Multiple myeloma is a cancerous process that is mostly experienced by both humans and dogs. This disease is also called myeloma and plasma cell myeloma. This disease is considered incurable, but this is one of the canine diseases that can be treated successfully.
You might still feel confused about multiple myeloma in dogs. Let’s see it further by getting to know deeply about what multiple myeloma is, the symptoms and some treatments you can do to the infected one.
What is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer of plasma cells. This cancer develops from a B cell, which is a type of white blood. Plasma cells are in charge for producing antibodies.
Antibodies are used by the body to fight off infections. However, if a dog is said to develop multiple myeloma, it means that there is an uncontrollable multiplication of plasma cells.
Multiple myeloma in dogs and also cats is rare. There is no scientific finding yet about the reason why this cancer occurs. The most possible factor causing multiple myeloma in humans is genetic or inheritance from parents.
There are also other possible factors causing multiple myeloma such as viral infections, exposure to carcinogens and chronic illnesses.
Other animals, such as rabbit can get cancer too. If you have a rabbit, get to know the ways to indicate typical cancer of your pet rabbit.
Multiple myeloma starts from the lymphocytes, which is a normal type of white blood that originates in the bone marrow. This blood cell is responsible for the body’s immune system.
However, the uncontrollable production of this white blood cells become a problem. As a result of overcrowded plasma cells in the body, there is not enough room for the other cells. As a result, the body will have low numbers of normal cells within its bloodstream.
What Causes Multiple Myeloma in Dogs?
Multiple myeloma in humans is commonly caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, such as contained in tobacco smoke and petroleum waste dumps and industrial operations emissions. However, as in animals, the cause is still unknown. Middle aged and older dogs are easily affected by this disease. Older dogs are most exposed to diseases. Learn more about it in aging in dogs can it be recognized from the beginning.
How do I Know that My Dog is Having Multiple Myeloma?
As we know that multiple myeloma in dogs are caused by the spread of cancer cells, thick blood and low number of normal cells in the bone marrow. Dogs which have multiple myeloma are likely to have higher level of calcium than normal that might lead to some serious conditions, such as kidney failure.
There are many ways multiple myeloma can inflict havoc so the clinical signs for each patient might be distinctively different. However, these are the clinical signs that are most commonly experienced by dogs which have multiple myeloma:
- Weakness
- Bone pain (caused by the spread of cancer cells)
- Lethargy
- Unexplained bleeding
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of vision
- Easily getting thirsty
- Increased amount of urine
There are some things you can do to diagnose multiple myeloma in dogs. These following tests will help you to ensure whether your dog is infected by multiple myeloma.
- X-ray – This will help you to observe the changes in the bones caused by the spread of the cancer cells.
- Analysis of the bone marrow – it will tell you whether there is an overabundance of plasma cells inside it.
- Urine test – check whether Bence-Jones protein is present. These protein indicates the type of immunoglobulin (protein) produced by dogs with multiple myeloma.
What can I do to Treat My Dog with Multiple Myeloma?
It is stated before that multiple myeloma is incurable, but there are some ways you can do to treat it. The success of the treatment is getting the therapy as soon as possible.
This will surely help to eliminate the excess production of plasma cells before it causes worse problems, such as kidney failure, stroke or hemorrhage. You must consult with your veterinarian about the best way to treat multiple myeloma in your dog.
Here are some choices of treatment you can do:
- Chemotherapy – This is a medication to fight cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is absorbed by the whole body. The most common medications used to treat multiple myeloma is by doing it orally at home. Again, consult with your vet about the best way to do it.
- Radiation therapy – This treatment will be useful to diminish the pain related to the spread of the cancer cells in the bony sites. Multiple myeloma cells are sensitive to radiation therapy. This treatment is considered palliative, which is providing comfort for your dog.
- Antibiotics – Antibiotics will be beneficial for preventing the serious myeloma complications. Antibiotics should be given by the vet, do not try to feed the antibiotics with your own initiative. Read also about things every owner should know about antibiotics for dog. Get to know the side effects of giving antibiotics to your pet dog.
Though multiple myeloma cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Most dogs with multiple myeloma respond well to the chemotherapy with restoration to good quality of life.
There was one study of 60 dogs with myeloma. They were treated by melphalan and prednisone. The result showed that 92% of the dogs experienced remission that was shown by the resolving number of the cancer cells. The average survival time for these dogs is around 540 days.
It might be painful to see your dog experiencing multiple myeloma. However, as an owner, you still need to do your best to save your dog’s life. Remember to consult with your vet whenever you want to do an action.
Enrich your knowledge about some diseases a dog can have as elaborated in unknown but deadly dog diseases every dog owner should know.