A sad first post to write, but my Jack Russell Terrier, McKenzie has cancer. At only 6 years old she has been diagnoised with canine lymphoma. So sad… but it made me go on a research hunt to find out more about the disease. So I figured I would share it with my fellow pet lovers.
First of all, you may be glad to know that lymphoma is not a breed specific cancer. It affects mainly older dogs, but sometimes younger dogs as in Kenzie’s case. Our first warning sign was swollen lymph nodes in several places on her body. Additional symptoms include: Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, become lethargy.
How do dogs get lymphoma? Its still an unknown yet debated topic.
Treatment varies depending on the time and money you have, along with how far the disease has progressed. Of course, you can decide to put your dog to sleep. Second option is to make them comfortable as the disease progresses. This is done by giving your dog steroids to help with the pain. Your dog will have a little more time this way. Lastly, you can pursue chemotherapy. From what I do understand, it is a very similar procedure to the chemotherapy that humans undergo. However, I am not a vet so please consult your vet before making any decisions on treating lymphoma.
