A recent CT scan revealed a tumor in a dog’s stomach. Is it metastasis from an existing cancer, or does the listener’s dog have two cancers?
Veterinary oncologist Dr. Brooke Britton answers a listener's question about a 10-year-old Golden Retriever diagnosed with an anal gland tumor. The dog recently underwent a CT scan and they saw a small tumor in the stomach lining and an enlarged lymph node. Is it spread? Or a new type of cancer? Dr. Britton discusses possible scenarios, the limitations of different diagnostic techniques, and considerations when deciding on invasive procedures. She also explains incidental findings, the metastatic process, anesthesia risks in older dogs, and the importance of ongoing monitoring and informed decision-making. If you’re dealing with a dog facing multiple potential cancer diagnoses, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you navigate complex choices.
Your Voice Matters!
If you have a question for our team, or if you want to share your own hopeful dog cancer story, we want to hear from you! Go to https://www.dogcancer.com/ask to submit your question or story, or call our Listener Line at +1 808-868-3200 to leave a question.
Related Videos:
Get a second opinion, especially if you’re confused! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FTSRun88ps
Your Dog Cancer Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOrT39LPcrU
Related Links:
Our article on anal sac cancer: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/types-of-dog-cancer/anal-sac-cancer-in-dogs/
An explainer article about CT scans: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/diagnosis-and-medical-procedures/dog-ct-scan/
A great article explaining how dog cancer is diagnosed: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/diagnosis-and-medical-procedures/dog-cancer-diagnosis/
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Darlene's Question
02:00 - Initial Thoughts on Multiple Tumors
03:15 - Incidental Findings vs. Metastasis
05:00 - Understanding Lymphatic Involvement
07:00 - The Metastatic Cascade
09:00 - Challenges with Minimally Invasive Diagnostics
11:30 - Weighing Invasive Procedures Against Quality of Life
13:15 - Explaining Incidental Findings in Plain Language
15:00 - Monitoring vs. Immediate Action
16:30 - Anesthesia Risks for Older Dogs
18:00 - Final Advice for Darlene
19:15 - Outro and Resources
Get to know Dr. Brooke Britton: https://www.dogcancer.com/people/brooke-britton-dvm-dacvim-oncology/
For more details, articles, podcast episodes, and quality education go to the episode page: https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/
