Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing just by looking at or feeling a dog lump if it is cancerous or not. You should become acutely aware of your dog’s body so that you are able to notice changes when and if they occur. A good rule of thumb is that if the lump or bump is still there after 3-5 days, get your dog to the vet to be evaluated.

However, don’t be too quick to panic that the worst is inevitable just yet. There are plenty of other benign (non cancerous) lumps and bumps out there. Some of these include:

Fatty Lumps: The technical term for these is “lipomas.” The majority of these are scene in more obese dogs and may need to be removed as they could grow over time; but they will not spread to other parts of the body the way that cancer does.

Sebaceous Cysts: Yep, these are kind of like zits that human get (poor Fido isn’t immune). These do tend to happen more often in older dogs. The cysts contain a puss-like substance that has the consistency of toothpaste. They can become swollen and red looking but will not cause harm to your dog.

Histiocytoma: These are currently seen in younger dogs, appear fast, and go away just as quickly. They resemble buttons and may be very red and they are about 1 cm in diameter. These rarely need any type of treatment.

Warts: Nope, dogs are not immune to these ugly skin tags. Treatment is not usually required unless they become irritated and bleed. A dog may develop many of them.

A Couple Signs That Might Indicate Dog Cancer

1. If the lump is not easily moved around, it could be malignant as cancer often grows into the tissue around it, making the tumor nearly immoveable.

2. If your dog has a lump or bump as well as unexplained weight loss, decrease in appetite and energy, or diarrhea and vomiting this could signal something serious.

3. If the lump or bump or the area around it bleeds, has discharge, is extremely irritated and is painful, it may be malignant.

The above are not hard and fast rules to determine whether or not a lump is malignant or benign. Even your vet can’t know exactly what it is just by looking at it. If the lump is suspicious, your vet will need to take a small piece of it and send it off to examine the cells (this is called a biopsy).

I found a really informative 5-minute video on this exact topic if you want to check it out below. And as always, don’t risk your dog’s health. Get to your vet whenever something out of the ordinary occurs!

In short, no. Dog cancer is not contagious to humans.

HOWEVER, there is a very rare form of dog cancer that is contagious between dogs. This sounds really weird, since there is no known human cancer that is contagious to other humans. But for our canine friends, it’s a different story.

Don't worry, dog cancer cannot be passed to humans.

It’s called Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor, or CTVT for short. It’s been around for over 10,000 years. Even though it’s a cancer, it acts more like a human venereal disease, like herpes. CTVT is passed from one dog to another during mating or when a dog comes into contact with an affected dog through licking, biting, or sniffing the tumor area.

Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor disease cannot be passed from dog to human. The only other animal species that has shown to contract CVTV from dogs is the fox.

Before you get too worried that your dog might have this kind of cancer, it is much more common in feral or wild dogs. Buster, your bulldog who lounges around the house all day snoring, is not likely to become afflicted anytime soon.

You know your dog better than anyone, so you know if he or she seems to be acting out of the ordinary. When it comes to cancer, this is one topic that all dog parents fear and hope that they never have to hear that their beloved dog has cancer.

But first, let’s clarify “pain.” We obviously don’t want our dogs to be hurting in any way. There are other things, however, that make for a poor quality of life besides just a constant ache or pain. These include weight loss, loss of appetite, decreased energy, the inability to control bodily functions, and fatigue among others. Some of these issue can be a symptom of different kinds of cancer, so it is important to see your vet right away if your dog is experiencing any of these things.

Actual pain is hard to evaluate. There are a few signs, though, that can be indicative that your dog is in pain:

1. Touching or putting slight pressure on a body part causes your dog to reflexively pull away.

2. Touching or putting slight pressure on a body part makes your dog turn to look at you and may seem to be angry.

3. Shifting their body quickly when in certain positions because the previous position is painful.

4. Limping

5. Panting – dogs often pant when they are in pain.

What makes pain detection difficult is that there can always be another reason that a dog reacts in certain ways, not just pain. They may be panting because their hot. They may withdraw a paw or limb because they are scared. So just because your dog may be displaying some of these behaviors doesn’t necessarily mean he is in pain or that he has cancer.

Common dog cancers that cause dog pain include:

• Osteosarcomas
• Hermangiosarcomas that are on the verge of rupturing
• Mast Cell tumors
• Bladder tumors (transitional cell carcinomas)

This is in no way a comprehensive list and there is unfortunately no surefire way to know that your dog is in pain from cancer. The best thing to do, as always, is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so he or she can better determine is 1) your dog is definitely in pain, and 2) the underlying cause of the pain.

