The Four Types Of Lymphoma That Affect Dogs
Lymphoma is characterized by the growth of malignant tumors in lymph tissue. Since your dog's body
is made up primarily of lymph tissue, this type of cancer can expand to almost any area of your dog's
system. However, there are four different classifications for canine lymphoma, categorized by the area
of growth as well as the organs that are affected.
1. Multicentric Lymphoma
Multicentric lymphoma is the most common type of lymphoma to affect dogs, accounting for about 85% of all documented cases.
This type of lymphoma shows effects in the lymph nodes, and may or may not involve other organs. Multicentric lymphoma typically does eventually infiltrate the organs, and the tumor may begin to replace healthy organ tissue. This causes death by organ failure, as the organ is eventually unable to function.
2. Gastrointestinal Lymphoma
Gastrointestinal lymphoma involves cancerous growth around the digestive tract, most commonly being present near the stomach.
This type of lymphoma can cause lack of appetite, malnutrition, and fatigue.A gastrointestinal tumor can become especially dangerous if located near the small or large intestine, since it can inhibit the proper passage of waste from your dog's gastrointestinal tract.
3. Mediastinal Lymphoma
This type of lymphoma is typically present in the chest area, involving the thorax and possibly affecting the lungs. Dogs with mediastinal lymphoma often experience difficulty breathing, in addition to a visible shortness of breath. If left untreated, mediastinal lymphoma can cause death by suffocation, as the tumor's growth progresses to eventually completely restrict the function of the lungs.
This type of lymphoma also will put your dog in a significant amount of pain, usually centralized around the chest area. Surgery to remove mediastinal lymphoma tumors is usually not recommended, and chemotherapy is the best option.
4. Extranodal Lymphoma
This is the rarest type of lymphoma, and refers to lymphoma that is specifically affecting one of six different areas of your dog's body. These types include:
- Breast tissue
- Cutaneous tissue (skin)
- Hepatic tissue (liver)
- Ocular or Orbital tissue (eyes)
- Osteo tissue (bone)
- Oral tissue (mouth)
Extranodal lymphoma is different from multicentric lymphoma because it first appears outside of the lymphatic system, and then can spread to become multicentric lymphoma.This type of lymphoma has such a broad classification, because it can appear in so many different areas of your dog's body. The type of symptoms present in your dog can vary from each area affected, and will usually be visible in degenerative effects on the specific system.
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