Incidence and management of tumours in canines

A total of 75 canine tumours (5.033%) were recorded in the study conducted from December 2006 to April 2008 which included other tumours (53.33%), genital tumours (33.33%) and mammary tumours (13.33%). CTVT (n=19) showed the highest incidence of all the tumours with an incidence rate of 25.33%. Highest incidence of tumours was recorded in the age group of 8–10 years (26.66%) and lowest in less than 2 years (4%). Female animals (56%) were found to be more susceptible than male animals (44%) out of the total cases, malignant growths were 66.12% and benign growths were 33.87%. Inguinal and caudal abdominal (4^th and 5^th) mammary glands were most commonly affected with mammary tumours in dogs. Increased TLC was seen during vincristine sulfate chemotherapy. Monocyte count increased significantly (P<0.05) post-surgery in mammary tumour patients. Low calcium and high alkaline phosphatase were recorded in all tumour bearing animals. Thoracic radiography revealed pulmonary metastasis in the animals which had hepatoid gland adenoma, complex mammary carcinoma, canine transmissible venereal tumour, osteosarcoma and ossifying fibroma. Histopathology confirmed the presence of tumour like cutaneous histiocytoma, mastocytoma, meibomian adenoma, trichoblastoma, sebaceous adenoma, hepatoid gland adenoma, papilloma, ossifying fibroma, thecoma, diffuse seminoma, meibomian carcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, complex mammary carcinoma, chondrosarcoma and venereal granuloma. TNM evaluation aided in treatment plan and provided the prognosis of the disease. Surgery (electro-excision, mastectomies marginal resections and debulking) was the treatment of choice for all soft tissue tumours and mammary tumours. Chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide was effective as an adjunct to chain mastectomy in the cases of multiple mammary gland involvement or when there was primary lungs metastasis. CTVT patients were successfully treated with vincristine sulfate (i/v) monochemotherapy. Tumour recurrence was normally appreciated within 2–3 months of surgery which even extended up to 9 months.