Nasal Cancer In Dogs

Does My Dog Have Nasal Cancer?

Because these tumors are hidden inside the nasal cavity, they are more difficult to detect. By the time signs are noticeable to the owner and a diagnosis is made, nasal cancer is typically at an advanced stage. Nasal tumors are locally aggressive. This means that instead of metastasizing or spreading to other areas of the body, the cancer cells are aggressive where the tumor is located. Nasal tumors can eat away at the surrounding tissues, bone plate, and even into the cranial vault that the brain occupies. Understanding the signs and symptoms of a nasal tumor is vital for early detection.

“He’s young for his age, very chipper, runs around. Most people who see him think he’s 4 or 5 years old. In hindsight, we realized that a lot of things we saw were caused by his tumor—dark spots on his bed and rubbing his nose on the carpet. His face looked normal, he acted normal, still played ball, went for walks, and did everything as usual. If we would have known, we could have caught this sooner.” – Cheryl Harper, Pet Parent to Pet Hero Cooper

Signs & Symptoms of Nose Cancer in Dogs

If your pet displays these signs or symptoms of nasal cancer, have your pet examined by your primary care veterinarian as soon as possible.

• Nasal discharge
  Nasal discharge is the most common clinical sign of a nasal tumor. The discharge may contain mucous, pus, and blood. Dogs are quick to lick their noses, so close attention to your pet is necessary when you first notice a runny nose. Also, check their bedding and blankets for nasal discharge.
• Excessive sneezing
  Along with a runny nose, excessive sneezing is another common sign. Unfortunately because sneezing is also a common sign of allergies and infections in the upper respiratory tract, your veterinarian may treat your pet with medication for a different condition—especially if the nasal cancer is in the early stages. The medication may alleviate the sneezing temporarily but it will eventually return. If you notice your pet sneezing even after medication, don’t hesitate to notify your veterinarian.
• Loud snoring
  If your dog has always been a quiet sleeper and begins to snore loudly, it may be a sign of a tumor blocking the nasal airways. When awake, the symptom can be recognized by noisy breathing or shortness of breath.
• Bloody nose
  A bloody nose is never good. Causes can be from trauma to the nose, allergies, upper respiratory infection, bacterial infection, dental problems, or a possible tumor. As the cancer advances, bloody noses can become more frequent.
• Rubbing or pawing at face
  As the tumor grows, your pet may show signs of discomfort. They may rub their face on the ground, your leg, or other surfaces. They may also paw at their face constantly.
• Facial deformity
  As the nasal tumor spreads and grows, it can push against the facial muscles and bones, creating a deformity. You may notice a general swelling of the face or that the face is no longer symmetrical. The nose can become misshapen. The tumor can also push into the ocular area, causing an abnormal bulge of the eyes as well as cause discharge from the eyes.
• Seizures
  As mentioned previously, nasal cancer can extend into the cranial vault. As the tumor begins to invade the brain, your dog may exhibit neurological signs, like seizures or behavioral changes. Facial deformity, seizures, and frequent nosebleeds indicate that the nasal cancer is no longer in the early stages, and the animal should be taken to a veterinarian for testing as soon as possible.
• Other signs of cancer
  While the above are some of the common signs of a nasal tumor, there are other signs of cancer that don’t include the face. For example, weight loss, weight gain, a persistent cough, and wounds that won’t heal are also signs of cancer. Read our “Top 10 Warning Signs of Cancer in Your Pet” article for more information. 

Diagnosis & Staging for Nasal Tumors in Dogs

Diagnostic tests for nasal cancer can include one or more of the following:

• Physical examination for facial symmetry
• Checking for obstruction of air flow in each nasal opening
• Blood work
• Tissue biopsy
• Fine needle aspiration
• Rhinoscopy
• Nasal and/or nasal radiographs
• CT scan

Treatment Options for Nasal Tumors in Dogs

The first step of action is pain management. Depending on the stage of cancer, your pet may be in a lot of pain. It will likely be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids to relieve pain throughout treatment.

If you have an appointment to discuss radiation therapy for your pet’s nasal cancer, here are some questions to ask your veterinary oncologist.

Radiation Therapy

For nasal tumors, radiation therapy is the preferred standard of treatment for dogs. Due to the sensitive location, surgery is often difficult. Before the introduction of stereotactic radiation (SRS/SRT) in veterinary medicine, the most advanced radiation therapy available to pet owners was conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT). CFRT can treat the tumor in ways surgery or chemotherapy can’t and in many cases is the recommended course of treatment, but there are also disadvantages. The radiation delivered to the tumor can damage the normal, healthy tissue surrounding it. In order to keep side effects as minimal as possible, the radiation is delivered in smaller doses over the course of anywhere from 15 to 30 sessions under anesthesia.

Stereotactic Radiation (SRS/SRT)

At PetCure Oncology, our centers offer CFRT as well as the newer and more advanced forms of radiation therapy like SRS/SRT. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, SRS/SRT is able to deliver high doses of radiation with sub-millimeter precision. This means:

• Maximum damage to the tumor and minimal collateral damage to healthy tissues nearby
• Fewer treatment sessions compared to CFRT—patients require only 1-3 sessions, which means fewer anesthetic events, more safety, and less disruption to your schedule
• Fast recovery with little to no side effects
• Ability to treat tumors previously considered untreatable

Dog Nasal Cancer: Life Expectancy, Survival & Prognosis

Prognosis varies by case, but the median survival time for dogs after advanced radiation therapy ranges from 6-18 months depending on the type of cancer and how early it was treated.² As with any cancer, the earlier it is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances that treatment will be successful.

Meet Our Nasal Cancer Pet Heroes

As of March 2017, 14% of all cancers treated by PetCure Oncology have been nasal tumors. Here are a few our inspiring Pet Heroes that have fought nasal cancer. We invite you to read their stories. If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, contact a PetCure Oncology location near you. Our team members are ready to help answer your questions.

• Pet Hero Cooper the Labrador – Adenocarcinoma
• Pet Hero Sam the Golden Retriever – Adenocarcinoma
• Pet Hero Cera the Super Cat – Lymphosarcoma

RELATED: We’re So Lucky To Have Cared For Lucky, Sunny Days For Sam, Nasal Cancer In Cats, PetCure Case Study: Nasal Tumors, Information Sheet: Nasal & Sinus Tumors, PetCure Case Study: Outcomes & Adverse Effects Associated With stereotactic body radiation therapy in dogs with nasal tumors: 28 cases (2011–2016), Share the Video

REFERENCES
1 “Canine and feline nasal tumors,” dvm360.com,
2 “When it comes to nasal tumors, the nose knows.” dvm360.com