will often prescribe antibiotics and schedule surgery at or shortly after the end of the medication course. That not only allows the doctor to see what improvement, if any, occurs in the mass, but it can also decrease any infection-related swelling that might complicate surgery. However, we encourage you to speak with your veterinarian further if you are confused or concerned about any aspect of your dog's care.
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  • avatar
    My 12 yr old lab has had benign tumors in her ears to the point where we decided to cut the ear off. Now she has "cancer cells" in a large growth on her lymph node. What does that mean? Is it just regular cancer? She is in for surgery right now and I am hoping that I have been dong the right thing.
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    • avatar
      Hello, and thanks for your question. Unfortunately, we aren't able to determine what is going on with or give advice for individual dogs; your veterinarian is best suited to evaluate and explain individual issues like this. We hope surgery went well; be sure you ask any questions you might have when speaking with your veterinarian afterward.
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  • avatar
    When do you know it's time to say good-bye? Our dog has been diagnosed with spinal cord tumor. They found malignant tumors in the muscle and his spinal cord. He is now about two weeks after surgery. He can't move his hind legs, he has no control over his bladder or bowel movements. He is also bleeding from dragging himself around, even though we are trying to have him stay in a small space and rest. Last time the vet talked about a guarded prognosis and also suggested talking to an oncologist. We already decided to spare him chemotherapy, but they told us that there is a medication that might help slow down his tumor. All of this happened rapidly. A few weeks ago, we were still enjoying beautiful fall walks. We are all exhausted from tying to keep him comfortable and clean and we don't want to give up hope, but when should we accept that this is it. Thanks for any advice.
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  • avatar
    Our mixed breed small dog had a tumor removed a couple years ago and was cancer.  The vet said they are most likely to return.  They have and are in several places.  They are soft lumps under skin on tops of legs and thighs.  Does anyone know how long she can live.
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      We're sorry to hear that your dog's cancer has returned. Your veterinarian is best-suited to discuss prognosis with you because it varies widely depending on type of cancer and many other individual factors.
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  • avatar
    My dog is 1 1/2 years old and I found a bump on his shoulder that is hard he got a shot on his shoulder 3 weeks ago but I’m so nervous. I’ve spent thousands on him since I got him he came from a puppy mill.. I didn’t know at the time he is a GSD sweet as can be with an intestinal disease that we’ve managed very well. If not from the shot what are other things that could cause this bump??
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    • avatar
      Hi Dani! Be sure to let your veterinarian know about the lump. Sometimes a lump like this can be inflammation from a vaccine, and it will go away, but it could be unrelated to the vaccine, as well, so it should be addressed. Your veterinarian can give you further guidance on whether the lump should be tested or if further diagnostics or treatment should be pursued.
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  • avatar
    My poodle had fluid removed today from his large tumor inside right leg. I will get results Thursday. He is 8 and I am scared to death, He's my best buddy !
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  • avatar
    My 11.5 YO Brittany developed a soft. puffy growth on her rear, left hip area, about 2" in Diameter. Took her to vet, had a syringe sample taken. Although not totally conclusive, I need to know more. After questioning Vet, options were to have a biopsy to definitively determine, then mass removal surgery, which they say because of location could mean amputation of rear leg. I have scheduled a biopsy for tomorrow and when results are back from pathologist I will have a consult with the Vet. This is going to be one of the toughest decisions (if positive) that I will ever have to make. Pray for Koko!
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  • avatar
    My golden cocker spaniel has been diagnosed with cancer at aged 6. It has totally come out of the blue. He has weeks - months to live. It is so saddening :-(
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  • avatar
    my 46 yr old brother died suddenly in October. He left behind one of the best dogs I'll ever know - Jadah is a 10yr old GS mix. Caring for her has gotten me out of bed on days I just can't. Something to look forward to like walks and hikes with her has helped me cope with my loss. Knowing I'm doing right by my brother and seeing how happy she gets when she gets outside to explore. She has quickly become my best spiritual companion as I try to find the beauty in life again. She was diagnosed with carcinoma on her abdomen and we quickly got her in to an oncologist for all imaging tests and a couple small biopsies. Surgery is not an option they said and it is spreading so fast. So far its contained on her belly and perhaps a couple nodes that are swollen nearby. her lungs are clear, kidney function etc. Now I am trying to franticly read about how to care for her in the end days - pain relief being my number one priority. I would like suggestions from anyone. I also thinking of CBD next step. This will be my first time putting a beloved animal down and it is especially difficult knowing when to.
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    • avatar
      We're sorry to hear you're going through this. Your veterinarian will be able to provide adequate pain relief for your dog.
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  • avatar
    Our Golden is 12 years old and has a large mass on her right leg. This has now ruptured and bleeds all over the place. What ever it is it makes her chew on her legs and again more open wounds that bleed. Wife’s dog, I can’t do anything for her dog but maybe cover wounds and clean them up. What to do?
