Canine spinal cord tumours are extremely unusual and infrequent; they are more prevalent in large breeds. A change in a dog’s behaviour is often the first sign of a spinal tumour, although other canines may not show symptoms until late in the disease. The most common primary spinal cord Tumours In Dogs are meningiomas. They are typically innocuous, slow-growing neoplasms that arise from the meningeal arachnoid cap cells and arachnoid granulations and lead to chronic pragmatic myelopathy and vertebral pain due to spinal cord compression.
Most intracranial meningiomas in dogs are found over the cerebral convexities and beneath the brain stem; other locations include the midline attached to the falx cerebri, the tentorium cerebelli, or an intraventricular location associated with a choroid plexus. Meningiomas in canines are generally more fragile and red on gross examination than meningiomas in felines.
Spinal Tumor Treatment Alternatives
There are many alternatives for treatment and diagnosis of Spinal Meningiomas are written as follows;
- Surgery
The surgery for spinal meningiomas can be complicated depending on where the tumour is located. Surgery is an efficacious treatment option if the tumour can be completely removed without interposing with spinal cord function.
- Palliative Therapy
Antibiotics and pain relievers can help maintain quality of life, but they do not slow the progression of the spinal tumour in dog. Corticosteroids are frequently used to reduce swelling and discomfort while also improving quality of life.
- Radiation Therapy
Prior to the advent of radiosurgery radiation (SRS/SRT) in veterinary medicine, the most common type of radiation prescribed was conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT). CFRT can treat tumours in aspects that surgery or chemotherapy cannot, and it is often the preferred course of treatment. However, there are some drawbacks, such as multiple anaesthetic episodes and lengthy treatment courses.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to treat spinal tumours that have spread or are on the verge of spreading. A variety of treatment protocols incorporating multiple prescription painkillers are available; specific recommendations will vary depending on tumour type.
Symptoms And Signs Of A Spinal Meningiomas
- Pain
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Vision loss
- Abnormal behaviour
- Urinary or faecal paralysis
- Lameness or weakness
- Food & water intake changes
- Loss of balance and coordination
Maxvet animal hospital provides MRI and radiography services to assist in the diagnosis of pet illnesses such as brain and spinal cancers. We connect pet owners to cutting-edge outpatient centres where their animals can undergo a variety of scanning treatments to diagnose cancer. Other veterinary scanning firms are set apart by our skilled personnel and patient-centred approach. Maxvet provides the most skilled doctors team as Dr Kunal is one of the best orthopaedic and neuroscientists in the country.
You may have many concerns about whether it can help your pet. The best thing you can do is discuss your options with your veterinarian. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.