Gastric cancer in dogs

Gastric cancer can cause different symptoms in a dog and can be treated in different ways. It is important to recognise the symptoms of gastric cancer in dogs early in order to start treatment as soon as possible. We have compiled the relevant information on gastric cancer in dogs for you.

If you have any questions or would like a personal consultation, please feel free to contact us. Together with you, our experts will discuss the symptoms you observe or the details of the diagnosis of gastric cancer in your dog.

• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Prognosis
• Dendritic Cell Therapy

A cancer of the stomach in dogs is a rare diagnosis. Dogs aged 8-10 years are normally affected. Unfortunately, most of the tissues found in the stomach are malignant. The following types of cancer are frequently found in the stomach of dogs: Adenocarcinoma, lymphoma or leiomyosarcoma, but also mast cell tumors. In addition to the type of cancer, stomach cancer is also differentiated according to the affected layer of the stomach wall.

Symptoms of gastric cancer in dogs

Dogs that later develop gastric cancer are often noticed in adolescence due to increased gastrointestinal disturbances, especially vomiting. This is easily treatable at this time and owner and veterinarian do not think of a beginning malignant disease.

One of the symptoms of gastric cancer in dogs is vomiting, which increases in frequency, can be very painful and can also show bloody sputum. Visible weight loss is another sign of cancer: because dogs are reluctant to eat because of the pain, they often lose weight quickly and significantly. Also a change of the feed and a strict diet with several times daily smaller feed portions do not lead to an improvement of the feed intake. Please be aware that the dogs show a lot of pain symptoms and treat accordingly!

Diagnosis of gastric cancer in dogs

An X-ray examination is often performed to examine dogs suspected of having gastric cancer. For example, in a contrast image lesions of the stomach wall will be found. An ultrasound examination can also give first indications of a disease. An endoscopy of the stomach should then be used to obtain sample material for examination in the laboratory. In order to identify larger lesions from which samples can be taken, the oncologists use a flexible endoscope for gastroscopy of the narcotized dog. Several large samples have to be taken as most tumors have superficial necrosis, inflammation and ulceration. Some tumors are also submucosal, which makes biopsy more difficult. This is the disadvantage of gastroscopy: it cannot reach all layers of the stomach wall.

Blood testing and the detection of anemia due to chronic blood loss by the tumor, but also occult blood in the stool (black faeces) can help oncologists diagnose gastrointestinal cancer. In many cases the liver enzymes are increased by the disease-related obstruction of the bile duct.

Treatment of gastric cancer in dogs

It is usually very difficult to assess the stage of cancer without being able to examine the liver and all abdominal lymph nodes. This can only be achieved by surgery. Either a curative resection of the entire tumor tissue or a broad partial gastric rectomy (partial removal of the stomach) can be performed. Gastro-jejunostomy or gastroduodenostomy are only performed by absolute specialists in very rare cases. The veterinarians try to avoid a complete gastrectomy, as the dog's chances of survival are then very low.

Theoretically, one week after surgery, follow-up treatment with chemotherapy can begin in a protocol of adriamycin, cytoxane, doxycycline, piroxicam and vincristine. But this treatment also has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract with its side effects (stomach upset, diarrhoea and vomiting).

It is also important to support the treatment of cancer with a diet adapted to the stomach disease. In addition to special rations, these can also be multiple daily feeds.

The prognosis in gastric cancer of the dog

Gastric cancer is usually diagnosed in an advanced stage. Therefore, the chances of cure are low and the prognosis is usually poor. The median survival in gastric adenocarcinoma is only two months. Therefore, further treatment options need to be considered:

treatment of gastric cancer in dogs with dendritic cell therapy

You can use dendritic cell therapy for your dog's gastric cancer to increase quality of life and improve life expectancy. You can monitor your dog's success by performing follow-up examinations of the abdominal organs with ultrasound. The blood values can also be checked and then continuously recorded.

The goal of dendritic cell therapy is to build up your dog's immune system in such a way that the cancer cells are attacked and destroyed. This makes the immune system aware of the cancer cells no matter where they are in your dog's body. So even if the cells have already migrated to other organs.