Hearing a diagnosis of bladder cancer in dogs can be distressing as a dog parent, but integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby is here to help. Learn the signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for the most common type of bladder cancer, transitional cell carcinoma in dogs. Armed with that information, you will be ready to help and support your canine companion in his or her battle with bladder cancer.
Sally was a twelve-year-old female spayed Scottish Terrier who had been the picture of health. But now she was asking to go outside more often, straining to urinate, and had left a large puddle of bloody urine on the kitchen floor. Her family was worried, so they brought her to see me.
I diagnosed my Scottie patient with what I thought was going to be a run-of-the-mill urinary tract infection. However, unlike most UTIs that significantly improve within a few days of starting antibiotics, Sally’s problems persisted. After a urine culture, which ruled out ongoing bacterial infection, I moved on to a bladder ultrasound to try to get to the root of my canine patient’s problem.
Unfortunately, the ultrasound revealed a large mass in the dog’s bladder that extended down into the urethra. So I had to break the devastating news to her family—their dog had bladder cancer.
What are the types of bladder cancer in dogs?
The term “bladder cancer” refers to any sort of cancer that grows in the urinary bladder.
Of the different types of lower urinary system cancers in dogs, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is by far the most common. It accounts for up to 90% of all bladder tumors.
The other 10% consist of many other types of tumors, including:
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Adenocarcinoma
- Lymphoma in dogs
- Fibrosarcoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Hemangiosarcoma in dogs
- Infiltrative prostatic carcinoma
What is a transitional cell carcinoma in dogs?
Since the vast majority of bladder tumors are transitional cell carcinomas, let’s take a closer look at this tumor type.
In this case, the tumor arises from transitional cells, which are the specialized cells that normally line the inside of the bladder. When some of these cells become neoplastic (i.e. cancerous), the result is a transitional cell carcinoma. Sometimes a TCC is also called a urothelial carcinoma (UC).
The most common place for a transitional cell carcinoma to occur is in the trigone region of the bladder. This is the area at the neck of the bladder where the ureters—which connect the kidneys to the bladder—enter the bladder and the bladder narrows into the urethra. Unfortunately, a tumor in this area cannot be removed surgically.
Which dogs tend to get bladder cancer?
There are several factors that may make a dog more likely to develop bladder cancer. In general, TCC is most common among middle-aged or older female dogs. However, it can occur in dogs of any age and gender.
While transitional cell carcinoma can occur in any breed, certain dog breeds are at a higher risk. There is likely a genetic predisposition for developing TCC, as evidenced by Scottish Terrier dogs. Scotties are twenty times more likely to develop TCC than other breeds with the same environmental risk factors.
Breeds of dogs at risk for TCC include:
- Scottish Terriers (the most common breed to be diagnosed with TCC)
- Shetland Sheepdogs
- West Highland White Terriers
- Fox Terriers
- Airedales
- Beagles
- Collies
Dogs that have been exposed to herbicides and insecticides also have a higher risk of developing TCC. Obesity is also a risk factor. It is thought that components of these herbicides and insecticides accumulate in fat tissue.
Chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs in dogs) also increase the risk of developing transitional cell carcinoma. Urinary tract infections are much more common in female dogs than male dogs. This may explain why females also seem to develop TCCs more frequently than males.
Administration of the chemotherapy agent Cyclophosphamide also has been associated with a higher risk of developing TCC.
What are the symptoms of bladder cancer in dogs?
As demonstrated by Sally’s story, the signs of bladder cancer and a UTI are often very similar. The symptoms might include:
- Straining to urinate
- Urinating more frequently
- Urinary accidents
- Blood in the urine
In more advanced cases, a bladder tumor may cause a complete obstruction of the urethra so the dog is unable to urinate. The bladder may even rupture.
If the tumor has metastasized (i.e. spread) to the local lymph nodes, the vet might notice enlargement of the inguinal or sublumbar lymph nodes.
Although it is a rare occurrence, TCC can trigger hypertrophic osteopathy. This is a reaction of the periosteum (outer portion of the bone) leading to bone thickening and pain. It most commonly occurs in the lower portion of the legs.
