Posted on October 06, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

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Malignant mesothelioma in dogs is a rare life-long form of malignant cancer, affecting the dog’s abdomen or chest area, through dog exposure to asbestos. Even though all breeds are susceptible, the main breeds affected from this disease are the German Shepherd, Irish Setters, and the Bouvier des Flandres, with male dogs more apt to get it than female dogs.

The mesothelium is made of two layers – the organs are surrounded by one and the other is directly connected to each organ for its protection. When the malignant cancer first develops and the dog has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it forms inside the mesothelium or sac that protects the dog’s internal organs.

A biopsy must be made to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma or an “immunohistochemical staining” to tell the difference between the asbestos cancer from other neoplasms. But first, a dog owner needs to know what the mesothelioma symptoms consist of before taking the dog to a vet who specializes in cancer of the mesothelium.

Mesothelioma symptoms

In dogs, clinical mesothelioma symptoms occur about one month prior to diagnosis. The area which is the most affected in dogs is the pleural cavity, but all three cavities may be affected – pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. Major clinical signs have been found to be dyspnea, secondary to the body’s cavity fluid exudation, from blocked lymphatic channels, or large masses.

In particular, the mesothelioma symptoms from this specific type includes exercise intolerance, cough, abdominal discomfort, tachypnea, or respiratory distress. But there are various types of mesothelioma symptoms to watch for.

• Pain in abdomen
• Swelling in abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Difficulty in breathing
• Chest pain beneath the rib cage
• Lumps
• Muffled heart sounds
• Night sweats
• Fever
• Exercise intolerance
• Abnormally rapid breathing
• Decreased lung sounds
• Weak peripheral pulse
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Pulmonary edema and/or enlarged to globoid heart
• Abdominal distension
• Lethargy
• Hepatomegaly

Mesothelioma risk factors

Mesothelioma forms in the mesothelium because of the body being exposed to asbestos. Dogs that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma belong to people who have an occupation or lifestyle where they are exposed to high levels of asbestos. They affect their pets because of working in asbestos production, shipbuilding, or asbestos mining, older buildings, basements, and attics – making humans and dogs vulnerable to dangerous asbestos cancer.

When the person or dog continuously inhales the asbestos fibers whexposed to asbestos, they develop respiratory disorders and mesothelioma lung cancer. If the individual smokes, it makes them even more prone to the disease. If exposed to asbestos and smoking, they will begin showing serious mesothelioma symptoms from 20 to 50 years old, with 10-15 years of pre-exposure of the asbestos. People who live with someone exposed to asbestos are also at risk for getting it. Of the people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, over 70% of them have been exposed to asbestos. Dogs and humans who are exposed to germasides, herbacides and fungacides will speed up the process of mesothelioma in dogs and humans. It differs from lung cancer which occurs at any age.

Dogs diagnosed with mesothelioma

Dogs that develop malignant mesothelioma are usually middle-aged – eight to 15 years old. However, there have been several diagnoses of puppies as young as 7 weeks with it. If this occurs, it is considered to be congenital malignant mesothelioma – a condition that occurs in dogs or humans at young ages. One human case involved a 16-year old boy with malignant mesothelioma – neonatal tumor. The neonatal tumor is considered rare in this young age, with this case considered the first reported case.

Neoplasms refer to an abnormal mass of tissue that develops from neoplasia (an abnormal explosion of cells). If the mesothelium if healthy, it consists of a flattened single layer of mesothelial cells that line the three body cavities. If not, the mesotheliomas are referred to as malignant neoplasms. This is why mesothelioma is referred to as the “asbestos disease,” an example being the increased New Zealand mesothelioma asbestos-cancer epidemic. If you have a dog that may have mesothelioma, you can also the contact the mesothelioma treatment centers for help in locating a local vet who is familiar with mesothelioma treatment for dogs.

Dogs that have died from malignant mesothelioma are found to have abnormal levels of asbestos fibers in their lungs – because of being exposed to asbestos. The area most commonly attacked in dogs and humans are the outer lining of the lungs (pleura), the internal chest wall, or the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). It initiates from rare neoplasms that line the dog’s body cavities, developing from surface ectodermal cells. Fluid accumulates in the cavities and the malignant neoplasms “seed” the body cavities.

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