Oral Cancers in Dogs
Who doesn’t love dog kisses? So, if your primary care veterinarian suspects cancer in your pup’s mouth, consider an immediate consultation with an oncology specialist.
One type of oral cancer common in dogs is melanoma, which can exist in the skin in the mouth, as well as other parts of the body. Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, and Poodles tend to get melanoma more often than other breeds.
Melanoma inside of the mouth can be aggressive. Without treatment, survival times may be limited because eating becomes difficult. Staging tests are recommended as step one in managing melanoma. These tests often include chest radiographs, aspirates of the draining lymph nodes, bloodwork, and an abdominal ultrasound.
Common Cat Cancers
Because cats experience a wide range of cancer types and each case is unique, this blog provides an overview of common cancers by breed, as well as insights into two cancers common in cats.
Siamese cats can have higher rates of mammary, intestinal and mast cell tumors and sometimes develop cancer at younger ages than other breeds. Persian cats can be more prone to basal cell tumors and have a higher risk of sebaceous gland tumors and skin cancers. Maine Coons can have higher rates of hip dysplasia, which can lead to bone cancer. They also tend to be more susceptible to lymphoma and spinal cord tumors. All light-colored cats can be more susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma, especially if they have pink noses or ears or areas of unpigmented skin.
Immunotherapy Offers New Hope for Dogs
Merck Animal Health’s Esther Chon, DVM, DACVIM, Board Certified in Oncology, delivered “Updates on Immunotherapy,” as the last summer webinar in ACCC’s annual “How to Navigate through the Cancer Diagnosis” series for primary care veterinarians. A recording of her presentation is available HERE. Merck Animal Health has sponsored the summer series for the past three years.
Dr. Chon’s talk focused on the promise of immunotherapy as the new fourth pillar of treatment options in the fight against cancer in pets. In addition to the traditional protocols of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, immunotherapy offers new hope, thanks to promising immune checkpoint inhibitors, including Merck Animal Health’s gilvetmab.
Radiation Therapy and Bone Tumors
ACCC’s Jarred Lyons, DVM, Board-Certified in Radiation Oncology, presented “Bone Tumors: Surgery Is Not Feasible or Desired, So What’s Next?” at the second session of the summer webinar series for veterinarians, “How to Navigate Through the Cancer Diagnosis.” His detailed overview of the types of bone cancers typically found in dogs included state-of-the-art treatment protocols, current research reports, and insights into his own experience treating animals with cancer over the past nearly two decades in both California and Florida.
ACCC Surgeons Answer Common Questions in Webinar
ACCC’s Tammi Ruddle, DVM, Board-Certified in Surgery, and Robin Holtsinger, DVM, Board-Certified in Surgery, presented The Five Most Commonly Asked Questions of Our Surgical Team at the June webinar held for referring veterinarians across Florida. Merck Animal Health once again is the sponsor of the series. In summary, they led a lively and candid discussion about challenges faced by surgeons solely dedicated to the care of cancer in pets. Read on for a few of the key points they reviewed.
The Use of Chemotherapy in the Fight Against Cancer
Cancer has been referred to as “the immortal cell” because cancer cells have mutated and developed six “hallmarks of cancer.” This mutation allows cancer cells to continually divide, invade tissues and spread throughout the body. When critical cell receptors are changed by cancer cells, the body’s normal immune system is no longer able to remove these wayward cells.
Chemotherapy is one of the main strategies used to fight back with many types of cancer. Different drugs are designed to interfere with cancer cells during different points of the cell cycle, such as DNA replication, cell division, and cell signaling pathways. By studying the way cancer cells mutate and originate, more targeted chemotherapeutics are being developed to help in the fight against cancer.
What is that Bump on My Pet’s Eyelid?
Benign masses called “meibomian gland adenomas,” which originate from normal glands on the eyelids, are the most commonly diagnosed mass on the eyelid in dogs. The second most common type of mass found on the eyelid contains melanocytes, which are cells that produce pigment. Approximately 67 to 82% of these masses are benign, and 13-37% are malignant melanomas (skin cancer). Eyelid melanoma in cats is rare; therefore, little research is available.
Pigmented masses on the inner eye tissue or conjunctiva are usually more aggressive melanomas. The first treatment of choice in these cases is surgery with cryotherapy (freezing of the tissue).
Understanding Leukemia
Hearing a cancer diagnosis for your pet can be scary and confusing. Therefore, understanding the terms and the science behind various types of cancer can go a long way in creating HOPE and an ability to make informed decisions about treatment options. In this blog, we will be discussing leukemia, which is a cancer that attacks the immune system’s white blood cells.
When the various types of cells within the immune system begin to divide out of control, they become leukemia. Traditionally, this type of cancer is located in the bone marrow or blood and results in the overproduction of white blood cells. The bone marrow is unable to produce healthy cells due to the presence of the cancerous cells overcrowding the marrow.
Credentials Matter
In addition to completing four years at a veterinary medical school to become DMVs, our Veterinary Oncology Specialists (Diplomates) – the largest team of oncology specialists in the nation – have completed an additional four to six years of education and experiences to establish expertise in distinct areas of oncology. Most of our doctors are “board-certified,” which requires extensive training and course caseload, published research, at least one year of internship experience, and three to five years of hospital residency focusing on a specific specialty. A rigorous exam must be passed for certification. These professionals have then reached the pinnacle of veterinarian achievement in training and are considered “Diplomates” as recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association Board of Veterinary Specialties.
Veterinary Cancer Society FAQs for Pet Owners
The following are excerpts from the Veterinary Cancer Society, a nonprofit organization
that “provides educational opportunities to enhance the practice of veterinary oncology, and to inspire scientific and professional interactions by connecting those who have a shared interest in oncology.”
What are the most common types of cancers in dogs? How many dogs typically get cancer?
One in four dogs will be diagnosed with cancer, and it’s the leading cause of death in pets who are beyond middle age.