Brewster Sanger is a 10-year old Golden Retriever with lymphoma who recently graduated from CHOP (a chemotherapy combination treatment) at our animal hospital! He is a patient of Dr. Silver that we began treating in February of 2019.
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that stems from white blood cells called lymphocytes. These cells assist the immune system in battling infection, and are found in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and the spleen. Likewise, lymphoma is commonly found in these parts of the body.
Lymphoma has many variations, but there are four in particular that are most common in dogs. These include: multicentric, alimentary, mediastinal, and extranodal. Multicentric lymphoma is the most common of its type, and affects the lymph nodes.
Symptoms of Multicentric Lymphoma
The primary clinical sign of multicentric lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes, which can be anywhere from three to 10 times their normal size. Other signs include lethargy, weakness, fever, anorexia, and dehydration.
How We Can Diagnose Lymphoma
In addition to an exam and blood work, we will need to perform a fine-needle aspiration of the affected lymph nodes/organ(s). We can also do staging tests to see how far your pet’s condition has progressed. From there, we can walk you through your pet’s treatment options and help you make the best decision for their needs and yours.
Available Treatments
The type of treatment your pet receives at our animal hospital depends on the type of cancer they have and how advanced it is. In the case of Brewster, we selected a chemotherapy combination known as the CHOP protocol. Other pets may benefit from radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of therapies to give them the best prognosis.