Pet Cancer Awareness Month: How Can You Protect Your Pets?

November is Pet Cancer Awareness month and the perfect opportunity to explore ways we can help protect our best friends.

Did you know that many of the cancers humans get can also affect pets?

It makes sense when you think about it. We share the same environments, are exposed to the same toxins, we share love and companionship as the human-animal bond, and our DNA or genomes are similar. The human genome and canine genome are 90% identical.

Cancer treatments vary depending on the form of cancer. Just like in humans, some dogs and cats can be treated with chemotherapy and others need to undergo amputations. The good news is that experts say 50% of pet cancers are curable if detected in the early stages.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Cancer Awareness Month: How Can You Protect Your Pets?

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Lymphoma in Cats

Lymphoma (cancer that originates in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell) is one of the more common cancers in cats. Male cats, and cats in the Northeast in general, have an increased risk-probably related to an increased risk of feline leukemia virus. Cats who test positive for FeLV have a 60-fold increased risk of developing lymphoma, while cats who are positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have a 5-fold increased risk for developing this type of cancer. Cats who are positive for both viruses have an 80-fold increase in their risk of developing lymphoma. Whether these viruses have a direct effect in causing the cancer or act primarily by interfering with the cat’s normal immunity is not known for certain.

The most common lymphoma sites in cats are the gastrointestinal system, the spine, and the chest cavity. The gastrointestinal type is the most common of the three forms of lymphoma and is not as closely associated with FeLV as are the other two. This type appears in older cats as weight loss and a drop in appetite. Some cats will vomit and/or have diarrhea, depending on the exact location of the cancer. Stomach cancers tend to cause vomiting and intestinal cancers are more likely to cause diarrhea. Siamese and domestic shorthairs seem to have an increased risk of developing this type of lymphoma.

Mediastinal lymphoma occurs in the lymph nodes inside the chest cavity. Cats under 5 years of age who are FeLV positive are at risk for developing this type of cancer, especially if they are Siamese or one of the Oriental breeds. Fluid will build up and leads to difficulty breathing, along with regurgitation and loss of appetite.

Spinal lymphoma tends to show up in 3- to 4-year-old male cats, especially if they are FeLV positive. The first signs may be problems with their hind legs.

How is lymphoma in cats diagnosed?
Diagnosis of lymphoma in cats is based on results of a physical examination and microscopic examination of biopsies or cells taken from affected tissues. This will not only confirm the diagnosis, but help to determine how aggressive the cancer may be, and provide a basis for treatment and prognosis. A complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis, radiographs (X-rays), and/or ultrasound examinations are generally performed to assess the health of the cat and determine which organ systems may be involved. Testing for FeLV and FIV may reveal that a cat is positive for one or both of these diseases, which will affect the prognosis. A PCR for Antigen Receptor Rearrangement (PARR) test can help differentiate lymphoma from other diseases. Examination of samples taken from the bone marrow may also be indicated in some cases.

How is lymphoma in cats treated?
Treatment for feline lymphoma usually consists of chemotherapy. In almost all cases a combination of different drugs is given over the course of many weeks. These drugs may include chlorambucil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, L-asparginase and prednisolone or prednisone. In some cases, such as cats with nasal lymphoma, radiation therapy may also be used. In general, cats tolerate chemotherapy very well. If side effects become severe, the treatment protocol can be modified to decrease the effects.

Treatment: Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have all been used to treat lymphomas, depending on the exact location and whether the cancer has spread. The prognosis is best for a cat with a single intestinal nodule and worst for a cat with a spinal growth.

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Lymphoma in Dogs

Canine lymphomas are a diverse group of cancers, and are among the most common cancers diagnosed in dogs. They collectively represent approximately 7-14% of all cancers diagnosed in dogs. There are over 30 described types of canine lymphoma, and these cancers vary tremendously in their behavior. Some progress rapidly and are acutely life-threatening without treatment, while others progress very slowly and are managed as chronic, indolent diseases. Lymphomas may affect any organ in the body, but most commonly originate in lymph nodes, before spreading to other organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

What is lymphoma?
The term “lymphoma” describes a diverse group of cancers in dogs that are derived from white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes normally function as part of the immune system to protect the body from infection. Although lymphoma can affect virtually any organ in the body, it most commonly arises in organs that function as part of the immune system such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. By far the most common type of lymphoma in the dog is multicentric lymphoma, in which the cancer first becomes apparent in lymph nodes.

Other common lymphomas in dogs include cutaneous lymphoma (lymphoma of the skin), alimentary or gastrointestinal lymphoma (lymphoma of the stomach and/or intestines) and mediastinal lymphoma (lymphoma involving organs within the chest, such as lymph nodes or the thymus gland).