Your best friend has cancer. The day you heard those words was probably one of the worst days of your life and you probably still can’t believe that it’s true.

I know that’s how I felt when my dog was dying of cancer.

I didn’t know how to cope with it. Every time I looked at my dog, I would just melt into tears. I hugged her and cried all over her. I am sure that she thought I was a complete crazy lady but at the same time, she didn’t care about that. Her little chin just rested on my shoulder and her little tail wagged just like it did every day.

I hated that this was happening to my little girl.

How to cope when your dog has cancer

I wished I’d had some better tools to cope with the fact that my dog had cancer. And now that I know some, I want to share them with you.

1. Get Out Your Anger

I kept all of my anger inside. I obviously didn’t want my dog to see me angry or upset because I know that they can sense emotions. But my anger plagued me and it crowded my mind and it wasn’t healthy for me or my family.

The best thing to do is get your anger out in a healthy way. Have lunch with your best friend and vent. Get to the gym and take it out on the treadmill or punching bag. Write it down. Heck, write a mean and nasty letter to cancer. Obviously, don’t take it out on anybody but if you get it all out, you have the opportunity to be come calm and centered and present. Then you can be there for your dog and make better decisions.

2. Massage Your Dog

Yes, that might sound stupid. However, you pet your dog all of the time (or at least you should) so what’s the difference? Massaging your dog helps you tell them that you love them. Dogs massage with their tongues; they lick each other when they’re in packs and they lick you. It’s their way of saying “I love you.”

Now, I’m not going to tell you to lick your dog if you thought that’s where this was going. But using repetitive, circular motions with your fingertips will do wonders for your dog. Just light pressure is needed and you can focus on all of the dogs muscles. You know your dog best, so stay in tune with him – he’ll show you what he likes and doesn’t like.

3. Thank Your Dog

This may sound silly, but show gratitude to your dog. Sit down with your dog and tell her why she is so wonderful. Thank her for being your best friend, your loyal companion, the protector of your house. She’s the one who has greeted you each and every day with unwavering love. Now it’s your turn to do the same.

Get past the silliness of it and just let it flow. Shower her with gratitude. You’ll both feel so good after.

4. Stimulate Your Dog

Vary the routine up a bit. Take a different walking route. Try a different treat or a new reward for a dog well done. Show them a new trick to try and work for. Go to a new dog park or hiking trail. Obviously, you’re going to base these things on how well your dog is but the point is to create some new experiences for your dog. He’s still got life left in him, why not try to keep celebrating life? Praise him for doing so well.

5. Spoil Your Dog Day

Once a week, spoil your dog. Treats for no reason. Extra love and hugs. Let her up on the couch or the bed if they usually aren’t allowed there. These things will make your dog so happy and it will be huge step in coping with all of the feelings you’re having. Why not spoil your dog? He definitely deserves it.

I hope these five tips can help you, at least in a small way, work through your dog’s cancer diagnosis.

Hemangiosarcoma is cancer of the blood vessels (arteries and veins). The most common organs where this type of cancer is found in dogs are the spleen, heart, skin, and liver. The tumors tend to get very large, since they are filled with blood. Very large tumors are commonly seen in the spleen.
When this cancer is inside the dog’s body, the rate of metastasis (spread to other parts of the body) is high. Usually when the first tumor is diagnosed, it has already gone somewhere else. When the hermangiosarcoma is on the skin, the percentage of metastasis is much less and these tumors can be more easily removed.

Hermangiosarcoma Symptoms in Dogs

Signs that a dog might have hermangiosarcoma are dependent upon where the cancer is. This type of tumor on a dog’s spleen can sometimes cause weakness in the hind legs, as well as a decrease in energy. This may be experienced for a day or two and then the dog gets back to normal only to experience symptoms again a couple of months later.

This appearance and disappearance of symptoms is caused by the tumor. The dog may get weak and wobbly and the gums may become pale or white due to lack of circulating blood because it is all being concentrated in the tumor. Then, the blood from the tumor goes back into circulation and the dog gets his energy back.
Sometimes hermangiosarcoma in dogs shows itself as weight loss, decreased appetite, and low energy.

Treatment of Hermangiosarcoma in Dogs

Surgery is often the primary method of treating this cancer. If it is in the dog’s spleen, either some or all of the spleen is removed. Less than 10% of dogs live longer than a year after surgery. If the Hermangiosarcoma is on the dog’s heart, the prognosis is usually 7-8 months. If the cancer is on the skin, there is about an 80% chance of being cured with surgery.

