Treating Thyroid Cancer in Dogs

Overview

Thyroid cancer in dogs is not very common. Because dogs show few symptoms, it can be easy to miss. Catching it early makes all the difference when it comes to treatment and survival. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that maintain your dog's metabolic rate. Any change in the functioning of this gland can have varied effects on your pet's health.

A veterinarian will need to determine if any mass detected in the neck is caused by a thyroid cancer tumor or one of the following alternative causes:

• abscesses (inflamed area filled with pus)
  
• hematomas (swelling due to a swollen blood vessel)
• lymphoma (cancerous/malignant tumor in a lymph node)
  
• lipomas
• Other types of tumors
  

There is a higher incidence of malignant thyroid tumors in Golden Retrievers, Boxers and Beagles (high correlation with untreated hypothyroidism). The tumors cause hyperthyroidism in 10% of cases which is caused by lymphocytic thyroiditis (inflammation). Another 10% have hypothyroidism.

Symptoms

Most dogs (about 60%) with thyroid cancer don't show many symptoms and have a normally functioning thyroid (called euthyroid). Some symptoms of dog thyroid cancer may include:

• urinating more than usual
• weight loss
• increased appetite
• nervousness
• coughing
• respiratory distress
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• vomiting and regurgitation
• anorexia
• facial swelling
• hoarseness (dysphonia)
• difficulty breathing (dyspnea) 
• Horners syndrome - seen in rare cases (drooping eyelids and other symptoms)
  
• facial edema (large fluid volume in the tissues of the body)
• neck pain

The thyroid gland, located at the base of the neck, may appear enlarged. Thyroid cancer in dogs caused by parafocllicular cells can cause diarrhea resulting from the production of abnormal proteins in the C-cells. Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to thyroid tumors than others, including beagles, boxers, and golden retrievers.

Dog Thyroid Carcinoma Diagnosis

Based on your pet's symptoms, your vet will suspect thyroid problems. However, that does not necessarily mean cancer. Your vet can determine through an examination that the thyroid is enlarged. With x-rays or an ultrasound, your vet may be able to visualize a tumor of some sort growing on the thyroid gland. To make an accurate diagnosis, your vet will need to take a tissue biopsy of the tumor. This is a surgical procedure where a small bit of the tumor is removed and then studied under a microscope. If it is cancerous, sometimes the entire tumor can then be removed at that time.

The status of the thyroid tumor in dog case can be determined by measuring TSH plasma and T₄ levels. 35% to 45% of dogs when diagnosed have a tumor that has spread to other parts of the body.

Dog Adenocarcinoma Thyroid Treatment

There are many options for treating thyroid cancer in dogs. The best option will depend on the size of the tumor, how it is attached to the surrounding tissue, and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body.

If it is possible to separate the tumor from other tissues without damaging any major blood vessels or other vital parts, surgery is the best treatment. This is the case whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. When tumors are freely movable, complete surgical excision is recommended.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, additional treatment will be needed, however. Surgery can cause side effects such as laryngeal paralysis and bleeding during surgery (intraoperative hemorrhage). Patients with tumors that are highly invasive may require blood transfusions during surgery and more care after surgery. There is also a risk of damage the the parathyroid glands, which are responsible for the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.

If the tumor involves the surrounding tissue and therefore cannot be removed surgically, external beam radiation therapy is often used. Radiation is directed at the tumor, causing it to shrink. Sometimes after it shrinks sufficiently, the remaining tumor can then be surgically removed. Side effects of radiation consist of mucus in the digestive and respiratory tract (oral mucosa) and skin lesions.⁽²⁾ Radiation has the potential to control tumor growth and lengthen survival time.

Finally, there is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy (Cisplatin or doxorubicin) is often prescribed along with surgical or radiation therapy. It is used when cancer has spread to other organs of the body to slow its growth and is also used to prevent the recurrence of cancer. There are possible side effects when chemotherapy is used including gastrointestinal issues and concerns with the cardiovascular system.

Early diagnosis and treatment is key to survival. There is a high rate of success in treatment that is begun in the early stages of thyroid cancer in dog. A veterinarian will want to follow up with the patient every 3 months to check for any changes in condition.

Dogs suffering from hyperthyroidism need to control the patients heart rate using a beta blocker.

A natural supplement you might want to try for added thyroid support is PetAlive Thyro-Pet. It is a herbal remedy that mixes with your dog's food and is designed to improve thyroid function and address some of the symptoms of a malfunctioning thyroid.

Prognosis

The prognosis after surgery for thyroid cancer in dog depends on if the tumor was completely removed. Complete removal is the same as a cure whereas if any part of the tumor was missed, the cancer could continue to spread.⁽³⁾.

The median survival rate after surgical removal of a freely movable thyroid is greater than 36 months. 80% of dogs treated with external beam radiation therapy survive for 1 year, with 72% at 3 years. Dogs that were only treated with chemotherapy (Cisplatin) survived for a median of 202 days. Chemotherapy for all dogs, regardless of response is 98 days.

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References For Thyroid Cancer In Dogs

Management of Endocrine Neoplasia
Withrow, Steven

External Beam Radiation Therapy for Thyroid Cancer in the Dog
Mayer