A canine soft tissue sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects the soft tissue of the dog’s body. It is the most common type of cancer in dogs and can be found anywhere on their bodies, including the skin, bones, muscles, and internal organs. The disease is usually caused by a virus or bacteria and can spread rapidly within the body. If left untreated, canine soft tissue sarcoma has a very poor prognosis with less than 20% of dogs surviving more than six months after diagnosis.
There are several treatment options available to treat canine soft tissue sarcoma depending on its location within your pet’s body. Some treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy while others such as immunotherapy may be used instead if they are deemed appropriate for your pet’s specific case.
Soft tissue sarcomas are common types of cancer that originate in the body’s soft tissues. These tumors can arise on any part of the body and can spread to other parts of the body as well. The good news is that there are alternative treatments for this disease, which I’ll discuss below.
What Is Soft Tissue Sarcoma?
Soft tissue sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, fat and blood vessels. It can occur anywhere in the body but most commonly develops in tendons, muscles, and other connective tissues. Soft tissue sarcomas make up about 40% to 50% of all canine cancers.
A sarcoma is a malignant tumor made up of cells that look like normal cells but have lost their identity and ability to perform specific functions. In dogs with soft tissue sarcomas, cancerous cells break away from their original tumor site and spread throughout the body (metastasis).
In humans, this type of cancer is extremely rare; however, it is more common in dogs than in any other form.
What Causes Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma?
The cause of soft tissue sarcoma is unknown. It’s not related to diet, lifestyle or genetics, and it’s not related to the immune system either.
What Are The Symptoms Of Soft Tissue Sarcoma In Dogs?
The symptoms of canine soft tissue sarcoma vary depending on where the tumor is located. However, the following are some common symptoms:
- Swelling
- Abnormal size or shape of an area of skin or subcutaneous tissue (the layer of fat beneath the skin)
- Pain
- Lack of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy or activity level, and lack of interest in playing with toys and going for walks can also be signs that your dog may have soft tissue cancer.
How Is Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma Diagnosed And Treated?
The diagnosis of canine soft tissue sarcoma is based on symptoms, a physical exam, and a biopsy. The doctor will also consider the results of tests such as CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans. A biopsy is the only way to determine if your dog has soft tissue sarcoma or not. However, not all dogs with this type of cancer need treatment right away because some can be monitored very closely without having any problems at all.
Surgical Intervention
Surgical intervention is the most commonly used treatment for canine soft tissue sarcoma. It is also the only option that can be used to completely remove any tumors. However, this type of surgery can be very expensive and invasive, as it requires opening up your dog’s body and removing part or all of a limb. While it has the highest success rate out of all other types of treatments, it’s important to keep in mind that surgery may not always be an option due to complications resulting from previous surgeries or other factors such as age and weight.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is usually given into a vein (IV) or under the skin to treat specific types of cancer. The drugs travel through the bloodstream and reach cancer cells throughout your body.
What are some common side effects?
Common side effects can include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and/or difficulty swallowing
- Hair loss or changes in hair color
- Changes in skin color such as nail beds being lighter than usual or white patches developing on your tongue, lips, mouth lining, or inside your cheeks
- You may experience other reactions based on the type of chemotherapy you receive.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a type of therapy that uses high-energy radiation to treat cancer. This includes the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.
This can be done through external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), also known as teletherapy, in which the radiation source is positioned away from the body and delivered via a beam at a specific angle to the target area. Alternatively, internal radiotherapy can be used to deliver radioactive particles directly to an area of cancer cells by way of an implanted source such as a seed or tube.
Alternative Treatment Of Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Alternative treatments for soft tissue sarcoma can be very beneficial to your dog and can help them feel better, live longer, and/or feel better while undergoing traditional treatment.
Alternative treatments for soft tissue sarcoma include acupuncture, herbal therapy, homeopathic remedies, and diet. These alternative treatments are not as effective as traditional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy but may be used in conjunction with traditional medicine to improve the quality of life for your dog during treatment.
There are many alternative treatments that can make your dog feel better if nothing else. Alternative treatments include acupuncture, massage, herbs, and dietary supplements. These therapies can be used in conjunction with other treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy. They may also be used to help with pain and anxiety and to help with healing and recovery.