Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs: Symptoms, Life Expectancy, and Treatment

Finding out that your canine best friend has a mast cell tumor can be rather devastating. Besides requiring immediate medical attention, not treating mast cell tumors in dogs the right way can also potentially lead to other serious health issues sooner or later.

Although mast cell tumors commonly affect the skin, they can also have an impact on other parts of your dog’s body like the spleen, liver, as well as local lymph nodes. And the whole clinical outcome significantly depends on the crucial steps you take during its early stages.

This is the reason why we've put together this blog post to get you in on the important things you need to know about skin tumors affecting mast cells in dogs. We will discuss its possible risk factors, the symptoms to keep an eye on, how this health problem is diagnosed, and the treatment options you can go for.

We will also cover other interesting bits and pieces that you're sure to find useful as we go along. Additionally, our complete guide to dog cancer contains all the information you need to know about cancers affecting dogs.

What Are Mast Cell Tumors In Dogs?

Mast cell tumors in dogs affect the “mast cells," a type of white blood cell the body uses for allergy response. Apart from being deemed as the most common type of skin tumor in canines, it is also rather tricky to accurately predict biological behavior when it comes to this wellness problem.

And just to emphasize as early as now, according to veterinary medicine studies, a canine pet's mast cell tumor makes up around 20% of all diagnosed cases. Did you know that mast cells have a key role in dealing with allergic reactions in a dog's body, too?

What's worrying about this health issue is that tumor cells of this type can either lead to low-grade tumors (less aggressive and won't usually spread to other parts of the body) or high-grade tumors (more aggressive and typically spread to different areas).

Common treatment options for dogs diagnosed with tumors of the mast cells

Given that mast cell tumors are the most common skin tumors in dogs, they can also affect the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, intestine, and bone marrow. Additionally, one of the significant effects of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors is enlarged lymph nodes.

Is There a Difference Between a Primary Tumor and Secondary Skin Tumors?

The short answer is yes.

A primary tumor is the "first" that manifests in a dog's body as a skin mass. It turns into a "secondary" tumor as soon as it spreads to another part of your pet's system, which is also referred to as a documented metastasis.

Moreover, a secondary tumor usually targets the internal organs and the regional lymph node in most cases depending on the tumor location. In this situation, there is already the presence of multiple tumors.

Low-grade tumor vs. high-grade tumor

While mast cell tumors vary, they are typically made up of abnormal masses of tissues or growths. They may also be in the form of low-grade tumors or high-grade tumors. The higher the grade, the higher the risk for it to progress into cancer.

Example: Grade I tumors do not usually evolve into cancer as compared to Grade II tumors and Grade III tumors. It is typically high-grade tumors that become cancer. These grades may also be poorly differentiated, intermediately differentiated, as well as well-differentiated.

Tumor vs. cancer

It is important to take note that this health issue can also lead to multiple skin tumors and will usually require a tissue sample for proper verification. (We will discuss how tumors are typically diagnosed in just a bit.)

On the other hand, cancer pertains to the proliferation of abnormal cells or cancer cells—it may only involve a few cells in some cases. Regardless if it is a tumor or cancer, you should immediately schedule a consultation with a pet wellness expert or a veterinary oncologist to take care of the problem as soon as possible.

Causes or Risk Factors of Dogs Mast Cell Tumors

Despite the strides in modern veterinary medicine, there is still no known specific cause as regards mast cell tumors in dogs.

Heredity may be a link

However, we know that there are certain genetic or hereditary factors involved because some breeds are more commonly affected, such as Boston Terriers, Labrador Retrievers and Boxers, among others. But the thing is while mast cell tumors can target small breeds like Boston Terriers,

As with all cancers, older dogs are diagnosed with mast cell tumors more frequently. 