Chemotherapy is sometimes used for spleen and heart-infected dogs and can increase survival time by about 5 or 6 months. Radiation has not been shown to be as successful.

Lymphoma (also known as lymphosarcoma) is the cancer of the lymphatic system. This system consists of lymph nodes which act like a drainage system to get infections out of the body. The cells that do this tough work are white blood cells called lymphocytes. They attack foreign invaders in the body and are carried in a clear fluid called lymph. Lymphocytes are carried throughout the entire body. When a dog or a person has lymphoma, this means that they have cancer in the lymophocytes and these cells have invaded the normal tissue.

80% of lymphoma cases are called multicentric, which means that the cancer cells has spread throughout most of the body in many different locations. The spleen, liver, stomach, and intestines are very common areas to find lymphoma in the body.

Symptoms of Lymphoma in Dogs

It’s very hard to pinpoint specific symptoms in dogs when they have lymphoma. Since it can spread all over, it varies case to case. Most often, as with more cancers, weight loss, decreased appetite and lack of energy. Other symptoms are more organ-specific:

• If it’s in the stomach/intestines, vomiting can occur
• Lymphoma in the kidney can cause increased thirst and urination and vomiting
• If it’s in the liver or spleen, weight loss and decreased appetite are very common
• In multicentric lymphoma cases, the lymph nodes are often enlarged

What Causes Lymphoma in Dogs?

Swollen gland of a dog with Lymphoma

Genetics are often to blame and Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, and Labs are the breeds more prone to this type of cancer.

Treatment for Dogs with Lymphoma

Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (the conventional treatments) have currently not proven to cure lymphoma in dogs. One good thing to note here, however, is that this cancer is sensitive to chemo and radiation and has a good chance of keeping the disease in remission for longer than other types. Surgery is never performed for lymphoma as it often involves the entire body and there is no way to pinpoint a single mass or tumor.

Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug that is often used on dogs with lymphoma. Twice daily radiation has also shown some promise. Bone marrow transplants are a newer approach that allows the dog to receive higher doses of chemotherapy to hopefully keep the lymphoma in remission for a longer period of time.

When your dog has cancer, one of the first things to evaluate is her diet. You may be thinking about implementing a raw food diet, or one that does not include any type of wheat, corn, or soy, etc. But there are also some supplements that may help  your dog’s natural resources to help fight off the nasty cancer.

Here’s a potential game plan for including supplements in your dog’s diet. Use this list (below) by starting from the top and work your way down. The more you can use (appropriately), the better off your dog will be.

PLEASE NOTE: Apocaps is a combination pill that acts as a replacement for the separate Big Gun list.
That means don’t use Apocaps along with separate Big Guns, since you will be duplicating many supplements.

PLEASE NOTE: The “Manage Chemo & Radiation Side Effects” supplements on the first tier below are for dogs who may experience side effects from conventional treatments like chemo and radiation.

You want to address side effects as a top priority.

If your dog is NOT receiving the specific treatments, just skip to the next tier in the hierarchy labeled “The Big Guns.”

Here is the Supplement Hierarchy:

Co Q-10,
Cordyceps
Ginger
Glutamine
Indole 3 Carbinol, (or cimetidine) as appropriate
Apocaps (a combo big gun supplement or “nutraceutical”) ongoing

OR alternate Apocaps with Artemisinin if you are using Artemisinin

–OR (if you prefer not to use Apocaps)–

Rotate the Big Guns:

Luteolin
EGCG
Artemisinin
Curcumin
Apigenin

(Remember, if you use Apocaps, it is NOT necessary to use the  ”Big Gun” supplements above.)

K-9 Immunity and Transfer Factor (ongoing)
Fatty Acids: fish oil, or krill oil (ongoing)
Wobenzym-N (given between meals as a treatment) (ongoing)
Amino Acids/Juven, or glutamine, or Modified Citrus Pectin (ongoing)
Cimetidine or doxycycline
Digestive Enzymes (in food)
Multivitamin (dietary doses only)

It is absolutely necessary to first consult with your veterinarian before you begin to administer these supplements to your dog and follow the directions on the bottles.

Brain tumors are very hard for vets to diagnose.

They are tough to determine without a CT or MRI. These aren’t available to everyone, since many don’t have access to this technology nearby, and they can be very expensive.

