Is It Cancer? How to Handle Incidental Tumors in Dogs Dr. Brooke Britton

Veterinary oncologist Dr. Brooke Britton answers a listener’s question about a 10-year-old Golden Retriever diagnosed with an anal gland tumor. The dog recently underwent a CT scan and they saw a small tumor in the stomach lining and an enlarged lymph node. Is it spread? Or a new type of cancer? Dr. Britton discusses possible scenarios, the limitations of different diagnostic techniques, and considerations when deciding on invasive procedures. She also explains incidental findings, the metastatic process, anesthesia risks in older dogs, and the importance of ongoing monitoring and informed decision-making. If you’re dealing with a dog facing multiple potential cancer diagnoses, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you navigate complex choices.

Your Voice Matters!

If you have a question for our team, or if you want to share your own hopeful dog cancer story, we want to hear from you! Go to https://www.dogcancer.com/ask to submit your question or story, or call our Listener Line at +1 808-868-3200 to leave a question.

Related Videos:           

Get a second opinion, especially if you’re confused! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FTSRun88ps

Your Dog Cancer Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOrT39LPcrU

Related Links:

Our article on anal sac cancer: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/types-of-dog-cancer/anal-sac-cancer-in-dogs/

An explainer article about CT scans: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/diagnosis-and-medical-procedures/dog-ct-scan/

A great article explaining how dog cancer is diagnosed: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/diagnosis-and-medical-procedures/dog-cancer-diagnosis/

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – Darlene’s Question

02:00 – Initial Thoughts on Multiple Tumors

03:15 – Incidental Findings vs. Metastasis

05:00 – Understanding Lymphatic Involvement

07:00 – The Metastatic Cascade

09:00 – Challenges with Minimally Invasive Diagnostics

11:30 – Weighing Invasive Procedures Against Quality of Life

13:15 – Explaining Incidental Findings in Plain Language

15:00 – Monitoring vs. Immediate Action

16:30 – Anesthesia Risks for Older Dogs

18:00 – Final Advice for Darlene

19:15 – Outro and Resources