Dog Brain Tumor

A tumor refers to growth of abnormal or cancerous cells, within tissues of the body.



Tumors can be of two forms: Primary brain tumor, which develops from the brain cells that have started growing uncontrollably and Secondary brain tumor, which develops as the cancerous cells spread from the primary cancer part, to the brain. The most common forms of primary canine brain tumor are meningiomas, undifferentiated sarcomas, pituitary tumors, ventricular tumors and gliomas.



Dog brain tumor affects dogs of any age, however, it is more common in older dogs, than in younger ones.

Dog brain tumor symptoms

• One of the most common symptoms associated with brain tumor in dogs, is severe seizures.
  
  
  
  However, there are other symptoms that indicate brain tumor too, like:
• Lethargy or exhaustion
• Difficulty in walking on uneven grounds or climbing stairs
• Dramatic changes in the dog’s appetite, which includes overeating as well as refusal to eat properly.
• Sudden behavioral changes (where quite dogs bark incessantly, or gentle dogs become aggressive)
• Problems with hearing, eyesight and a loss of the sense of smell
• Whining and whimpering in pain
• Lack of familiarity, which includes people and places

Dog brain tumor causes

Some probable causes of canine brain tumor are – a serious head injury, exposure to electromagnetic fields or radiation, overexposure to pesticides & genetic syndromes.

Dog brain tumor treatment

Treating this condition in canines should normally include surgery, radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy. Brain tumors can only be surgically removed if the area that they are located in can be reached safely. Therefore, tumors that are located on the surface of the brain are easier to remove through surgery. If the tumor is located deep within the brain, then a part of the brain tissue may need to be cut through, which could have a devastating effect on the recovery of the dog. Therefore, if the tumor is deep-seated and cannot be removed surgically, radiation therapy can help in slowing down the growth rate of the tumor. Radiation can reduce the symptoms considerably. However, in most cases, radiation does not destroy the tumor completes, which is why the possibilities of the tumor recurring is very high chemotherapy is another way of reducing the symptoms of this condition, which includes the use of drugs. However, these drugs may not necessarily destroy the tumor and may only reduce the signs.