Liver Cancer in Dogs, Canine Euthanasia, Digestion
Liver cancer in dogs is relatively rare with some experts estimating that in the majority of primary causes of Cancer it occurs in about two percent of cases.
This condition comes in two forms – Metatastic and Primary. Each type is very serious and will of course need medical treatment.
At it’s worst this condition may lead to euthanasia especially when the cancer has spread to other organs.
Below we have provided a complete guide to the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for this devastating disease.
Liver Cancer in Dogs
Liver Cancer in Dogs – The Facts…
As previously mentioned this condition comes in two forms and it is normally quite advanced before any symptoms are noticed. Although the Liver is an amazing organ it can still continue to function relatively normally even when a large proportion of it has been affected by a cancerous tumor or growth.
The Liver has a variety of functions – including producing bile which is utilized to make digestion easier. As well as aiding the digestive system it also regulates the storage and how Carbohydrates are used by your dog’s body. This very important organ also helps with the mobilization of fat and helps to detoxify and excrete toxic substances in your dogs body. The Liver also helps to synthesize the proteins found in your dogs blood system while also helping to keep your pooches body temperature stable.
Metatastic Liver Cancer in Dogs
Metatastic Liver Cancer in dogs is when the Cancer has spread to other organs in your dog’s body. This is a very serious condition and will produce a variety of symptoms. As previously mentioned Cancer that forms in the Liver first (Primary) is actually very rare and the disease will normally form somewhere else before it spreads to the Liver. Due to the fact that the organ helps to filter blood any Cancer Cells that are being passed around the body via the blood stream and then through the Liver – this will then cause the cancer to develop in this organ.
Primary Liver Cancer in Dogs
Primary Liver Cancer refers to a Cancer that has developed in the Liver as opposed to somewhere else. Primary Neoplasia refers to a Tumor (Cancer) that forms in the Liver. In this case the Cancer is normally malignant and has developed from Liver Cells (also referred to as Hepatocellular Carcinomas). The Primary type can also develop benign tumors that also develop from Liver cells – this type is referred to as Hepatocellular Adenomas (Hepatomos). This type of the disease is more common in older dogs – especially those aged of 10 years of age.
The main causes of Primary Liver Cancer in dogs are actually due to environmental factors. This can include carcinogens from chemicals or toxins. nasty food additives, preservatives, colorings and fillers, food dyes and pesticides.
The symptoms of this condition depend on the area that the tumor has affected. benign tumors that are situated in one place and have not spread will often not lead to your dog becoming seriously ill. However, if the tumor is large enough to have caused abdominal issues then your pooch might show negative symptoms. A benign tumor that has become particularly large and more intrusive can impact on other areas within the abdomen especially if has started bleeding should it have been ruptured. In very unusual cases a tumor might cause your dog to experience low blood sugar and even hypoglycemia. More common symptoms will normally include some of the following…
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting and sickness
- Tiredness and lethargy (especially after exercise) or even just walking around the House.
- Your pooch might be really thirsty and want to drink lots of water.
- Your dog might urinate excessively.
- If your dog is experiencing Anemia then you might notice that your pooch has pale gums.
- You may notice blood in your dog’s poop.
- The abdomen might appear distended and out of shape
- Your pooch might start breathing faster or even have difficulty breathing.
- Weight loss is another symptom of the condition.
- Your pooch might have skin that appears yellow – this is a sign of Jaundice.
Diagnosis of Liver Cancer in Dogs…
As previously mentioned sometimes the symptoms don’t start to appear until the Cancer has become more advanced. Sometimes the owner is the best person to ask about unusual symptoms because even the smallest symptom can be picked up on by a loving owner. Alongside speaking to the owner the diagnosis of this disease may include the vet using some of the following techniques…
- A complete physical examination and look at the medical history.
- A CBC (Complete Blood Count) may also be taken.
- An abdominal X-ray might need to be undertaken to see if there is anything causing the unusual symptoms.
- A chest X-ray or abdominal Ultrasound scan might be used by the Vet to make an accurate diagnosis.
- A Biochemical profile might also be undertaken by the Vet. This is an amazing procedure that involves the Vet taking a small sample of blood – the blood sample is then sent to a Lab to be tested – this will involve electrolytes, enzymes and lots of other molecules being tested in Laboratory conditions. A Biochemical profile is a unique method used by medical professionals to look at and examine the inside workings of a dog’s body.
