Canine Cancer:

Most people don't realize that dogs get cancer at about the same rate as humans. That is typically the case until they take an ailing pet into their veterinarian's office for a diagnosis and subsequently learn that a prescription for an antibiotic cure-all isn't going to do the trick, at least not this time.

In the case of my dog, Miss Figgs, a 4-year-old mixed shepherd/labrador/greyhound/pit bull with a blond coat, pointed ears, curled tail, and a major-league bark, the ailing signs included a reluctance to eat, a funny-sounding sneeze, and, most noticeably, some small lumps in her throat at the collar-line location. Our vet found other lumps in the lymph nodes but held out hope that the cause might be some chance environmental toxin that would be discouraged by antibiotics. He knew of another similar case with a good outcome. But we were advised to bring the dog back for further tests if there were no improvements.

Getting my dog to take the pills was a challenge as she had become quite irritable of late. We discovered that after barking loudly at something, she found it easier to eat, especially if offered chicken strips or a personal favorite, cheese crackers.

Since there was no noticeable recovery with the antibiotic, we again visited the vet, this time opting for a biopsy to determine whether or not cancer could be the cause. A few days later the vet called with the bad news, also mentioning that treatment possibilities ranged from doing nothing, choosing chemotherapy, or preferring only palliative care.

Chemotherapy, while expensive, has been proven in recent years to be quite beneficial as a treatment for dogs who have developed lymphoma or a handful of other cancer types. A year or even two of remission is often the result. But not all dogs can handle the treatment protocol itself or the associated side effects. The stage of the cancer, how severe or how far it has developed or metastasized, also is a determining factor in the success of chemo.

For Miss Figgs, knowing her rather difficult temperament, we opted for palliative care. The prescription was for prednisone, with the expectation that the drug would give the dog a reasonable quality of life for at least two months and possibly longer. It turned out that she only had another 10 days left. And they were mostly good days, with walks in the woods and car rides, and with twice-daily snacks of tuna fish to ease the swallowing of the pills. Plus we made a couple of beef roasts, slicing and chopping the meat thinly, to whet her appetite. But the last day was pretty sad, as she could not ingest anything, was restless and coughing, and had trouble moving. Euthanasia was administered by the vet in the evening, a very warm late summer evening.

Cancer in dogs can be difficult to detect. Miss Figgs, for example, had been in for her annual check-up and shots only two months previous to her sudden demise. At that time she had a minor ear infection which yielded easily to a topical treatment. And her blood work had been normal. Other dogs, particularly pure-breds with a known tendency to develop cancer like boxers and retrievers, have had better luck with early detection, precise diagnosis, and efficient treatment, whether aggressive to cure or palliative to mitigate symptoms.

Because dogs and humans have so many types of cancer in common, successful clinical trials for one species can lead to similar trials for the other. Comparative oncology is attracting interest from veterinary specialists and human cancer experts. A clinical trial targeting brain cancer in dogs, a trial currently ongoing at the University of Minnesota, has received funds from the National Cancer Institute. The Morris Animal Foundation has supplied grants for a number of canine cancer studies, including one started in 2008 at Oregon State University. Drug maker Pfizer's Palladia received FDA approval this year as a canine cancer treatment.

One recent example of the impact a diagnosis of cancer in a dog can have on people is the outpouring of support for stricken police dog Mica, a Belgian Malinois, in Weare NH, a small town in the middle of that New England state. Donations to pay for chemotherapy treatments have come not only from local townsfolk and school children but also from kind people from far away. Let's hope that this special 4-year-old dog, credited with once finding a lost child, will survive for a long time to come.

Rodney Page, "Palliative Care in Companion Animal Oncology", Veterinary Info Network
Kathy Remillard, "Treatment fund started for K-9 with cancer", NewHampshire.com
"New research to help dogs with cancer may benefit people", EScienceNews.com
"New therapy for canine brain cancer", Whole Dog Journal