Spindle Cell Tumors in Dogs

Spindle cell tumors are potentially very serious and even life threatening growths which may develop over the course of your pet's lifetime. While they are more common in older dogs and animals that are medium sized or larger, they can nonetheless affect virtually any dog and at any stage of development. For this reason, it's a good idea to watch out for your pet's overall health and take note of any potential symptoms of a spindle cell tumor which develop. Read on for a brief overview of this type of condition.

Spindle Cell Tumor Overview

Spindle cell tumors are those that develop in the connective tissue around your dog's body. There is connective tissue at virtually every bone and joint connection, but the most common sites for the development of spindle cell tumors are the knees and paws, the hip joints and other large joint connections. Still, it's crucial that you be aware of the fact that harder-to-detect spindle cell tumors may develop in other parts of your dog's body as well.

Identifying a Spindle Cell Tumor

Because spindle cell tumors account for nearly 10 percent of all of the tumors which affect dogs, they are relatively common. Still, it's easy to mislabel them, and many experienced veterinarians and veterinary surgeons do routinely identify them in the incorrect way. They resemble so-called "fatty tumors" at first. Fatty tumors are growths of fat and deposits which do not cause your pet any harm or pose a significant malignant threat. These tumors feel and look a lot like some spindle cell tumors, and they even grow in the same parts of your pet's body. However, properly identifying them is crucial to protecting your dog's health.

There are a number of ways in which your vet may identify a spindle cell tumor. In cases in which the tumor itself is large enough to pulpate, he will likely feel it with his hands and use that as a way of estimating the development of the tumor. He will also likely take blood samples, x-rays and even a biopsy of the tumor cells themselves. By running lab tests on these tissue samples, you and your vet can accurately determine if your pet's growth is a spindle cell tumor.

Symptoms and Treatment of Spindle Cell Tumors

The symptoms of spindle cell tumors include the following:

  • Noticeable growth or lump
  • Signs of discomfort at the touch
  • Difficulty walking, sitting down, lying down or getting up
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite

Treating spindle cell tumors depends upon the extent of the development of the tumor itself. If the tumor is highly developed, surgical excision and chemotherapy may both be rquired. In other cases, however, only one or the other of these two methods will be sufficient to help eliminate the cancerous growth.

For more information about spindle cell tumors and how they can affect your pet, speak with a vet or a veterinary surgeon in your area with any further questions.

 

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