- The Vet might also undertake clotting tests.
- In some scenarios the Vet might take a biopsy of the Liver.
- Urinalysis – this is the chemical analysis of your dog’s urine.
Liver Cancer in Dogs – Treatment…
In some cases surgery might need to be performed to remove the disease tumor. If the tumor has spread to other areas of your dog’s body then your dog’s chances of recovery and even survival are reduced significantly. The Vet might need to treat secondary problems with IV fluids (if your dog has become dehydrated) and even blood transfusions.
As mentioned previously the Liver is an amazing organ and can continue to function with only twenty percent left after surgery. Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat metatastic cancers but is not particularly effective when used to treat Primary liver cancer in dogs.
Ugonjwa wa kansa ya ini kwa mbwa ni nadra sana, na wataalamu fulani wanakadiria kwamba katika sababu nyingi za msingi za kansa, hufanyika katika asilimia mbili ya visa. Hali hii inakuja katika aina mbili <unk> Metatastic na ya msingi. Kila aina ni mbaya sana na bila shaka itahitaji matibabu. Katika hali mbaya zaidi hali hii inaweza kusababisha euthanasia hasa wakati kansa imeenea kwa viungo vingine. Hapa chini tunaelezea sababu, dalili, utambuzi na matibabu ya ugonjwa huu mbaya. Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo awali, hali hii inakuja katika aina mbili na kwa kawaida ni ya hali ya juu sana kabla ya dalili yoyote kuonekana. Ingawa ini ni kiungo cha ajabu, bado inaweza kuendelea kufanya kazi kwa kawaida hata wakati sehemu kubwa ya imekuwa kuathiriwa na uvimbe wa kansa. Ini ina kazi mbalimbali <unk> ikiwa ni pamoja na kuzalisha bile ambayo hutumiwa kufanya digestion rahisi. Pamoja na kusaidia mfumo wa kumeng'enya, pia inasimamia uhifadhi na jinsi wanga hutumiwa na mwili wa mbwa wako. Mwili huu muhimu pia husaidia katika kuhamisha mafuta na kusaidia kuondoa sumu na kutupa vitu vyenye sumu katika mwili wa mbwa wako. Ini pia husaidia kutengeneza protini zinazopatikana katika mfumo wa damu ya mbwa wako na kusaidia kudumisha joto la mwili wa mbwa wako. Metastatic Liver Cancer katika Mbwa ni ugonjwa wa kansa ya ini ambayo huenea kwenye viungo vingine vya mwili. Hii ni hali mbaya sana na itatokeza dalili mbalimbali. Kama ilivyotajwa hapo awali, saratani ambayo hufanyizwa katika ini kwanza (Kwanza) ni nadra sana na ugonjwa huo kwa kawaida utafanyizwa mahali pengine kabla ya kuenea kwenye ini. Kwa sababu ya ukweli kwamba chombo husaidia kuchuja damu yoyote ya seli za saratani ambazo zinapitishwa kuzunguka mwili kupitia mtiririko wa damu na kisha kupitia ini, hii itasababisha saratani kuendeleza katika chombo hiki. Saratani ya ini ya msingi ni saratani ya ini ambayo imeibuka katika ini badala ya mahali pengine. Neoplasia ya msingi inahusu uvimbe (Kansa) unaojitokeza katika ini. Katika kesi hii kansa ni kawaida mbaya na imeendelea kutoka Chembe za ini (pia inajulikana kama Hepatocellular Carcinomas). Aina ya msingi pia inaweza kuendeleza uvimbe mzuri ambao pia huendelea kutoka kwa seli za ini <unk> aina hii inajulikana kama Hepatocellular Adenomas (Hepatomas). Aina hii ya ugonjwa ni ya kawaida zaidi katika mbwa wazee - hasa wale wenye umri wa miaka 10. Sababu kuu za kansa ya ini ya msingi katika mbwa kwa kweli ni kwa sababu ya mambo ya mazingira. Hilo laweza kutia ndani vitu vinavyosababisha kansa vinavyotokana na kemikali au