What is Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma)?
Intestinal cancer is fairly rare in dogs. When it does occur, though, intestinal tumors are normally located in the colon and rectum, though sometimes they can be found in the small intestines. Intestinal tumors can be benign or malignant, though adenocarcinomas are malignant. This means they have the potential to metastasize, or spread to other areas of the body. Most animals diagnosed with intestinal tumors are middle-aged or older, and male dogs have a higher predisposition. Certain breeds, such as Collies and German Shepherds, are more likely to develop adenocarcinoma. Possible symptoms of adenocarcinomas include weight loss, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. The most preferred treatment is surgical removal of the tumor, though chemotherapy and anti-inflammatories may be used as alternatives or in conjunction with surgery. Immediately following surgery the dog should be monitored for complication. In many cases of malignant tumors, especially where the tumor has metastasized, dogs only live for anywhere between 3 and 15 months.
Adenocarcinomas are malignant tumors found in the glandular structures in the epithelial tissue. While intestinal cancer is rare in dogs, most intestinal tumors are malignant and therefore, prognosis is not good.
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Symptoms of Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) in Dogs
Symptoms of intestinal tumors are usually gastrointestinal signs, and in early stages they may not be distinguishable from other, less serious gastrointestinal diseases. Some of the symptoms of intestinal tumors, including adenocarcinomas, are:
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloody vomit or feces
- Ascites (build-up of fluid in the stomach, causing swelling)
- Feces that appears black or tarry
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Tenesmus (trouble defecating)
- Hematochezia (feces that appear maroon, resulting from blood)
- Peritonitis (inflamed peritoneum)
Types
Most intestinal tumors are malignant, though there are some cases where they are benign, particularly in the rectum, though malignant tumors develop in this location as well. Adenocarcinomas are only one type of intestinal tumors. Others include:
- Lymphoma – cancer of the lymph nodes
- Leiomyosarcoma – a cancer of the connective tissues in the body
- Extramedullary plasmacytoma – a mass of neoplastic monoclonal plasma cells in soft tissue
- Extraskeletal osteosarcoma – rare cancer of the soft tissue
- Mast cell tumors – cancer of a blood cell involved in the body’s response to allergens and inflammation
- Hemangiosarcoma – cancer in the lining of the blood vessels, occurring primarily in dogs and cats
Causes of Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) in Dogs
As with most cancers, the cause of adenocarcinoma is not really known. Male dogs ranging between six and nine years in age are more regularly affected than females and other ages. Breed predilection includes Collies and German Shepherds.
Diagnosis of Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) in Dogs
Your veterinarian may do a number of diagnostic tests to rule out other causes and determine the severity of the tumor so the best treatment option can be pursued. Some of these diagnostic tests include:
- Physical exam
- Abdominal palpation
- Abdominal X-rays
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Blood test
- Chemistry profile
- Laparoscopy (surgery using thin, lighted tube to evaluate abdominal organs)
- Exploratory laparotomy (surgery involving an incision through the stomach wall to see the inside of the stomach)
- Aspirate (drawing of fluid from the stomach using needle)
- Endoscopy (a non-surgical procedure using a tube-like camera to obtain visuals of the digestive tract)
- Exploratory surgery
- Histopathology (a study of a tissue sample obtained from the tumor)
Treatment of Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) in Dogs
- Surgery is the most likely course of treatment for adenocarcinomas. Full recovery is dependent on complete removal of the tumor, which is often difficult to achieve.
- Chemotherapy may be recommended as an alternative to surgery, especially in cases where tumors have metastasized.
- Prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for inflammation reduction. This may also kill tumor cells for carcinomas.
- Special diets or other medications may be used depending on symptoms and accompanying conditions.
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Recovery of Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) in Dogs
Prognosis relies largely on the severity of the tumor and how much it has spread, but in most cases the prognosis is grim. Many dogs with metastatic adenocarcinomas only live around 3-15 months after treatment.
Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) Average Cost
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Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Spaniel mix
Gizmo
12 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
No Appetite
No Appetite Loose Mucous Bowels
My dog has just been diagnosed with intestinal cancer. He also has a heart murmur. He has had x rays and an ultra sound plus the vet did an aspiration. What are his chances of recovery. He is 12years old.n
Nov. 18, 2017
0 Recommendations
There are many variables in this case; the specific type of cancer, level of regional lymph node involvement, any metastasis, local invasion of other issues, successful surgical excision (depending on severity of heart murmur and the results of preanaesthetic blood tests) and chemotherapy or radiotherapy given afterwards. These are really a case by case basis and you should speak with your Veterinarian about Gizmo’s specific case. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 19, 2017
His diagnosis is intestinal adenocarcinoma. The specialist has said it would require surgery. Surgery is going to require taking the tumor out and a part of the colon and then joining them. Would chemo be required after the surgery from what I have been told the tumor is not large. What would his prognosis be if we go ahead with the surgery
Nov. 25, 2017
Gizmo's Owner
Can you update on gizmo? My dog has the same thing.
