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Canine Mast Cell Tumor

Mast cell tumors in dogs are special type of skin cells that cause cancer. Mast cells are normally present in healthy dogs. They are in the skin, the lining of the lung, and the digestive track. They are actually part of the immune system and are helpful in fighting common illnesses and diseases.

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are abnormal growth in these cells. The disease is referred to as mastocytosis. They can release chemicals such as histamine and heparin, which can destroy the body.

Mast Cell tumors are primarily an immune dysfunction disease. The tumors form when the body does not realize something has gone wrong. It often takes years before the tumors are large enough to spot. The symptoms dogs show vary and should be checked out immediately to prevent permanent damage.

How Common are Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs?

• Skin mast cell tumors are the most common type of cell tumors in dogs. They account for 16-21% of all skin tumors.
• Skin tumors are found on the trunk (50%) and limbs (25%)
• Dogs as young as 4 months have been diagnosed but the average age is 8 years.
• Certain breeds are at higher risk of developing mast cell tumors than other dogs. They include:
• Boxers
• Bull Dogs
• Bullmastiffs
• Boston Terriers
• Ridgebacks
• Pugs
• Labradors
• Golden Retrievers
• Beagles
• Basset Hounds

What is done to Fight Mast Cell Tumor: Dogs

Drugs called “immune modulators” are given to dogs to build their immune response. Hopefully, the dog’s body will begin to recognize what is going wrong and start fighting. Then the body’s natural immune system will attack the mast cell tumor and the dog can return to a natural state of health.

Surgical removal and chemotherapy are given to dogs to fight the cancer. It is very similar to human chemo and kills the healthy cells along with the diseased cells.

Common Canine Cancer Drugs

Currently, there are over 50 different cancer fighting drugs in dogs. Here is a list of the most commonly used canine cancer drugs.

• Azathioprine(Imuran)- used with immune mediated diseases, where the immune system is inappropriately active and damages the body.
• Carboplatin(Paraplatin)- is a platinum-containing drug that is used to treat malignant cancer.
• Chlorambucil(Leukeran)- used most commonly for chemotherapy to treat cancer and some immune mediated diseases such as pemphigus or inflammatory bowel disease.
• Cisplatin- is a weapon against cancer, but can cause complications.
• Cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan)- is the most successful drug to treating cancer and immune mediated diseases because of its ability to kill rapidly dividing cells
• Cytarabine- used to treat certain cancers, most notably leukemia.
• Dexamethasone(Azium, Voren)- is used in the treatment of lymphoma
• Doxorubicin(Adriamycin, Rubex)- is a very serious medication that has serious potential to do great harm as well as good because it impairs DNA synthesis, which is crucial for cell division.
• Fluorouracil(5-fluorouracil, Adrucil, 5-FU)- is an antineoplasti or cytotoxic chemotherapy drug that is an anti-metabolite
• L-Asparaginase(Elspar)- is helpful to treat lymphatic cancers because asparagine is an important amino acid for lymphatic cancer cells and the medication destroys that amino acid, which only affects the cancer cells
• Lomustine- is a drug that binds DNA to other DNA strands or protein so that the double helix cannot reproduce, and it generates a by-product that prevents normal DNA function
• Piroxicam- is commonly used for transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, as well as prevention for mammary adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transmissible venereal tumors
• Vincristine(Oncovin, Vincasar)- is a multi-drug combination that is used against lymphoid and round cell tumors

Most vets will give antibiotics and anti-nausea drugs to prevent the side effects. This means most dogs will not experience these side effects, if given the medication. Therefore, if you do choose chemotherapy for your dogs, then be sure to get the preventives as well.

Chemotherapy is Toxic

Currently chemotherapy is given to dogs with all forms of cancer, including canines with mast cell tumors. I understand this. I even support this.

I took chemotherapy when I had breast cancer. I would never deny any dog with mast cell tumors chemotherapy. However, the fact of the matter is simple. Chemotherapy is toxic. There has to be a better answer. There has to be something better. We need to find something better for our dogs.

If I didn’t like the effects of chemotherapy, then I know my dog won’t like the effects of chemotherapy. Mast cell tumors and the various other cancers in dogs need to be treated with less toxic side effects. Let’s work together to get our dogs a safer dog cancer treatment.

Where to Go to From Here

Education is the key to any success. There are many books, supplements, and nutrition aids available for dogs with canine mast cell tumors and other forms of canine cancer. Click the banner below for more information on cancer in dogs.

Free Report on Cancer in Dogs

Aloha Medicinal offers a free special report to all interested in learning more about cancer in dogs. You can click on the image above or on the highlighted words. As you know. Canine mast cell tumor holds a special place in my heart. There is a hope. Let us all work together for a cure. The report is free and there is no obligation to buy anything.

Additional Books About Canine Cancer

The one-of-a-kind breakthrough book designed specifically to help you cure your dog’s cancer using the #1 most effective, most dependable tool at your disposal. “Nutritional Therapy” Plus you discover very important information including: 7 most common types of dog cancer & their causes Your mainstream treatment options & their pros and cons Experimental treatment options Plus much more, see below for the full details

Many vets give a prognosis based only on what they have seen or read in a book – in vet school, years ago! Most don’t have the time or the will to do what the Dog Cancer Vet has done – run a full-time practice AND investigate, examine, and run clinical trials to find out how to help dogs with cancer. Without knowing all the facts about how many ways there are to help a dog with cancer, your vet’s prognosis remains just a guess.