The pancreas is responsible for producing hormones and digestive enzymes. Canine pancreatic cancer is a difficult condition to treat, and usually proves to be fatal. Your dog will likely only show symptoms once the disease has progressed to an advanced stage.
Symptoms
Tumors usually develop in the pancreas as a result of canine pancreatic cancer. Therefore, you may notice that your dog’s stool has blood in it. Most dogs also experience seizures, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Other symptoms of canine pancreatic cancer include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
Diagnosis
As mentioned earlier, symptoms of canine pancreatic cancer usually don’t show until the later stages. Therefore, diagnosis isn’t made until the condition has already progressed. The veterinarian will have to perform enzyme and blood tests in order to determine if canine pancreatic cancer is to blame for the symptoms.
Treatment
Unfortunately, canine pancreatic cancer is very difficult to treat effectively. Surgery is one of the common methods of treatment, but is useless if the disease has already spread to other organs. Gastrointestinal bypass surgery may also be performed if the tumor will eventually cause bowel obstruction.
Other treatment options for canine pancreatic cancer include radiation and prescription drugs. So that the pancreas won’t have to secrete digestive enzymes, the veterinarian may choose to withhold food from your dog. In this situation, your dog will need an IV to provide vital nutrients and vitamins.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a dog with canine pancreatic cancer is poor. Most dogs don’t live longer than a year after displaying symptoms of the disease.