Dog Cancer Knowledge Base
These knowledge base articles are the core of DogCancer.com. Every article is carefully vetted. Each one is researched, written, and medically reviewed by at least four independent experts (veterinarians, cancer researchers, and science journalists. The result is organized, easy-to-understand explanations of everything relating to dog cancer. Whether you need to find out more about a prescription drug, a supplement, a food, or a medical procedure, these knowledgebase articles will give you medically sound, nuanced, and complete information. We update articles regularly, so you can always rely on the information you find.
Latest Articles
Lipomas in Dogs
Chances are, if you have an older dog, you are familiar with “fatty tumors.” These benign (non-cancerous) growths appear on dogs of all shapes and sizes, especially as they age. The really great news is,... read full article
Stomach Cancer in Dogs
Stomach cancer in dogs is very rare and has a poor prognosis. However, if caught early enough, surgery to remove the stomach tumor can often provide months to years with a good quality of life. read full article
Urinalysis in Dogs
Urinalysis in dogs is an easy and inexpensive diagnostic test to assess the bladder and kidneys for a variety of medical conditions, including certain cancers. read full article
Leukemia In Dogs
Leukemia is an aggressive blood cancer, but thankfully it is uncommon in dogs. The treatment options and likely outcomes vary widely based on the type of leukemia your dog has. read full article
Mustargen for Dogs (mechlorethamine)
Mustargen for dogs is a chemotherapy drug used often in canine lymphoma. read full article
Your Dog Surgery Guide
There is a saying among surgeons: “The chance to cut is a chance to cure.” This rings true for many types of cancer that can be cured with surgical intervention alone. In other types of... read full article
Median Survival Time Meaning
When discussing cancer treatment, median survival time (MST) is a way of communicating how well a treatment may work to extend life. One way to think of it is as your dog’s “50/50” date -... read full article
Metronomic Chemotherapy for Dogs
Metronomic chemotherapy is when anticancer drugs are given at a low dose on a regular schedule, often over a longer time period. There are several advantages over conventional chemotherapy. Metronomic chemo has increased tolerability – thus... read full article
Artemisinin
Artemisinin has a long history of use in the treatment of malaria, but also shows promise as an anti-cancer agent either on its own or alongside other treatment modalities. Newly developed derivatives may offer increased... read full article
Amputation in Dogs
Amputation in dogs sounds really scary, but most dogs adapt very well to amputation, and it can provide you and your dog with more pain-free quality time together. read full article
Dog Hormone Therapy
Dog hormone therapy is an easy-to-administer treatment option that may help combat your dog’s cancer by manipulating sex steroid hormones associated with tumor growth. Unfortunately, not all tumors will respond to this therapy and we... read full article
Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Dogs
Many squamous cell carcinomas in dogs can be completely surgically removed if caught early – and that could be curative. read full article
Cadet BRAF Urine Test
The Cadet BRAF Urine Test is an easy, non-invasive screening tool for cancer of the urinary tract. Clinical signs of urinary tract cancer often overlap with those of recurrent urinary tract infections, so this highly... read full article
Acrylamide in Dog Food
Acrylamides are cancer causing compounds created during high temperature food processing. While the risks are being established for human acrylamide exposure, less is known about levels in dog food and potential effects on their health.... read full article
Genetic Mutations and Dog Cancer: An Overview
Changes in the DNA of some of your dog’s cells can greatly impact their cancer risk and its characteristics. read full article
Genetics in Canine Cancer
Hearing that your dog has cancer can be devastating. As an owner, you may be reflecting on the signs you missed, or speculating about things you could have done differently to prevent the disease. But... read full article
Is Cod Liver Oil Good for Dogs?
While cod liver oil contains beneficial ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D, the inconclusive scientific evidence, risk of toxicity, and potential associated bleeding issues make it a poor choice as... read full article
Can Plastic Cause Cancer in Dogs?
Plastic use is ubiquitous throughout our daily lives, but plastics can be packed with some hard-hitting chemicals known to be dangerous for human (and canine!) health. Even concerted efforts to minimize plastic use and make... read full article
Dog Anesthesia
Dog anesthesia is a powerful tool that allows us to perform diagnostic procedures and treatments that would otherwise be impossible. read full article
Oxygen Therapy for Dogs
Oxygen for dogs is used every day in veterinary hospitals to keep patients breathing normally during surgery and to support dogs who can’t breathe, or are in shock. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is sometimes used to... read full article
Glucosamine for Dogs
Glucosamine is an amino sugar naturally found in the body that helps to build cartilage. Glucosamine for dogs is marketed commercially in the form of supplements to treat osteoarthritis (OA). Recently there has been discussion... read full article
CoQ10 for Dogs
CoenzymeQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that is produced naturally in the body. It is beneficial to the immune system, brain, heart, and muscles. CoQ10 supplementation has been shown to prevent heart damage arising from administration... read full article
Computed Tomography (CT Scan) in Dogs
A computed tomography (CT Scan) is an incredibly useful tool that can provide detailed information to help you make the best decisions for you and your dog. read full article
Bone Marrow Transplant for Dogs
The bone marrow transplant for dogs, also known as Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, is a time and labor intensive and expensive procedure, but 30-40% of treated dogs are completely cured (live > 2 years) of... read full article
Acupuncture for Dogs
Acupuncture is an effective adjunct to other cancer treatments, acting to stimulate the cancer fighting properties of the immune system and alleviate some side effects of chemotherapy. read full article
Dog Cancer Diagnosis: An Overview
The dog cancer diagnosis process can be confusing and hard to navigate alone. This becomes even more difficult when you are distracted by the swirl of emotions that occur when dealing with your dog’s cancer... read full article
Wound Healing in Dogs
Because dogs with cancer can be immunocompromised, wounds may be slow to heal or get infected. Although wounds are a distressing complication, your veterinarian, veterinary oncologist, and veterinary surgeon all have access to many exciting... read full article
Are There Reasons Not to Neuter Your Dog?