Jan. 11, 2018
Lsw M.
Any update on Gizmo? My dog has same thing.
Jan. 11, 2018
Lsw M.
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Golden Retreiver
Bonnie
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My 13 year old female golden retriever was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma about 4 months ago. After her spleen was removed She seems quite well at the moment and I wondered the life expectancy, I have heard between 2 and 6 months?
Nov. 3, 2017
0 Recommendations
Life expectancy varies widely and the two to six month timeline is where the majority of cases will fall when you are reading literature; life expectancy is something I like to stay out of, especially if I haven’t examined a patient because when I was a student someone tried sue a Veterinarian I was shadowing because the cat lived two days longer than his estimate (needless to say it never progressed further than an initial letter). Life expectancy from reputable sources will normally indicate the life expectancy for cases with and without chemotherapy and will give an indication of the percentage of patients surviving after three months, six months, twelve months and two years. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 3, 2017
My 2 year old pitbull was just let go due to a tumor side of a hotdog wrapped around his intestine. Was there more we could have done?
Dec. 12, 2017
Misty Waddle
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German Shepherd
smudge
5 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bloody Diarrhoea
had my dog to vet on Tuesday as on Saturday she had been sick a fe times then on suday was sick so gave her something to settle her stomach and it did but sunday teatime she has blood poo but ate chicken and scrambled egg Monday she was ok no sick no poo so thought she was ok till Monday night then a lot of blood so was at vet next morning but that morning she had more water blood took photo showed vet they gave her antibiotic jab and anti sickness jab and a course of antibiotics this morning had normal poo to night it was blood and mucus so will be backto vet tomorrow she hasn't been sick since sunday and is eating im worried
July 26, 2017
2 Recommendations
Mucus, bloody diarrhoea may be indicative of colitis; colitis may be caused by bacterial infection, parasites, food intolerance, stress and other causes. It may be worth trying to withhold food for one to two days to allow the gastrointestinal tract to reset; also giving anthelmintics for parasitic worms may be beneficial too. After the two day rest period, reintroduce food (may be worth giving boiled chicken and rice for a few days) along with a dietary fibre supplement (psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid or coarse wheat bran). This should all the discussed with your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVMwww.vetary.com/dog/condition/colitiswww.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/colitis-in-small-animals
July 26, 2017
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Daschund
BEVO
9.5 years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Intestinal Cancer
I have a 9.5 year old Miniture Daschund (BEVO). He was always healthy and playful and Friday night he vomited, quite eating, vomited again and became very weak and tired. On the third day of not eating and starting to back off water I took him to a Vet Speciality Hospital. They diagnosis a mass in a x-ray, and suggested ultrasound and a bacterial infection in the intestines. They wanted a huge amount of money. Almost $10,000 to do in and do surgery. I had already paid over $2500 up front. We transferred him to another hospital recommend to us and they helped with the cost and did immediate surgery, and within an hour called us and told us he had a huge intestinal cancer where they removed it and some of the intestines. I understand they can't remove all the lesions within the intestinal fibers that hold the intestines together. Dr. says she knows it will come back. I don't have a whole lot of money to invest but I just can't give up on this little guy yet, he was always there for me. Is there any type of chemo treatment that can be done for this and what is the prognosis and what ball park would I be looking at in cost? I don't want him to suffer and do the right thing for him, but it's hard to let go.
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
The most important step to take is to have histopathology done on the tumour to determine the type of the cancer as the type of the cancer will determine the aggressive nature of the recurrence, the spread, the prognosis and the expected response to chemotherapy. For a ballpark figure and prognosis, I really don’t want to speculate as the specific type of tumour is unknown. The average survival time for adenocarcinoma (subject of this article) is ten to fifteen months; chemotherapy may be done with adjuvant chemotherapy (carboplatin) but this would need to be discussed with your Veterinarian regarding suitability if it is adenocarcinoma as the price of the treatment can be cost prohibitive. Also, consulting an Oncologist may help to explore other options. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Intestinal Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $2,000 - $12,000
Average Cost
$7,500
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