Mastocytoma in dogs (mast cell tumor in dogs). What is this disease? Causes, treatment, prognosis

Mastocytoma is a neoplasm that affects the skin of an animal, which is formed by mast cells. Mastocytoma in dogs is a fairly common ailment and accounts for 22-25% of all skin diseases. Most often the disease affects a four-legged friend from the age of nine, but it can also appear at an earlier age.

Mast cell tumor in dogs

It does not matter what sex the animal has: neoplasms can develop both in the male and in the bitch. However, according to experts, some breeds are most often susceptible to the disease and constitute a risk group. These include Labradors, Boxers, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Setters, Pit Bulls and Sharpei who suffer from a disease more often than others.

Mastocytoma in dogs is a mast cell tumor of the skin. If multiple clusters of such tumors are observed, the disease is called mastocytosis. Tumors are formed from mutated mast cells.

Mast cells, or mast cells are cells of the immune system that participate in the formation of adaptive immunity and are in connective tissues. They contain special granules consisting of heparin, histamine, interleukins and neutral proteases, which trigger protective mechanisms aimed at protecting the body from external and internal stimuli.

How and why the disease develops

Mast cells are located mainly under the skin near the lymph nodes and blood vessels. With the constant impact of negative factors, mast cells change and mast cells are formed in dogs, the causes of which have not been fully studied.

Experts believe that the cause of the disease is the oncogene mutation, which is involved in the blood and growth of the mast cell. The modification of this gene can cause cancer.

How the tumor will behave depends on two factors:

1. From local and systemic effects on the animal body of vasoactive substances released from mast cells.
2. From the ability of tumors to start up metastases and affect the internal organs of cancer cells.

Local reaction to the released vasoactive substances can be different: edema, ulcers, erythema in the place of growth.

Systemic reactions include stomach ulceration, perforation of the walls of the stomach and intestines, as a result of which peritonitis may develop.

Often, mastocytoma in dogs develops systematically, when mast cells spread through many internal organs: the spleen, liver, bone marrow and others. In this case, the disease develops into mastocytosis.

Classification of mastocytoma

Mastocytomas can be of several types:

1. Solitary single - differ by slow growth.
2. Single neoplasms metastasizing to the lymph nodes.
3. Multiple tumors.
4. Mastocellular leukemia or mastocytosis.

A feature of mast cells is that they can occur with both symptomatic symptoms and asymptomatic symptoms.

It is accepted to distinguish three stages of mast cell tumors in dogs:

1. At the first degree neoplasms are formed in the skin integuments and are benign in nature. They can be large and difficult to operate, but there is no risk of spreading to other parts of the body.
2. In the second stage, tumors are formed in the subcutaneous layer. There are some signs of malignancy, and therefore it is not known how the cells respond to treatment.
3. At the third degree, deep subcutaneous areas are affected. Such a mastocytoma is quite aggressive and requires a special approach to treatment.

Appearance of mastocytoma

Mastocytoma in dogs is often characterized as an imitator, because it can take a diverse form and imitate any skin disease. Neoplasms can look like normal warts and like wet dermatitis, while revealing a dangerous disease is rather difficult, and sometimes impossible without a special examination.

Symptomatic of the disease

In half the cases, the mast cell tumor affects the skin on the dog's body, but can occur on the head, neck and muzzle. Sometimes the disease manifests itself in the throat, digestive organs or in the nose. Due to the fact that mastitis is difficult to diagnose, veterinarians often make a false diagnosis and prescribe the wrong treatment. Any neoplasm should be carefully studied.

Most often, mastocytomas have the appearance of small bundles that cause itching. The dog starts combing them and the formations turn red and inflame. Hair loss in the area of the tumor. When you touch the tumor, the animal is anxious, because they are quite painful. The mastocytoma develops at a rapid pace, and slow.

How to diagnose a tumor

Specific manifestations that characterize neoplasms are almost non-existent, but they can easily be diagnosed by biopsy. To take the material, a thin needle is used, so the dog practically does not feel pain. The confiscated materials are sent to the laboratory for thorough study.

The cells that make up the mastocytoma are large and round. They contain substances that can cause vomiting, stomach ulcers, shock and lead to death.

Mast cells are very unpredictable. Even today there is no one hundred percent possibility to distinguish tumors that will be aggressive, recurve, metastasize or lead to death from curable tumors.

It is enough accurately diagnosed oncological diseases in the clinic "Biocontrol". Vetklinika specializes in such diseases and has the necessary equipment.

In order to determine the prognosis of the disease, you need to correctly identify the degree of differentiation of education, which will show how malignant cells are different from benign and what is the probability of cure.

What is the basis for the diagnosis?

For a correct diagnosis, a number of clinical analyzes are performed, which give a detailed picture of the course of the disease. For example, the veterinary clinic "Biocontrol" on Kashirka during the diagnosis conducts:

• The study of the course of the disease, the examination of the pet, a comprehensive study;
• Biochemical and general blood analysis;
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity for the detection or exclusion of metastases;
• Chest X-ray in bilateral and dorsoventral projections;
• Aspiration biopsy of the lymph nodes, which are the first to be infected;
• Clinical studies of the bone marrow.

