Brain Tumors in Dogs

Dog breeds which have been studied to be more susceptible to brain tumors are golden retrievers, Doberman pinschers, Scottish terriers, boxers, Boston terriers and old English sheepdogs. Commonly diagnosed brain tumors in dogs include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and meningiomas. Some tumors tend to develop directly from the tissues of the brain, while there are some which spread to the brain through the bloodstream. Causal factors have not been identified yet. However, diet, environment, and chemical, genetic, viral, immunologic conditions and trauma may contribute to the problem. Tumors may develop in any part of the brain and the occurrence of the symptoms may be gradual or abrupt by nature. The symptoms may be mild or extreme and involve physical and psychological changes in the animal.

Symptoms

Symptoms that may be indicative of brain tumor in canines could include reduced appetite, difficulty in swallowing, excessive thirst, gradual loss of trained habits and reduced level of activity. You might also notice that your pet has developed abnormal changes in gait and constantly falls due to loss of balance. Difficulty in jumping and climbing, developing hypersensitivity, difficulty in moving the eyes, facial paralysis, tilting of head, vomiting, seizures and tremors, are other symptoms that may occur. Pressing the face against a hard surface and weakness on one side of the body are some of the other symptoms which may also be evident.

The symptoms of brain tumor are also related to certain psychological changes in the dog. These are behavioral changes, irritability, compulsions in eating and barking, depression, confusion and disorientation. In some cases, it has also been found that aggressive dogs become docile, while docile dogs turn aggressive. This is known as personality reversal in animals.

Treatment

The treatment generally involves methods for getting rid of the tumor for good or slowing down the growth of the tumor. Surgery becomes an option depending upon the nature of the tumor; its extent, location, size and severity. However, for certain locations in the brain like that of the brainstem (the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus), surgery is not considered as it harbors the risk of causing death to the animal.

Radiotherapy is the most widely used and preferred treatment method for brain tumors in dogs. It may be used as a lone treatment or in combination with other treatment methods. The benefit of this method comes from the fact that the tumors will be eliminated without causing much harm to the normal tissues of the brain.

Chemotherapy is also available as a treatment for the condition. However, the method yields successful results, only when the administered drugs have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. Only high doses of medications are generally effective for treating the tumors, but again, such doses may be toxic for the normal brain tissues. However, with medical advancement, many drugs have been evolved which can cross the blood brain barrier and help in getting rid of the tumor.

Know that your affected pet might not show any such signs or symptoms as mentioned above, until a few years. This is because brain tumors have a slow growth rate and hence do not manifest themselves easily through any such signs. So, it is obvious that by the time the symptoms start revealing themselves, the tumors might have already crossed their first stage. So, it becomes extremely important for people to take their pets to a vet, as soon as they notice any of the above mentioned signs or symptoms. A hasty treatment is what is required to add more years to your pets' life!