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    • avatar
      We're sorry to hear that your wife's dog is having this issue. This is something that a veterinarian will need to diagnose and treat. Open wounds can easily become infected, especially when the dog is licking at them. Your dog may need treatment of the underlying condition or removal of masses/tumors to treat the problem.
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  • avatar
    I question my decision to put down my rescued cocker spaniel on December 1, 2017.  I took her to a new vet.  It was the vet!s recommendation that I consider putting her down.  Dakota was approximately 14 years old.  She had trouble seeing but could get around, she was deaf, if I wanted her attention I would tap her on her back.  Being a cocker, she had ear problems.  She had developed a lump outside her skin by her front leg.  It began to bleed and had an odor.  I have a terrible guilty conscious of taking the vets advice.  Can someone help me with this terrible guilt I face every day?
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    • avatar
      Diane, don't feel guilty. You obviously loved Dakota and you did the best you could at the time. Picture her now, at the Rainbow Bridge, running and playing, strong and healthy. Take heart - one day you will see her again. And remember, you did the best you could and were a wonderful animal parent.
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  • avatar
    My beagle had a tumor that was transitional cell carcinoma removed from his bladder. The whole mass was able to be removed. Is there still chance of this to spread? He has been started on NSAID.
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    • avatar
      While there is no way to determine this for sure, your veterinarian is best suited to give you the most likely prognosis for your dog based on biopsy results and other individual circumstances.
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  • avatar
    Can someone give me advice please on when it's right to let your loving companion of 16 years to go,last year she had a cancer mass in her mouth and I was adviced to put her to sleep I just knew in my heart she or me wasn't ready so I tryed natural healing and crystals to my surprise this giant lump vanaish within weeks and she was back to her old fighting self now this lump has appeared on her belly which was about the size of a small stone all of sudden in the last week it now the size of a small brick she's fine in herself but I don't want to take her the vets as am scared they will want to put her to sleep she's showing no pain and is eating and drinking and is still her jolly self but her legs have weakness in them and she's sleeping a lot more I no she hasn't got long and if she was in great pain or had no quality of life then i wudnt give it a second thought,but how the hell do you decide to let them go without beening selfish I don't want her to suffer I want to be there for her and hold her when the time comes I watched her come into this world and I want to be there when she goes any advice please my heart is totally broke 
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  • avatar
    my yorkie had cancer removed from her vulva and they had to remove the whole vulva and then it went to the lympnode they said it is mast cell tomors and spreading they said it is a grade three do you think I should put her down she will be 10 years old I have already spent 9000.00 dollars to keep her alive and now we get this bad news. what would you do.
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  • avatar
    My 2 yr old pit has a small lump on her neck. The vet did a needle aspiration and told me it was full of cancer cells. But then said she needed surgery to see if it is malignant or benign. I’m confused as to why she said it was full of cancer cells but doesn’t know if it’s cancer. If it showed cancer cells is it cancer ??
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    • avatar
      Hi LuAnn, Cancer can be benign or malignant, and varying degrees of those. These terms describe the behavior of the cells in a mass. A biopsy done on sections of the entire mass after it's removed is the only way to accurately diagnose the type and behavior of a growth. If you have specific questions about what your veterinarian saw in the aspirate and what further information the biopsy will give her, we recommend you call and ask her those questions.
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  • avatar
    My 7.5 yr Pitty mix had a golf ball sized growth on his chest. It never hurt him but after my friend’s dog was diagnosed, I had it removed and biopsied. ($410) It was hemangiosarcoma. Apparently common in bully breeds as well as some other breeds. While waiting 2 weeks on results, I had time to sort feelings and make decisions based on the outcome. I will not do traditional cancer treatment. I might try alternative medicine. While he is still seemingly healthy and active, I understand it may return, internally as well as externally. Petey has been with me through the worst parts and best parts of my last 7.5 years. I’ll do annual blood work and remove any masses that I see growing, but if his health starts to fail, I won’t let him suffer. I am hoping that we have a few more years together. ?
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  • avatar
    My dog 9.5 year old lab had sudden onset of vomiting. Brought her to the vet, did xrays, blood work, exams, gave her anti-nausea meds, sent her home with no diagnosis. She got worse with excessive drooling, shaking and tremors, panting. Brought her to the emergency vet center, where her temp was 105.6. They said she should stay overnight to be monitored, and give her intravenous fluids and pain meds. I thought we would be picking her up later that day, that she only had a virus of some sort, but no, she went into cardiac arrest and died ! I am heart-broken and never knew what was wrong. In hindsight, she had all the symptoms of bloat, but not diagnosed.
