A Primer on Canine Bladder Cancer

Cancers of the bladder and related structures (e.g., the urethra) are relatively uncommon in dogs.

The most common type of canine bladder cancer transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). TCC is a locally invasive tumor that usually develops at the neck of the bladder, where it feeds into the urethra.

This cancer typically occurs in older dogs, most often in Beagles, Scotties, Airedales, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Collies.

Further information: Transitional cell carcinoma in dogs

Risk factors include:

obesity
exposure to herbicides
older topical insecticides
breed

Common symptoms

The most common signs of urinary tract cancer are:

recurrent urinary tract infections
straining to urinate
frequent urination of small amounts
and blood in the urine

In some cases, cancer can block the outflow of urine, leading to persistent straining but little to no urine flow.

Canine bladder cancer diagnosis

The diagnosis begins with a thorough physical examination.

It is often difficult to feel these tumors by abdominal palpation. However, rectal or vaginal (when applicable) examination may reveal a thickened area at the neck of the bladder.

Urinalysis may reveal blood in the absence of infection or the presence of cancerous cells.

Bladder cancer usually does not appear on plain x-rays, so your veterinarian may recommend contrast radiography. In this procedure, dye and/or air are injected into the bladder (through a catheter) to outline the bladder wall.

The veterinarian can also visualize the wall of the bladder using ultrasound.

Other tests may include:

blood work to check overall health
chest x-rays to look for metastases, which develop in about one-third of affected dogs

Dog bladder cancer treatment

Surgical removal of the tumor is the treatment of choice. However, this is often difficult without causing damage to the muscles and nerves that control urination, leading to permanent incontinence.

In some cases, radiation and/or chemotherapy can help control tumor growth and keep your pet comfortable.

Unfortunately, the overall prognosis for pets with transitional cell carcinoma is guarded to poor, especially if cancer has already metastasized to lymph nodes or other organs.

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Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care in my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people how to recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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