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by Denyse Lessard July 08, 2020 4 min read
Receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis for your beloved pet is a heart-breaking experience. If that’s the case with you and your family, we can only imagine how stressed and scared you must be in this time.
If you have questions, or are looking for more information about pancreatic cancer in dogs, or pancreatic tumor in dogs, I hope this article can provide you with the answers you need.
We are going to examine the answers to these questions: What is pancreatic cancer in dogs? Is adenocarcinoma the only type? What are the causes and signs of pancreatic cancer in dogs? What is the life expectancy and what treatment options are available?
With over 20 years experience in the domain of animal health and thousands of satisfied pet parents and healthy pets worldwide, we here at Zumalka are committed to using our expertise, knowledge, and passion to help you navigate your dog’s cancer diagnosis.
I hope you find the information in this article understandable and informative!
Please refer to our complete guide to dog cancer to learn more about the various cancers affecting dogs.
When dealing with a pancreatic tumor in dogs, there are four main types: adenocarcinomas, insulinomas, gastrinomas, and glucagonomas. While they affect different types of cells within the pancreas, they are all malignant tumors, meaning they are cancerous, and might spread to other areas of the body.
Thankfully, pancreatic cancer is relatively rare in dogs, but the most common types are adenocarcinomas and insulinomas.
That doesn’t mean any tumor found in the pancreas is cancerous - there are non-cancerous, or benign tumors that are sometimes found in the pancreas called adenomas, but unfortunately these occur a lot less commonly.
As with most cancers, it’s hard to say what exactly causes them. What we do know, though, iis that there are genetic factors that seem to cause certain breeds to be more likely to develop this type of cancer.
Larger breed dogs tend to be diagnosed more frequently, such as Boxers, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers. Pancreatic cancer also seems to affect a larger percentage of middle aged and older dogs.
Depending on the type of tumor, the signs of pancreatic cancer in dogs might be different from case to case.
Insulinomas cause the pancreas to produce more insulin and lowers the blood sugar. Some of the symptoms of this type of tumor include:
Adenocarcinomas have symptoms that are harder to identify. They tend to show signs of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), such as:
If you notice anything wrong with your pup - his behavior has changed, he seems tired or sick, make sure you take him in for a checkup right away! Some of the symptoms listed above are also signs of other illnesses, and the sooner you can receive a diagnosis and start treatment, the better the chances of recovery.
The life expectance of dogs with canine pancreatic cancer is generally anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the severity of the cancer and the treatment plan used. Sadly, this is because many times, pancreatic cancer is found late, once the tumor is in advanced stages and has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body.
In many cases, the cancer moves to the lymph nodes, liver, and small intestine after starting in the pancreas. If this has happened, it greatly reduces life expectancy.
Treatment options might be different, depending on your pup’s specific diagnosis. Generally, though, your vet might recommend surgery or other treatments to manage the symptoms of low blood sugar.
It can be extremely hard and stressful to choose a treatment plan for your beloved companion. I’m sure there are many emotions you’re going through, and there is lots of information to be considered. Of course, you want the best for your pet, and so do we!
Here at Zumalka, it is our mission to provide natural products that work for your pet. That’s why we have spent lots of time and effort to specifically craft PIPTOPET, a mother tincture made with a medicinal mushroom designed to help aid your pup!
This exceptional remedy works hard to boost the immune system. In dog cancer, you want to have the most allies to help him attack unhealthy cells, and prevent re-occurrences of cancer.
Not only can it be used on its own, it can be used in conjunction with other treatment options, if that’s what you decide.
Did this article give you all the information you need? Feel free to call, email, or chat with us any time - we are always here to help. Fill out our Free Consultation form to see how else we can help with your dog’s health!
Share with us in the comments what your experience has been with pancreatic cancer in your pet, and make sure to share on social media to let others know about this remedy too!
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