Uterine Cancer in Dogs

Common info

Uterus is a vital organ of the female dog. When tissues grow abnormally, a tumor either benign tumor or a malignant will develop on the smooth muscles of the dog’s uterus and endometrium. However, benign tumors commonly exist. The symptoms of uterine cancer in dogs are difficulty in urination, blood in urine, loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, and leucorrhea, etc.

History

Causes of uterine cancer in dogs are still unknown, but the disease is more prone to occur in the unspayed female dogs.

Description

There are two types of cancers found in dogs; a benign tumor called leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas, a malignant tumor. Both exist in the smooth muscles of the uterus, which will be gradually formed into a large-sized tumor and compress other abdominal organs, including the stomach, intestine, and bladder, causing the abdomen to expand apparently. All these will weaken the uterus, making it easily contagious if not being treated.

Symptoms

Difficulty in urination
Blood in urine
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Constipation
Leucorrhea
Lethargy
Frequent urination
Frequent thirst
Vomiting
Flatulence

The symptoms found in uterine cancer in dogs include lethargy, difficulty in urination, frequent urination, blood in urine, unusual thirst, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, flatulence, constipation, and leucorrhea.

Treatment and Prevention

The best treatment is neutering. However, chemotherapy is also essential as it can reduce the probability of the spread of disease to other parts of the body. For medication, a vet may prescribe doxorubicin, cisplatin, carboplatin, and epirubicin for infection cases, where inflammations are in the uterus. Also, antibiotics may be another option to prevent bacterial infection.

Petmd | Uterine Tumors in Dogs
Vetinfo | Uterine Cancer in Dogs
Cave, T. A., Hine, R., Howie, F., Thompson, H., & Argyle, D. J. 2002. Uterine carcinoma in a 10-month-old golden retriever. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 43(3), 133–135.
Payne-Johnson, C. E., Kelly, D. F., & Davies, P. T. 1986. Endometrial carcinoma in a young dog. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 96(4), 463–467.

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