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  • avatar
    same as mine, no diagnosis, my dog passed away , had her necropsy, they say is a brain tumor
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  • avatar
    My dog is 4 years old and he has a fatty lump on his stomach. It doesn't hurt him. Is this some kind of cancer?
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  • avatar
    My Shih Tzu had a bump on the back of her leg, below her knee. I took her to the vet every week for 4 weeks, because I thought it was something bad. Sure enough, they finally did a biopsy, and bingo. Soft tissue sarcoma, grade 1. They are going to amputate her entire leg, up to the hip joint, in 4 days. They said her leg is to small to only do part of it, and this way they are sure there is no lymph involvement or other metastasis. I am not sold on the idea that she will be cured. I am afraid that I am doing this to her, and it will just come back.
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  • avatar
    My GSD has a white growth the size of a grain of rice on her neck. What could it be?
    0
    • avatar
      Your dog will need to be examined by a veterinarian and the lump might need testing such as a biopsy to determine what it is.
      0
  • avatar
    My 10 year pitbull has a golf ball sized soft feeling lump on the very back of her tummy she is not neauterd. It touches the floor when she's in the sitting positio. Should I be worried ? And it just appered out of the blue.
    0
    • avatar
      Hi April. You should definitely have your dog's lump checked out right away, especially if it appeared fast.
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  • avatar
    Hi my little jrt has just had a growth removed from his throat the vet managed to remove it all but said it was well encapsulated but had a few tentacles what does this mean we still waiting for pathology reports but I’m really worried if it is a cancer and  it’s now spread he wasn’t unwell at all jst this lump appeared and slowly grew then the vet said it’s time to come out should the vet have removed it sooner it’s such a worrying time but on a good note my little dog is recovering well thank you for any advice 
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  • avatar
    Hi Julie! The biopsy results should give you much more information, including what the growth is, if it was fully removed, and whether further surgery or other treatments are necessary.
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  • avatar
    Hi. Our 12.5 year old Boston Terrier had a small cyst removed Nov 2018. Biopsy inconclusive. Now in Feb 2019 a hard irregular mass under the skin has grown quickly. The xray shows it growing quickly near the spleen and kidneys. Ultrasound didnt have conclusive results. I suspect on her side, with fairly rapid growth, this is not good news. Our vet wnts to do surgery to remove it. Blood tests didnt indicate cancer. She has lost most vision. I cant determine the best course for our loved friend- we want quality of life and altho she may bounce back from surgery and its financial Impact to us(not a consideration), wont even a benign tumore return quickly?

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    • avatar
      Hello! Each individual situation and tumor is different, so your veterinarian is best-suited to help you determine the best course of action and answer questions about prognosis. Be sure to communicate all of your concerns and questions to him or her until you feel comfortable making a decision.
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  • avatar
    My 10-year-old female Doberman has second recurrence of soft tissue Sarcoma in her paw. I’ll have it surgically excised again. It was diagnosed as mild Sarcoma with low incidence of matastisis. Will this continue to come back with surgeries until her death?
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    • avatar
      Hi, Jim. It's hard to tell what will happen with tumors like this. The best thing to do is ask your veterinarian any questions you have--the biopsy results can also help your vet determine how likely or unlikely it is for a specific tumor to come back base on the surgical margins and types of cells seen. Each individual situation is different.
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  • avatar
    We just took our 13 year old Terrier to the vet. He has a growth on his tongue that is same color of tongue. Vet said she’d not seen a growth such as this one. We will do a biopsy but has anyone seen anything similar?
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  • avatar
    Ed, our pointer had trouble breathing, was recommended by our vet. to go to a dog specialist hospital. His body cavity was full of fluids. Today they did surgery and found a gristle type cancer attached at his breast sternin and around both sets of ribs internally. Waiting for the results of the biopsy to see what type of cancer this is. A port has been put in to drain daily fluids the cancer has caused. A hole was put in the heartsack to drain any fluid as well in it. The pet is 7 years old, this cancer can not be taken out. Chemo kills good cells as well as bad cells. Radiation is not available in this state. I am considering holistic measures at home. CBD oil, Tumeric powder and what else I can find. What do you suggest?



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  • avatar
    My dog recently had thyroid tumour removed the scar now has tiny nodules along the scar line what could this be there is no weeping or pus the scar looks dry.We know the cancer may have spread could this be causing the noduals could they be cancerous will it effect the healing .She is well in her self at the moment.
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    • avatar
      Hello! Please call the veterinarian who performed the surgery for a recheck. This is something that needs to be looked at in person.
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Notice: Ask-a-Vet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pet's specific condition. Initially, a bot will ask questions to determine the general nature of your concern. Then, you will be transferred to a human. There is a charge for the service if you choose to connect to a veterinarian. Ask-a-Vet is not manned by the staff or owners of DogHealth.com, and the advice given should not delay or replace a visit to your veterinarian.