The Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer in Dogs
Pancreatic cancer in dogs is so sad, and very hard to watch when you love your pet. This disease is hard enough to comprehend and watch a human being suffer from, and the dog in your life that has this disease is no exception. Many experts say that the disease works much like it does in humans. Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect until it’s too late.
Thankfully, pancreatic cancer in dogs only accounts for less than 5% of cancers that are diagnosed in dogs. While they are few and far between, it can happen to anyone. The cause of pancreatic cancer in dogs is not known, but the tumors can form causing a fast road downhill. Because the disease is so rare in dogs, it’s hard to know when they have it, as the initial symptoms may be very vague. When this happens, the veterinarian may begin treating something else, completely unaware that the dog has pancreatic cancer. When treatment is stalled, the cancer will spread to other organs resulting in a fatal outcome.
Some warning signs that you should look for, are what humans would consider flu-like symptoms. This would include vomiting, stomach pain, weight loss, loss of hair, loss of appetite and diarrhea. When letting the dog outside, it is important to look at their stool when they have a bowel movement. One major warning sign that many pet owners may not think to look for is blood in the stool. These symptoms are very similar to what any human would encounter when suspicion of pancreatic cancer is present.
If your dog does have any of the symptoms that are on this list, you need to call your veterinarian right away. The dog should be seen and examined thoroughly, so don’t dismiss it. Take notes with you on anything that you may have noticed recently as far as changes or symptoms as previously mentioned. Tests will need to be performed to help determine what the cause of symptoms is. Without the proper tests being run, there is no way to know what is going on in the dog’s body. If there is suspicion of something serious, the veterinarian may ask for an ultrasound on the dog’s belly to see what is present. If there is in fact a tumor, then this can help determine as to whether or not the cancer has spread, and if it has spread to the lymph nodes. Your pets really aren’t that different from you in this respect, and since they can’t talk to you, you need to be observant of what is going on with your dog.
There are options for treatment, but surgery may be the only thing to help determine how far it has spread. Pancreatic cancer in dogs is very difficult to treat, and surgery may not give significant results. One major procedure that can be done is a gastrointestinal bypass. This will help the veterinary surgeon get as close as possible to the culprit, and allow them to localize the procedure to where the tumor is without having to disturb other organs. This procedure is definitely an option if there is reason to believe that there is an obstruction to the bowel, but keep in mind that for the dog this will only give short-term relief. Radiation, chemotherapy or even prescription medicines can all be forms of treatment depending on the condition of the dog.
Due to the nature of the disease the dogs will be unable to eat, but would be getting some supplementation through an IV. Many veterinarians are inclined to believe that pancreatic cancer is very painful, so pain medicine may also be a part of treatment. Sadly, the prognosis for pancreatic cancer in dogs is not good, and many veterinarians will only advise that they may have just one year left for the battle.