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Urethra, ureters, kidneys, prostate, and bladder are some important parts of the urinary tract. And cancerous tumor can occur in any of these organs /sites, but in many cases bladder is commonly affected. Invasive transitional cell carcinoma or TCC is the most common type of cancer that affects bladder in dogs.
Before continuing, you might also like to know more about treatment options of bladder cancer in human and liver cancer in dogs!
In fact, about 1 percent of all cancer cases in dogs are bladder cancer. This suggests that this kind of cancer is a relatively uncommon condition if compared to other types of cancer in dogs. However, it can significantly impair the function of bladder. For instance, it can create a blockage in the track of urinary (obstructive uropathy) which then will generate many serious symptoms.
So, what else you need to know? Keep reading - there are a lot of issues that we can explore about this kind of cancer!
Risk factors and causes of bladder cancer
Unfortunately, again and again like other causes of many cancers - the exact cause of the disease in dogs is also still not known. In other words, the cause of the disease cannot be exactly pinpointed.
Some experts believe that the disease is caused by the combination of many factors. The following are some factors /conditions that may put a dog at higher risk of developing this kind of cancer:
- Unfriendly toxins that enter the body of dog. Then these toxins will accumulate in the urine which then may alter the healthy cells of the balder to become abnormal cells.
- Certain types of dog (genetic link)! Wire Hair Fox Terriers, Beagles, Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, and West Highland White Terriers are some types that have higher risk of developing TCC.
- Factors associated with the environment! Unfriendly environmental factors - particularly ‘environmental chemicals’ such as (a) flea, (b) insecticides, (c) mosquito sprays, (d) tick products, (e) pesticides products, (f) aromatic hydrocarbons (betanapthylamine -or paraaminobiphenyl -or paranitrioliphenyl), and (g) even second hand smoke may also increase the risk.
- Obesity! Dogs with overweight (particularly for Scottish terriers) are at higher risk of developing cancer in the bladder. But in some cases, the disease is also more commonly found in smaller females (less than 22 pounds of weight).
- Females are more likely to develop bladder cancer than male dogs. Females are more likely to have less frequent urination than males. Having less frequent urination will give more time for any unfriendly chemicals in the urine to get contact longer with lining or wall of bladder - and this can increase the risk of altering normal cells to become abnormal cells. Furthermore, males have relatively less body fat than females.
- The use of certain medicines (such as cyclophosphamide)!
In addition, there are also many neutered dogs that have this kind of cancer - for reason unknown. In other words, intact dogs may be at lower risk than neutered dogs.
How do you know if your dog has bladder cancer?
To find and understand the answer of this question, there are two popular issues that you should clearly understand.
Bladder cancer symptoms in dogs
Sometimes, there is no any initial symptom that occurs. Moreover some signs /symptoms of the disease are often similar with the symptoms of urine tract infections. These are some reasons that can delay the diagnosis of the disease.
If the signs do occur, they may include:
- Urine with blood - the color of urine is usually also darker or brown. This symptom is also called ‘hematuria’!
- Veterinarian may prescribe certain antibiotics to treat any symptoms associated with urinary tract infection. But if they are really caused by the cancer in the bladder - they usually have poor respond to antibiotics.
- Having small amounts of urination - but more often (frequently urination problem ‘pollakiuria’).
- Painful /difficult urination (dysuria)
*** These symptoms don’t describe that your pet definitely has cancer of bladder. Once again, some of these symptoms also can be generated by other health conditions (particularly like bladder stones and urinary tract infections). If you in doubt to the condition of your pet, contact a veterinarian promptly for more advice!
Tests to diagnose bladder cancer in dogs
Analyzing the symptoms that do occur is not enough for a veterinarian to make a clearly diagnosis. The following are some common tests & procedures that are often by a veterinarian to diagnose a cancerous tumor in the bladder:
- Completely analyzing medical history and physical examination! This may include the completely examination of rectal, which usually used to closely evaluate certain sites associated with the bladder (such as nearby lymph nodes, prostate in males, urethra, etc).
- Biochemistry tests! In general, these tests are used to analyze the overall health of pet.
- Cystocopy! It uses a rigid /flexible scope that is directly passed into the urethra & bladder of pet. This allow veterinarian to get closely visualization of urethra and bladder. During this procedure, veterinarian may also take /remove a sample tissue (biopsy) of bladder which then will be more closely analyzed under a microscope.
- Imaging tests (such as ultrasound scan test and abdominal X-ray test). Generally these tests are used to get more detailed picture of certain area of the body.
- Blood tests - particularly such as CBC ‘completely blood cell count test’! CBC is used to analyze the level of platelets, white & red blood cells - elevated number of them may signal certain health conditions (such as bladder cancer).
- Urine tests! Some cancer cells may be found in the urine. Furthermore, urine test sometimes also can be used to analyze the number of crystals, bacteria, red & white cells. If necessary, veterinarian may also perform specific gravity test (a kind of urine test to evaluate the function of kidney).
- Urinary tumor bladder antigen /V-TBA! It is new method that may be effective to identify cancer through urine.
Treatment options for bladder cancer in dogs
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are some common choices of the treatment. Most of these options are commonly used to kill the cancer and prevent it to come back. Unfortunately in general, the treatment is usually not intended to cure the disease.
The cancer itself and the diagnosis of the disease that is often made at later stages are some reasons of why the chance to completely cure the cancer is very small. In other words, the treatment is often more focused to ease the symptoms, improve the quality of life, and strictly limit the risk of cancer to spread.
Removing cancerous tumor with surgery
At very early stage of bladder cancer, removing tumor with surgery may work successfully to cure the disease.
Sometimes surgery is also used for later stages, but the risk of cancer to come back after operation is also higher. Furthermore, there are a lot of cases of TCC that found in the neck of bladder - this can be a problem if the surgery option is used.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs may be used before and after surgery. They can be useful to shrink the cancer and prevent it to spread. Mitoxantrone, carboplatin, adriamycin, and cisplatin are some common choices of chemotherapy to treat bladder cancer in dogs.
*** For more detailed information, discuss more with your veterinarian!