What causes lymphoma in dogs?
Unfortunately, the cause of lymphoma in dogs is not known. Although several possible causes such as viruses, bacteria, chemical exposure, and physical factors such as strong magnetic fields have been investigated, the cause of this cancer remains obscure. Suppression of the immune system is a known risk factor for the development of lymphoma in humans. Evidence for this includes increased rates of lymphoma in humans infected with the HIV virus or are on immune-suppressing drugs following organ transplantation surgery. However, the link between immune suppression and lymphoma in dogs is not clearly established.

How is canine lymphoma diagnosed?
The best way to diagnose lymphoma is to perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a minor surgical procedure to remove a piece of lymph node or other organ affected by cancer. The most common methods for lymph node biopsy are Tru-cut needle biopsy, incisional wedge biopsy, or removal of an entire lymph node (excisional biopsy). The larger the biopsy sample, the better the chance for an accurate diagnosis of lymphoma.

We routine perform biopsy procedures to diagnose canine lymphoma at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (PUVTH). Dogs are placed under heavy sedation or general anesthesia to perform a biopsy. Although discomfort associated with this procedure is typically minimal, we often prescribe oral pain medication afterwards just to be sure your dog is comfortable following the biopsy.

How is canine lymphoma treated?
The most effective therapy for most types of canine lymphoma is chemotherapy. In some cases, surgery or radiation therapy may also be recommended. There are numerous chemotherapy treatment protocols for dogs with multicentric lymphoma. As discussed below, most dogs with lymphoma experience remission of their cancer following treatment, and side effects are usually not severe. Currently, the protocols that achieve the highest rates of remission and longest overall survival times involve combinations of drugs given over several weeks to months. The protocol we use as a “gold standard” for the treatment of canine multicentric lymphoma is a 25-week protocol called UW-25. It is based on a protocol called CHOP that is commonly used to treat lymphoma in humans.

The UW-25 protocol may not be appropriate for all dogs with lymphoma. Different types of lymphoma may be treated with different chemotherapy drugs. For instance, the most effective drug for cutaneous lymphoma is thought to be lomustine (CCNU). The veterinary oncologists and oncology residents at the PUVTH will help you decide on a chemotherapy treatment protocol that is appropriate for your dog.

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Hero Dog Who Lost Snout in Motorcycle Accident Needs Chemotherapy

Kabang, a hero dog that lost her snout saving two young girls in the Philippines, has had her facial reconstruction surgery postponed so that she can undergo treatment for cancer and heartworm, veterinarians at the University of California, Davis said.

Doctors will not be able to close Kabang’s wound until she receives treatment for a vaginal tumor and heartworm.

The hero dog that lost her snout saving two young girls in the Philippines has been diagnosed with cancer.

Kabang's facial reconstruction surgery has been postponed so that she can undergo treatment for an aggressive cancerous tumor and heartworm, veterinarians at the University of California, Davis said.

"We think she has a good prognosis,” Dr. Jane Sykes, an infectious disease specialist at the university's small animal clinic, told the Daily News.

“She is doing great,” she added. “You wouldn’t know that she had these problems based on her behavior.”
Kabang's inspiring story went viral last year after she jumped in front of a speeding motorcycle to protect her owner's daughter and niece.

Though Kabang is missing her snout, she is able to lap up food and water.

The owner's daughter, Dina Bunggal, 9 and her cousin, Princess Diansing, 3, were crossing a busy street in Zamboanga City when the dog appeared out of nowhere to shield them from the oncoming bike, eyewitnesses said at the time.

Kabang's entire upper jaw was torn off during the accident — an injury that had local vets advising she be put to sleep.

But her owner, Rudy Bunggal, refused.

Her story was quickly picked up by local media and gave way to several grassroots campaigns, including that of Karen Kenngott, a critical care nurse from Buffalo, N.Y., who launched Care for Kabang, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Dr. Anton Lim and veterinary medical student Heather Kennedy examine Kabang at UC Davis’ William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Kenngott's online campaign raised more than $20,000 from 22 countries to send the dog to UC Davis' William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, where she underwent a battery of tests that revealed her additional ailments.

Kabang, who gave birth to six puppies April 1, needs to receive chemotherapy to treat the vaginal tumor. She will also receive other treatments for heartworm disease.

It will likely be several months before Kabang is ready to undergo dental surgery and facial reconstruction.

“A lot of the delay is going to be related to the heartworm disease that she has,” Sykes told the Daily News. “We’re keen to treat that before she has the surgery on her face because it means that she has a higher anesthetic risk.”

‘It's so nice for me to see how a little dog like this can touch so many hearts,’ Dr. Jane Sykes, not pictured, said.

UC Davis veterinarians, however, have no plans to replace her missing nose with a prosthetic.

Sykes said Kabang may eventually return to the Philippines.

“She’s a really wonderful dog,” Sykes added. “It’s so nice for me to see how a little dog like this can touch so many hearts.”

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