Also, they’re not easy to treat. The age, breed, and sex of a dog all play a part in the treatment of a brain tumor.

The history you give a vet about your dog will help the diagnostic process. Did the issue start all of a sudden or slowly? What about appetite, thirst, and other indications of sickness? Is it worsening? Is there weight loss? When we think about brain cancer, much of the time the dogs will have some sort of warning signs. These include seizures, blindness, etc. (Note that other diseases can also produce these symptoms.)

MRI of a brain tumor in a dog

However, if one side of the dog’s body is acting differently, this is more indicative of a brain tumor. Maybe there is a loss of coordination affecting the left side more than the right side. Or perhaps a pupil is distended or constricted in the right eye though not the left. Most likely the retina (seen by looking in the eyeball) looks different on one side. It’s also possible that the muscles in your dog’s face are weak or sagging.

So if the issue is pointing to the brain in an older dog, that means that it’s asymetrical (having an effect more on one side of the body than the other), it is progressing over the course of time and lab testing rules out the other causes that produce the same symptoms, we are left with a brain tumor as the number one diagnosis.

As far as treatment goes, doing brain surgery on dogs isn’t customarily done because it doesn’t have a high success rate. There are some rare doctors out there that have done it successfully but they’re few and far between.

You’ve heard these two words before: radiation & chemotherapy. They’re the same treatments that humans receive in a western-medicine cancer care plan. But are either of these treatments right for your dog?

It can be a hard decision to make when you’re presented with either of these treatment options. They may seem like they’re much too extreme for your dog. Are there more natural alternatives? Do some research and seek out a consultation with a holistic vet. A holistic vet can help develop a treatment plan that takes your whole dog into consideration and helps stimulate his own body’s healing capabilities; the immune system is both our own and our dog’s best defense.

Chiropratic sessions, massage therapy, acupuncture, herbs, raw food, and dog cancer supplements may all be part of the care plan – either as an alternative to western medicine or in conjunction with it. Perhaps the biggest thing for all of us to understand is that we all have cancer cells (pets and humans alike). When our immune systems are functioning properly, they get rid of the bad cells. When our immune systems are not working properly, then there’s a problem. The idea is to solve the puzzle within and correct whatever is causing our immune system to be slacking on the job. It’s not really about treating the symptom of a weak immune system (cancer). If we can find the cause and solve the problem, the immune system will continue to get rid of those bad cells.

I’ve read and collected some interesting info surrounding different types of dog cancer and facts/statistics associated with them that are worth a read:

Breast Cancer: 97% of breast cancer occurs in female dogs and it’s the most common cancer for their gender. Purebred female dogs get breast cancer twice as often as mixed breeds.

Testicular Cancer: There are three predominant types of testicular cancer in male dogs, versus mainly one in men. Dogs who have undescended testicles have a much higher risk than other dogs in getting this type of cancer.

Lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans is very similar to lymphoma in dogs. Purebreds may have a higher incidence of lymphoma than mixed breeds. This cancer occurs more often in older dogs and there seems to be a link between canine lymphoma and exposure to electromagnetic fields and pesticides.

Osteosarcoma: Bone tumors are seen more often in larger breeds, and occur more in male dogs than female dogs. Larger breeds who typically weigh more than 80 pounds are 61 more times likely to get it than breeds that typically weigh less.

Bladder and Ureteral Cancer: Age and gender are major factors in dogs getting these types of cancer. Males tend to urinate more often than females, so it’s thought that this could be a reason that bladder tumors develop more often in females because the carcinogens are in the bladder longer.

Nose Cancer: Breeds with long noses are more prone to nose cancer, as are older dogs and male dogs. Long-nosed breeds that live with smokers and inhale second-hand smoke were shown to be twice as likely to get nose cancer than dogs who lived in a predominately smoke-free environment.

Lung Cancer: There is no gender-bias for lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer just like it does in humans. Short-nosed breeds who live with smokers have twice the risk of this type of cancer than long-nosed breeds; this shows that dogs with longer noses better filter the smoke through their nose so that it doesn’t get to the lungs as well (but causes nose cancer).

Prostate Cancer: Humans and dogs are the only species to get this type of cancer in relatively high amounts. 1 out of 150 dogs who are 8 and older have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In dogs, however, prostate cancer spreads aggressively to other parts of the body; this doesn’t typically happen in men.

If your dog has cancer, you might want to check out Apocaps. It’s been shown to shrink dog tumors.