Salivary Gland Tumors in Dogs and Cats By: Dr. Al Townshend The salivary glands secrete saliva, which plays a vital role in digestion, chewing, and swallowing food. There are four major pairs in dogs and cats; parotid, mandibular, sublingual, and zygomatic. Tumors are not common but are almost always malignant. They generally occur in older […]
April 29, 2023
Benign and Cancerous Tumors in Pets By: Dr. Al Townshend The mouth of both dogs and cats are a common location for growths to occur. They account for 6-7% of canine tumors and 3% of feline growths. There are two basic types of oral tumors: Benign growths are not cancerous and do not spread outside the […]
September 20, 2022
In the United States, cancer of the brain occurs at a rate of 14.5 per 100,000 dogs. The Canadian data is not available. It is far less common in cats. Brain tumors are most commonly seen in certain breeds; Boxer, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Scottish Terrier, and Old English Sheepdog. Dogs with long narrow heads […]
April 13, 2022
Dr. Al Townshend Cancer of the canine urinary bladder is considered to be a rare occurrence. It is estimated to be only 1-2 percent of all canine cancers; however, that estimate means that approximately 50,000 dogs will develop a form of bladder cancer each year. What causes urinary bladder cancer in your dog or cat? […]
April 10, 2022
By: Dr. Al Townshend Both dogs and cats have two anal sacs, one on either side of the rectum. Within the lining of each sac are sweat-like glands that secrete a dark, foul-smelling substance that is expressed each time the pet has a bowel movement. The liquid acts as a scent marker and helps to […]
July 9, 2021
Dr. Al Townshend A Sarcoma is a general term used to describe a tumour of the flesh or the bone. An Injection Site Sarcoma is a tumour that arises just under the skin at the site where an injection has previously been given. They occur at the site where a cat was vaccinated for Rabies […]
July 5, 2021
By: Dr. Al Townshend The nose is an often-underappreciated organ. Tumors of the nose in dogs make up about 1-2% of all cancers and are even less common in cats. Approximately 80% of the time they are malignant. Signs that there may be a problem include: Listlessness, inappetence and weight loss Nasal discharge is a […]
August 15, 2019
Canine bone cancer Osteosarcoma is an aggressive type of bone cancer. In 90% of dogs, by the time a diagnosis occurs the cancer has spread most often to the lungs and/or other bones. Learn about: Causes Symptoms How it is diagnosed Treatment and prognosis Dr. Al Townshend shares all of this information in his latest […]
July 10, 2019
By: Dr. Al Townshend Unlike prostate cancer in human males, canine prostate cancer is a very uncommon condition. It has been estimated that it comprises only about 0.6% of all cancers found in dogs. Also, unlike human prostate cancer, the canine form is highly malignant and has often spread to organs like the lungs, bones […]
February 18, 2019
We recently had a Kali’s Wish reader reach out and ask about the link between mammary tumors and spaying your dog. The fact is, tumors in the mammary gland are very frequent in female dogs who have not been spayed. It is also not unheard of for male dogs to have a mammary tumor, though […]
April 24, 2017
What is transitional cell carcinoma? Lining the urinary bladder are cells called transitional cells that protect the body from the urine inside the bladder even as the bladder stretches to accommodate larger volumes of urine. Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC) is a malignant tumour that develops from the transitional cell lining of the bladder. Bladder cancer […]
December 20, 2016
What are soft tissue sarcomas? In general terms, soft tissue sarcomas refer to a group of tumours that most often form from the skin and subcutaneous (layer of tissue directly under the skin) tissue. Soft tissue sarcomas are grouped together because they behave in a similar manner. They are named depending on the tumour location: […]
December 20, 2016
Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in squamous epithelial cells that are present in the outer layer of the skin and in the lining of body cavities such as the mouth and throat. This type of cancer is more often seen in elderly dogs and those spending a lot of […]
December 20, 2016
What is melanoma? Melanoma is a benign or malignant tumour made up of melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells. Melanoma is more common in male dogs and those with dark pigmented skin. Some breeds including Scottish Terriers, Black Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Gordon and Irish Setters, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers and Golden Retrievers seem to be […]
December 20, 2016
What is a mast cell tumour? Mast cell tumours are common in dogs, accounting for about one skin tumour in every five. Although this form of cancer can affect dogs of any age, it usually appears in middle-aged and senior dogs. Mast cells are specialized blood cells found in all tissues of the body, with […]
December 20, 2016
What is mammary cancer? Mammary (breast) tumours are the most common type of tumour diagnosed in unspayed female dogs over the age of seven. Statistics reveal that one in four unspayed female dogs are affected with mammary cancer, which is much higher than the incidence of breast cancer in women, at about one in eight. […]
December 20, 2016
What is apocrine gland adenocarcinoma? Dogs have small pouches, called anal sacs, located on either side of their anal opening. These sacs can become inflamed, infected or blocked and may cause dogs to “scoot” their bottoms on the ground or lick and chew the area for relief. Tumours of the anal sac are called apocrine […]
December 20, 2016
What is hemangiosarcoma? Hemangiosarcoma is defined as an aggressive, malignant tumour of blood vessel cells. This type of cancer usually affects middle-aged to older dogs (six to 13 years) and is more common in mid-size to large breeds. Although this type of cancer can occur in any part of the body, the most common areas […]
December 20, 2016
What is lymphoma? Lymphoma, or lymphosarcoma, is the most common form of cancer in both humans and small animals. It is a malignant tumour that affects the lymph system, which makes up part of your dog’s immune system that protects against infection. Lymphoma can occur anywhere there is lymph tissue such as in the lymph […]
December 20, 2016
