Dog Gastrinomas

Gastrinomas are rare, malignant tumors of the pancreas. Originating in the islet cells, they do not interfere with insulin production. Islet cells are those which produce hydrochloric acid into the stomach. The tumors will cause an excess of digestive juices and can involve the pancreas, stomach, duodenum and small intestine. This will cause the lining of the stomach to thicken.
It usually appears in senior dogs and has a predisposition for females rather than males.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms are varied and can be serious. They can affect many of the dog’s bodily functions. Dogs can experience Dog Vomiting, Dog Diarrhea which can oftentimes be bloody, and have a Dog Loss of Appetite. Dog Depression and Dog Pain are not unusual. Dogs can also show signs having a Dog Increased Thirst as well as Dog Increased Urination.

Diagnosis

When lab studies are done, your dog will likely to be found suffering from Dog Anemia as well. Tests may also indicate low albumin, chloride and potassium along with elevation of blood sugar and gastrin.

An endoscopic exam by which a small tube is inserted into the dog’s mouth and into the stomach may indicate the presence of a mass, the only definitive way to diagnose a gastrinoma is by doing a surgical biopsy. These tumors will metastasize.

Treatment Options

If the tumor is operable, it will be removed along with affected growths on neighboring organs such as the liver and lymph nodes. When the original biopsy is performed, there will also be biopsies of the surrounding tissue done.

Prognosis

While surgical removal is possible, the prognosis for dogs with gastrinomas is relatively poor. The expected life span is usually six months or less. If there are no signs of metastasis, the prognosis may be better. It will all depend on the test results and the procedure performed.

It may be beneficial to obtain a second opinion and consult with a veterinary oncologist before deciding on the type of treatment you wish to have for your dog.

Home care

The only thing you can do with your dog after the surgery is to keep him as comfortable as possible by following a few Dog Palliative Cancer Care. It is important to maintain good nutritional status. It is likely that your vet will put your dog on a special Dog Cancer Diets with increased nutritional values. This should be maintained unless your dog has difficulty digesting it. If this happens, consulting your vet for a change in your Dog Diet may be necessary.

Pain is always present with any type of Dog Cancer. There is also pain after surgery. Your veterinarian will prescribe pain medicine that should be administered as ordered. You should not wait until your dog shows signs of pain, but rather do your best to prevent it from progressing in the first place.

Observe your dog for changes in elimination. Any signs of blood in the stool or a recurrence of vomiting should not be taken lightly.
If your dog shows any signs of Dog Stress And Anxiety or disinterest in their normal everyday activities, this should be noted and reported to your vet. You dog will be quite weak after surgery and depending on the stage of the disease, there is the possibility that your dog will never be the same.

This is one of the cancers that is so serious that you may decide whether or not the treatment will benefit your dog at all. If, after consulting with your vet and a veterinary oncologist you feel that any treatment will not bring about a cure, you need to decide what is best for your beloved friend.

Suggested Products

Nu-Pet Vitamin & Antioxidant Wafers
Cancer Support Kit – Dogs

Additional Dog Cancer Pages

Dog Cancer | Dog Skin Cancer | Dog Bladder Cancer | Dog Pancreatic Cancer | Dog Bone Cancer | Dog Cancer Prevention | Dog Cancer Diagnosis | Dog Lymphoma Cancer | Dog Gastric Cancer | Dog Mast Cell Tumors