Clinical Signs of Canine Mast Cell Tumors

If a mast cell tumor is affecting internal organs, or the chemicals in the cells are being released in the body, you might see these symptoms:

• Decreased appetite and weight loss

• Vomiting or Diarrhea

• Lethargy and loss of energy

• Collapse

Mast cell tumors on the skin can’t be diagnosed just by looking at them, because they don’t always look the same. You might notice other signs such as a lump on your pup’s skin, a bump underneath the skin, or a red, ulcer-looking growth. Sometimes these lumps can change in size, getting larger and smaller with time. 

Remember that not all lumps or bumps found on or under your pet’s skin are cancerous! Also, not all lumps or bumps that don’t look dangerous are benign (not cancerous). If you’ve found something unusual on your pet’s skin, or in their behavior, make sure to get it checked out right away so your vet can determine if it’s serious or not. 

How are Canine Mast Cell Tumors Diagnosed?

The most common procedures used with regard to the diagnosis of mast cell tumors are biopsy and fine needle aspiration (FNA).

Difference between biopsy and FNA

While both may involve the surgical excision of tissues (this may even include connective tissue) to check for the presence of a tumor, regular biopsy typically uses a wider needle compared to that used in fine needle aspiration.

Besides resorting to tissue biopsy or having to fine needle aspirate a suspicious lump, other procedures utilized for diagnosing mast cell tumors in dogs also include X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) scan, abdominal ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), among others, which are rather similar to human medicine.

We'd just like to reiterate the importance of determining if your dog has a mast cell tumor to immediately establish your plan of treatment. A higher tumor grade may already require an aggressive local therapy combined with a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor or multiple drugs in some cases.

It's also not uncommon to hear a "guarded prognosis" from your vet if a mast cell tumor has been ignored or overlooked for a long time.

What is the Life Expectancy of a Dog With a Mast Cell Tumor?

How long can a dog live with a mast cell tumor? Mast cell tumors in dogs have different “grades”, or levels of severity, and the life expectancy can vary from as little as a few months (with an average of 4 to 6 months) in a Grade III tumor, to years with a Grade I tumor.

When a mast cell tumor on the skin is bumped, moved, or agitated, this can cause the chemicals inside to be released and spread throughout the body, causing problems for your pup. So try not to feel it, and discourage your dog from licking, biting, or scratching it to reduce the chances of this happening.

Is Conventional Medicine (Like Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy Drugs, Etc.) the Only Option?

The short answer is no.

While most practitioners in a Vet Med Assoc. will generally recommend surgical removal (usually aggressive surgery), systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, among others, when mast cell tumors are concerned, these strategies are mostly invasive and may even involve an allergic reaction or some other adverse effect.

You can use a more natural approach when you treat dogs afflicted with a mast cell tumor. While surgical removal, radiation therapy, and similar treatment recourses may be deemed as the "norm," you can go for a tactic that primarily bolsters your pet's immune system in the process.

A Natural Product for Mast Cell Tumors You Should Consider

Zumalka's PIPTOPET is designed to deal with suspicious masses on your dog's body without being too invasive like radiation therapy or having adverse side effects like an allergic reaction. PIPTOPET has anti-tumor properties that will help promote your dog's defense against cancerous cells, too.

As a pet parent, you want to prevent recurrences and secondary infections.  It can be used on its own, or in addition to conventional treatments—even for long-term use! If you're still having a tricky time zeroing in on a natural product that is specially formulated to take off mast cell tumors in dogs, PIPTOPET is one option you should check out.

About the author

Denise Lessard

HOMEOPATH, NATUROPATH, REFLEXOLOGIST, TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE THERAPIST

Denyse Lessard is deemed as the “mother” of Zumalka, which was established more than ten years ago to provide easily accessible natural products for pet wellness worldwide.

Besides being a trained alternative medicine therapist, Denyse also has expertise in homeopathy, naturopathy and iridology, reflexology, as well as Chinese medicine. She is a long-standing member of the Professional Union of Homeopaths of Quebec, as well as the Association of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists of Quebec.

Denyse’s philosophy as regards pet wellness is not just about only dealing with disease and illness when they get in the picture, but keeping animals in ideal health each and every day.

Find out more about Denyse when you click HERE.