Canine Lymphoma Progression

If left untreated, Canine Lymphoma can progress rapidly and cause death within a few short months.

And while current conventional can be very effective at slowing the disease, and create months (or even years) of remission where the cancer is essentially not detectible, eventually the cancer will return and grow. And to make matters worse, since Canine Lymphoma evolves over time, Canine Lymphoma generally adapts and becomes drug resistant. That’s why, once a dog has fallen out of remission, it can often be harder to get him into remission a second or third time around.

As the disease progresses, the original symptoms of the disease,

Swolen Lymph Notes
Weight Loss
Loss of Appetite
Vomiting
Diarrhea (or black, tarry stool)
Shortness of Breath
Difficulty Swallowing
Increased Thirst
Increased Urination
Fever
Conjunctivitis (eye infections)
Lethargy or Depression
Reclusive Behavior
Skin Nodules or Masses
Loss of Fur or Hair

will grow progressively worse as the disease develops. Until over time, dogs with more advanced Canine Lymphoma may also show some or all of the following symptoms

Canine Lymphoma Symptoms in Later Stages (as the disease progresses)

In addition to the symptoms noted above, as the disease progresses your dog may encounter some or all of the following symptoms:

Severe Weight Loss
Difficulty Breathing, Coughing
Seizures, Paralysis
Difficulty Swallowing
Refusal to Eat
Congestive Heart Failure
Severe Lethargy
Bruised or Ulcerated Skin

And in the final “crisis” period of the disease (as the end is approaching)

Severe Difficulty breathing
Prolonged seizures
Uncontrollable Vomiting/Diarrhea
Sudden Collapse
Profuse Bleeding – Internal or External
Crying/Whining from Pain

Obviously, in these latter “crisis” stages of the disease, it’s important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

And in the end, Canine Lymphoma will grow to the extent that it takes over and overwhelms the body and its functions.

The cancer, in and of itself, is not actually the problem. The mutated cells themselves aren’t harmful. They’re just defective not performing their originally intended functions. The problem, however, is that these cancer cells multiply so rapidly that they take up space and eventually start moving into the space of organs and things around them that are cricital for survival.

Typically, for dogs with canine lymphoma, to the extent that the treatments are not able to reverse the growth of the cancer (or after a patient falls out of remission for the last time), the cancer cells will eventually take over.

In a lot of dogs the biggest issues we see is that their sub mandibular (jaw) lymph nodes eventually start getting extremely large, and these swollen nodes start pressing up against their throat and windpipe, to the point where they patient is no longer able to breathe or eat. And ultimately, that (starvation or suffocation) would be the cause of death if left untreated.

However, by then, most people generally euthanize their pet when this happens, because there’s often nothing your vet can do, and it becomes time to say goodbye as lovingly and as peacefully as you can.

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Canine Lymphoma Support

For more Canine Lymphoma support – and for answers to questions about your dog’s cancer care – visit our member support forum at www.DogCancerCare.com

Note: The information on this website is intended for research and informational purposes only. It is not to be used to diagnose or treat any disease, and should not be used as a substitute for proper veterinary consultation and care. Every dog and every cancer case is different, so if you fear that your dog has Canine Lymphoma, we encourage you to seek appropriate professional veterinary care as quickly as possible to determine the best course of action to treat your dog and his or her particular circumstances.