Kidney cancer in dogs is a very rare condition. In fact, when cancerous cells appear in this part of your pet's body, it's likely that they have metastasized from elsewhere. Therefore, provided that you're vigilant about monitoring your pet's health and that you're able to catch any cancer that develops before it spreads, kidney cancer is largely preventable. When it does spread to your pet's kidneys, cancer of this type usually affects both kidneys in some way. If it develops uniquely in the kidneys, however, it typically affects only one kidney.
Symptoms of Kidney Cancer in Dogs
The symptoms of kidney cancer are related to those of kidney failure; oftentimes cancer of the kidneys will ultimately cause kidney damage and failure. In many cases, you won't even be able to tell that your pet is suffering from kidney cancer until this stage is reached. The symptoms of kidney cancer associated with kidney failure include the following:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Weight loss and appetite changes
- Weakness
- Changes in behavior
- Bad breath
If you notice these or any other symptoms which you think may indicate kidney damage or cancer, take note of them and bring your pet to the vet's office for a prompt examination.
Diagnosing Kidney Cancer in Dogs
Because other kidney diseases can have the same symptoms or related ones, your vet will likely first check for other types of conditions. A physical exam and a urinalysis can be helpful in determining whether your pet is suffering from cancer or another condition of the kidney. Additionally, an x-ray of the kidney area will be helpful in diagnosing the kidney cancer as well. Finally, if your vet has been unable to determine whether your pet has cancer through these sets of tests, he will then likely perform a biopsy of the tumor itself in order to analyze the tissue.
Treating Dog Kidney Cancer
The treatment for your pet's kidney cancer will depend upon the severity of the condition, as well as how far spread it is. If the cancer is only in one kidney, you can oftentimes remove that kidney and your pet can live comfortably with the other. If, on the other hand, the damage is too severe or has spread to both kidneys, you'll need to engage in supportive care. In this case, you'll need to treat your pet with a special diet and a regimen of drugs to help maintain normal kidney hormone and chemical levels. This will help to ensure that the kidneys will be able to fully process all of the toxins and other materials that they are meant to process when they function normally.
Kidney cancer is not an immediate death sentence for your pet. Rather, if you discover it early on and take the proper measures necessary in order to treat and manage it, this condition can prove to be only a minor setback for your pet's health. Take good care of your dog by monitoring him closely for symptoms.