sumu. Viongezeo vya chakula, vihifadhi, rangi na kujaza, rangi za chakula na dawa za kuua wadudu. Dalili za ugonjwa huo hutegemea eneo ambalo uvimbe huo umeharibiwa. Tumors benign ambazo hazijaenea kwa muda mrefu hazitafanya mbwa wako kuwa mgonjwa. Hata hivyo, ikiwa uvimbe ni mkubwa vya kutosha kusababisha matatizo ya tumbo, mbwa wako anaweza kuonyesha dalili mbaya. Ugonjwa wa benign ambao umekuwa mkubwa na unaovunja zaidi unaweza kuathiri maeneo mengine ya tumbo, hasa ikiwa umeanza kutokwa na damu. Katika visa visivyo vya kawaida, uvimbe unaweza kusababisha mbwa wako awe na sukari ya chini ya damu na hata hypoglycemia. Dalili za kawaida ni pamoja na: kupoteza hamu ya kula, kutapika na ugonjwa, uchovu na uchovu (hasa baada ya mazoezi) au hata kutembea tu nyumbani. - Mbwa wako anaweza kuwa na kiu sana na anataka kunywa maji mengi. - Mbwa wako anaweza kukojoa kupita kiasi. - Kama mbwa wako ni uzoefu Anemia basi unaweza kugundua kwamba pooch yako ina gums nyeupe. - Huenda ukagundua damu katika mkojo wa mbwa wako. - Uimbaji wa mtoto wako unaweza kuonekana kuwa umevunjika na haujatengenezwa vizuri - Mbwa wako anaweza kuanza kupumua haraka au hata kuwa na ugumu wa kupumua. - Kupoteza uzito ni dalili nyingine ya hali hiyo. - Pooch yako inaweza kuwa na ngozi ambayo inaonekana manjano <unk> hii ni ishara ya Jaundice. Utambuzi wa kansa ya ini katika mbwa... Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo awali wakati mwingine dalili haziwezi kuanza kuonekana mpaka kansa imekuwa zaidi ya juu. Wakati mwingine mwenye nyumba ndiye mtu bora wa kuuliza juu ya dalili zisizo za kawaida kwa sababu hata dalili ndogo inaweza kuchukuliwa na mmiliki mwenye upendo. Kwa kuongezea, mtoa huduma anaweza kuamua ugonjwa huo kwa kutumia baadhi ya mbinu zifuatazo: - CBC (Complete Blood Count) yaweza pia kuchukuliwa. - Huenda ikawa lazima upime X-ray ya tumbo ili uone kama kuna jambo lolote linalosababisha dalili zisizo za kawaida. - X-ray ya kifua au uchunguzi wa ultrasound ya tumbo waweza kutumiwa na daktari wa mifugo ili kufanya utambuzi sahihi. - Profili ya biokemia inaweza pia kufanywa na Veterinarian. Hii ni utaratibu wa ajabu ambao unahusisha daktari wa mifugo kuchukua sampuli ndogo ya damu - sampuli ya damu kisha hutumwa kwa maabara kupimwa - hii itahusisha electrolytes, enzymes na molekuli nyingine nyingi zinazopimwa katika hali ya maabara. Profili ya biokemia ni njia ya kipekee inayotumiwa na wataalamu wa matibabu kuangalia na kuchunguza kazi ya ndani ya mwili wa mbwa. - Daktari wa mifugo anaweza pia kufanya uchunguzi wa kuganda kwa damu. - Katika hali fulani daktari wa mifugo aweza kuchukua uchunguzi wa ini. - Uchunguzi wa mkojo <unk> hii ni uchambuzi wa kemikali ya mkojo wa mbwa wako. Saratani ya ini katika Mbwa <unk> Matibabu... Katika visa fulani huenda ikawa lazima upasuaji ufanywe ili kuondoa uvimbe wa ugonjwa. Kama uvimbe umeenea kwa sehemu nyingine za mwili wa mbwa wako, basi nafasi za kuokoa na hata kuishi zinapungua sana. Huenda daktari wa mifugo akahitaji kutibu matatizo ya pili kwa kutumia umajimaji wa mtiririko wa damu (ikiwa mbwa wako amekuwa na upungufu wa maji mwilini) na hata kumimina damu. Kama ilivyotajwa hapo awali, ini ni kiungo cha ajabu na inaweza kuendelea kufanya kazi na asilimia ishirini tu kushoto baada ya upasuaji. Chemotherapy ni mara kwa mara kutumika kutibu metastatic kansa lakini si hasa ufanisi wakati kutumika kutibu Primary kansa ya ini katika mbwa.