Can Surgery Cure Bladder Cancer in Dogs Brooke Britton, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Barbara from Vermont is seeing a new veterinarian, and they want to perform surgery to remove her dog’s TCC. Is it a viable option for her 13-year-old dog who has been on NSAIDs? Dr. Britton unpacks the complexities of bladder cancer treatment, especially the risks and benefits of surgery, and explains why non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like piroxicam are often used to manage this disease.

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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:           

Dr. Demian Dressler with an overview of Transitional Cell Carcinoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5prSL7yn82E

Is bladder cancer a death sentence for dogs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhUcJyme52Y

Using radiation for dogs with TCC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGoyn-1TBsA

Related Links:

Our article on bladder cancer, including transitional cell carcinoma: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/types-of-dog-cancer/bladder-cancer-in-dogs-including-transitional-cell-carcinoma/

Our comprehensive surgery guide for you and your dog: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/diagnosis-and-medical-procedures/your-dog-surgery-guide/

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

00:30 – Listener’s Question from Barbara

02:00 – Overview of Bladder Cancer in Dogs

03:00 – Why Surgery Is Rarely Recommended for Bladder Cancer

04:45 – Managing Bladder Cancer with NSAIDs

05:30 – The Risks of Surgery: Tumor Seeding and Recurrence

07:00 – Field Effect and Microscopic Tumor Cells in a “Snowglobe”

08:00 – Factors to Consider Before Opting for Surgery

09:15 – Conclusion: Weighing the Options

10:00 – Outro and Resources