Spaying and neutering are the most commonly performed surgeries on dogs in the United States. Yet, there may be reasons not to neuter your dog, or to wait to do it. It is estimated that... read full article
Osteosarcoma in Dogs
Osteosarcoma in dogs is an aggressive bone cancer. It is a scary and devastating diagnosis, but there are treatment options available that can extend and improve the quality of your dog’s life. Osteosarcoma in dogs... read full article
Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Dogs
Soft tissue sarcoma in dogs is a slow spreading cancer that can develop almost anywhere on your dog’s body. If accessible and detected early, it can be cured with surgery. However, larger tumors that are... read full article
Lomustine for Dogs
Lomustine is a chemotherapy drug that is used to kill certain types of cancer cells by keeping them from growing and dividing. read full article
Broccoli For Dogs
Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse, full of important nutrients and cancer-fighting properties. read full article
Mistletoe for Dogs with Cancer
Mistletoe is a natural therapy that may support and improve your dog’s quality of life while fighting canine cancer. read full article
Melatonin for Dogs
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced at night that has promising lines of evidence for its ability to help fight cancer. read full article
Hospice for Dogs
Hospice for dogs is about focusing on treating your dog for quality of life rather than curing an illness. Veterinarians are trained to guide owners through home hospice care, and there are also veterinarians who... read full article
Fibrosarcoma in Dogs
Fibrosarcoma in dogs can show up literally anywhere in your dog’s body. A type of soft tissue sarcoma, they are slow growing and not prone to metastasize, but they are locally invasive. Early detection and... read full article
Epulis in Dogs (Odontogenic Tumors)
An epulis tumor in your dog’s mouth may look scary, but many of them are completely treatable. Also called odontogenic tumors, these oral tumors in dogs arise from the teeth and associated structures. With early... read full article
Glutamine for Dogs with Cancer
Glutamine is an alpha-amino acid naturally found in your dog’s body, commonly used to help dogs regain weight or heal their digestive tract. When depleted through stress or illness, increasing its levels with a supplement... read full article
Curcumin for Dogs
Turmeric is an ancient nutraceutical with promising synergistic effects and potential efficacy. You may have heard of curcumin for dogs ... but it's not as simple as adding it as a spice to your dog's... read full article
Online Veterinarians: How to Use Telemedicine
Online veterinarians may not be able to prescribe medications or fully diagnose your dog, but they can be an invaluable resource for you if you live in a rural area, are in an emergency, or... read full article
Dog Cancer Support and Grief Groups
Getting a cancer diagnosis for your dog is devastating. There is no way around that. And not everyone in your life understands what you are going through. Reach out to a dog cancer support group... read full article
Cerenia For Dogs
Cerenia is a safe and effective medication that can be given at home or in the veterinary hospital to treat vomiting. read full article
The Cost of Cancer Treatment for Dogs
After the initial shock of a cancer diagnosis, the next concern is almost always the cost of dog cancer treatments. How can anyone expect you to figure out how to pay for your dog’s cancer... read full article
Tanovea (rabacfosadine) Chemotherapy
If the standard-of-care CHOP lymphoma chemotherapy protocol isn’t an option for your dog or fails to control her illness, there are other options. Tanovea chemotherapy (generic name: rabacfosadine) is the first FDA-approved treatment for lymphoma... read full article
Massage for Dogs
Massage has been used for millennia in many countries and cultures, and many people enjoy its wellness benefits today. Massage for dogs is an excellent way to help your dog relax. read full article
Anal Sac Cancer in Dogs
Anal sac cancer in dogs can metastasize and be deadly, but a cure is possible for anal gland tumors with early, prompt, aggressive treatment. read full article
Bladder Cancer in Dogs, Including Transitional Cell Carcinoma
With new technology for early detection and multiple treatment options available, most dogs diagnosed with bladder cancer, including transitional cell carcinoma, can expect good quality of life for up to two years. read full article
Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs
Hemangiosarcoma is a frightening and devastating cancer of the blood vessels. Even so, if you can get through the initial crisis, there are treatment options available that can give you more time with your dog... read full article
Liver Cancer in Dogs
Liver cancer may sound like a terrifying diagnosis, but the liver has great regeneration capacity. Even if a large portion of the liver is damaged, injured, or surgically removed, the remaining healthy liver can rebuild... read full article
Mammary Tumors in Dogs
Mammary tumors in dogs are the equivalent of breast cancer in humans, but unlike our breast cancer, they are not as aggressive as other cancers. Mammary gland adenocarcinoma in dogs generally responds well to treatment,... read full article