Dog Liver Cancer

Before discussing dog liver cancer, let's first understand about the functions of liver. Liver is the largest organ responsible for performing a multitude of functions; some of which include body detoxification, neutralization of harmful toxins present in the blood, fighting infections, aiding digestion by secreting bile juice and boosting immune system. One of the characteristic features of liver is that it can perform its normal functions, even if 60 - 70 percent of the total mass is affected by disease. While this feature benefits the pet so that it can function normally despite being in a diseased condition, it also means that liver disease is well advanced before the onset of any noticeable symptoms.

Any abnormality in the cells and/or tissues of liver can cause liver disease. As liver functions as a biochemical active center, it is susceptible to developing a wide range of diseases viz., infections, cancer and degenerative disease. Almost all dogs are at risk to developing liver disease, which can be either cancerous or non-cancerous.

Causes and Symptoms

Dog liver cancer can be caused due to ingestion of toxic chemicals, heavy metals and exposure to carcinogens. After the pet dog consumes these toxic chemicals, they pass liver for detoxification process, thus increasing the chances of developing liver cancer.

In dogs, there are two types of liver cancer, namely, primary and secondary or metastatic tumors. Primary liver cancer is more common that secondary type; it occurs due to presence of malignant tumors in the tissues of liver. Primary liver cancer has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. Secondary liver cancer, on the other hand, is caused due to spread of malignant tumors from other body organs.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Since liver performs a wide range of functions, it is obvious that liver cancer will affect almost all the other parts of the body. Hence, symptoms of liver cancer are always vague and confused with other canine illnesses. The notable symptoms are loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal distension, stomach pain, gum problems, difficulty in breathing or increased in respiratory rate and jaundice.

Diagnosis is done by physical examination of the pet and conducting liver biopsy. Increased level of bile in the blood or urine, as well as an enlarged or inflamed liver can be an indication of liver cancer of the pet. For confirmation, the veterinarian may conduct blood tests in order to check for increased levels of enzymes such as Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) and Alkaline Phosphatase.

For treatment of primary liver cancer in the early stages, surgical removal of the affected liver lobe is the most effective technique. However, surgery is not recommended in case cancer has spread to multiple lobes. Regarding secondary liver cancer, the only treatment option is chemotherapy. The main objective behind the treatment is to improve the quality of life for the pet, but not to increase the lifespan. One can make the pet comfortable by feeding healthy dog foods, giving recommended doses of chemotherapy and taking proper care of the pet.