Dog Lymphoid Leukemia

Owning a dog is more than simply owning a pet, these animals become part of your life and family. If they get sick then you will want to do everything possible to save them and knowing about different illnesses and conditions is essential. There are some conditions which can be life threatening if not found and treated immediately. This is why it is so important to have your dog checked at the vet regularly.

What is Lymphoid Leukemia

Lymphoid Leukemia is a very serious blood disorder that happens because there is an overabundance of white cells in your dog’s body. This form of Leukemia is very common and will affect the bone marrow and can even circulate around the system. Leukemia is often defined as acute or chronic and depends on which of the white blood cells have been affected. Also how quickly the leukemia has appeared. Although the leukemia that your dog will have is very similar to the human form it also has some major differences as well.

Symptoms of Lymphoid Leukemia

There are many symptoms with this disease that can affect your dog and they may have some of them or in extreme cases all of them. Your dog may suffer from Dog Weight Loss, Dog Increased Thirst, and Dog Increased Urination, random bleeding, Dog Anemia and Dog Vomiting.

There are many more symptoms but these are the most common. In some forms of chronic leukemia there are no symptoms at all which can be concerning for you as a pet owner as you will not know your pet is sick. This is why you should have them regularly checked by the vet so they can detect abnormalities and diseases.

Diagnosis and the way forward

If you are concerned about your dog and you may suspect they have a form of the leukemia then you need to take them to a vet straight away. The vet will be able to take a blood sample from your dog and examine it. The blood is the only way to fully diagnose leukemia and once the vet can find out if it is chronic or acute then they can set out a plan of treatment. If you leave this untreated then your dog will eventually die, so it is very important to act quickly for your dog to have a chance of survival.

Treatment and aftercare

If your dog is diagnosed with acute leukemia then it cannot be operated on and the only form of treatment is chemotherapy. Although the chemotherapy has advanced a long way, there are risks involved with your dog undergoing chemotherapy that you should be made aware of by your veterinarian.

In the case of the chronic leukemia your vet will most likely advise you to closely observe your dog and treat the under laying illnesses. There is no need for radical treatments and your dog may in time get over the illness on his or her own. Although the figures of survival after leukemia are unknown your dog will have another few years of life after treatment. For some this is enough and they will fight for their lives and for others they may feel that it is kinder to let them go.

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