Vetclinik "Biocontrol" in Kashirka specializes in treating dogs from oncology since 1965 and applies all known methods of treatment.

Methods of treatment of mastocytoma

When a disease such as a mastocytoma is detected, treatment is prescribed using one of the following methods:

1. Surgical - removal of the tumor. This method is used if it is possible to remove the mast cell tumor, while capturing 2-3 cm of healthy tissue located under the formation. To delete the mastocytoma is meaningful only in the first and second stages, because the ailment can quickly spread into neighboring tissues. Before the operation, the dog is prescribed antihistamine therapy to prevent anaphylactic shock and an allergic reaction.
2. The method of radiotherapy. It is carried out as the main and additional treatment. The result depends on the differentiation of cells and the size of the lesion. Radiation therapy is used if the tumor can not be removed and mastocytoma cells have a low level of differentiation. As an additional measure in complex treatment, irradiation is shown before the operation and after that in large formations.
3. The method of chemotherapy. It is used in the presence of malignant neoplasms with metastases in regional lymph nodes. The meaning of this method is the use of certain medications that block the development of cells with certain receptors. The presence of such receptors is determined by immunohistochemical analysis, by examining the composition of the tumor.

The results of any of the treatment methods depend on the course of the disease and its stage. Thus, in the treatment of the first and second stage of the disease with an average or good degree of differentiation of tumor cells, the animal after the treatment can live on average more than two years. In the third and fourth stages and with a low degree of differentiation after treatment, the dog will live no more than six months.

As a mastocytoma the dog reacts to chemotherapy

In a typical chemotherapy regimen, "Prednisolone" is prescribed, the dosage of which is calculated depending on the weight of the animal. After two weeks of taking the drug, the results are checked. And if there is no positive effect, then the next protocol of chemotherapy, which consists of "Cyclophosphamide", "Vinblastine" and "Prednisolone", is prescribed.

"Prednisolone" is most often used in mastocytomas. The animals tolerate it well and the duration of admission can last six months. If there were no new tumors during the treatment, the medicine may be canceled.

When taking the drug may increase body weight, increase appetite and thirst, there may be infectious lesions of the skin and shortness of breath. Less commonly, you can observe upset stomach, peptic ulcer and pancreatitis. If such symptoms occur, then additional therapy is prescribed, aimed at reducing side effects.

If the tumor is located in hard-to-reach places or it can not be removed, then combined chemotherapy is used. It inhibits the growth of the tumor and its spread throughout the body for a long time, which can be calculated in weeks, months and years. Complete destruction of the mast cell tumor is impossible, but some animals can live a few more years and achieve biological aging.

Follow-up after therapy

All animals treated for mastocytoma should be under constant supervision of veterinary oncologists. For example, "Biocontrol", a vet clinic that specializes in the treatment of oncology, controls every patient.

In the case of early detection and timely treatment of a recurrent tumor, the chances of prolonging the life of the animal increase. Usually, dogs are examined at intervals of one and a half to two months after the prompt removal of the mastocytoma and every three weeks - in the case of chemotherapy. Periodically, specialists will conduct a sampling of necessary tests.

What are the forecasts?

Despite the fact that with a disease such as mastocytoma in dogs, the forecast is difficult to make, yet there are some signs that may show a positive dynamics of the disease. The behavior of the mastocytoma is affected by the classification and stage of the tumor, as well as the age of the dog. Much depends on immunohistochemical studies, which determine the amount of altered cells and the effectiveness of therapy.

Thus, with a highly differentiated mastocytoma, the animal can survive long enough, with a moderately differentiated life expectancy ranging from one to three years, and with a low-grade differentiation, from 6 to 12 months.

Factors affecting tumor behavior

1. Degree of differentiation.
2. The stage on which the tumor is detected.
3. The location of the growth. The worst predictions are given with tumors located in the mouth and on the mucous membrane.
4. Size of the tumor. The larger the mastocytoma, the less chance of a favorable outcome.
5. Intensity of development. With the rapid growth of the neoplasm and the destruction of neighboring tissues, the chances of recovery sharply decrease.
6. Symptoms of the defeat of the digestive system indicate the neglect of the disease.
7. Age group of animals. The older the pet, the more difficult the treatment is.
8. The sex of the dog. According to studies, males tolerate chemotherapy worse than females.
9. An animal breed. In some, mastitis can be diagnosed at early stages, for example, in boxers. In others, the disease manifests itself only in a state of neglect. Sharlie serve as a good example.

Preventive actions

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent the formation of a mast cell tumor. The only recommendation for dog owners, especially those at risk, is the constant monitoring of the skin of a four-legged friend, checking for the presence of various seals. It would be superfluous to regularly take tests and visit specialists.

Mastocytoma is a serious and complex problem, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The disease requires a qualitative study. What is a mastocytoma in a dog, whether or not to operate, how to treat and whether it is possible to cure - such questions are rife in the mind of every good host. Everything depends on the stage at which the disease was detected, and the results of the preliminary examination. With a favorable outcome of treatment, a four-legged friend has every chance of a long enough life (by dog standards).