How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
As we established, urinary tract infections are much more common than bladder tumors, and the signs are almost identical. So unsurprisingly, a dog who actually has a bladder tumor often initially gets a presumptive diagnosis of a UTI.
To further complicate matters, many dogs with a bladder tumor will have a concurrent urinary tract infection. So when the vet sees blood, bacteria, and white blood cells in the urine, he or she would understandably initially diagnose this as a UTI rather than having a high suspicion of bladder cancer.
Many dogs with bladder tumors will initially improve on antibiotics, especially if the tumor is small and in the early stages. The clinical improvement may be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of some antibiotics on the bladder. It can also be due to the fact that some dogs do have a concurrent UTI that is contributing to the signs.
As in my Scottie patient’s case, the vet may first suspect bladder cancer when an older female dog has recurrent urinary issues that are not improving or quickly return despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. In many cases, the vet will be able to visualize a mass on ultrasound. However, the vet will need to be careful when interpreting the ultrasound. It is easy to mistake inflammation of the bladder wall for a tumor, especially if the bladder is small and fairly empty.
Avoid aspirates
Most of the time when the vet finds a tumor somewhere in the body, he or she will recommend an aspirate. This involves having the vet place a needle into the tumor, apply suction to remove some of the cells, and examine the cells under the microscope.
However, vets don’t recommend that sort of aspirate for suspected bladder cancer. There have been reports of “tumor seeding” with TCC after an aspirate. In other words, tumor cells followed the tract of the needle and started to grow throughout the abdomen. Therefore, other methods are recommended for collecting samples for diagnostics.
Cystoscopic biopsy
Instead of doing an aspirate, the vet can obtain a biopsy from the tumor through a cystoscope. This is a special scope with a camera that the vet slides up the urethra and into the bladder. As with aspiration, a surgical biopsy runs the risk of seeding tumor cells through the abdomen, so it is typically not a good idea.
Traumatic catheterization
Identifying neoplastic transitional cells in a urine sample is another useful diagnostic option, especially if the vet collects the sample through “traumatic catheterization.” Traumatic catheterization involves passing a urinary catheter and intentionally irritating the bladder tissue and tumor. This causes the tumor to release cells into the urine.
It is important to note that interpreting the traumatic catheterization sample is best left to a veterinary pathologist. This is because chronic inflammation of the bladder wall can damage the cells and make them appear neoplastic. A board-certified veterinary clinical pathologist should be able to distinguish between cancer and inflammation. But most general practice vets don’t have that level of expertise with cytology.
CADET® BRAF test
Recently, a new test has become available that makes the diagnosis of TCC much easier for the veterinarian and the patient. The test is called a CADET® BRAF test. Eighty-five percent of TCC tumors have a genetic mutation called the BRAF mutation. Finding cells with the BRAF mutation on a free catch urine sample can confirm a diagnosis of TCC. However, since only 85% of TCC tumors carry the BRAF mutation, it won’t find every case of TCC.
The good news is that now there is a CADET BRAF-PLUS test. It is able to detect approximately two-thirds of the TCCs the regular CADET BRAF test misses. Together, the BRAF and BRAF-PLUS can find 95% of TCCs. The BRAF test is easy to perform, non-invasive, and has a high chance of correctly identifying TCC so it is quickly becoming popular with veterinarians and dog parents.
What is the treatment for bladder cancer?
Once the vet has diagnosed your dog with bladder cancer, he or she will discuss the treatment options.
Surgery
If the tumor is located in the apex (i.e. top) of the bladder, a skilled surgeon may be able to remove a portion of the bladder wall along with the tumor. However, since most TCCs occur in the neck of the bladder where the ureters and urethra are located, surgical removal is usually not an option.
If surgery is not an option, or the vet performs surgery and there is evidence of spread to other parts of the body, medical therapy can extend a dog’s life significantly.
Piroxicam
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, especially Piroxicam, are the mainstay of treatment for TCC. Piroxicam reduces the tumor volume overall and reduces the clinical signs associated with bladder tumors.
Chemotherapy
Dogs may sometimes need chemotherapy in combination with Piroxicam or instead of Piroxicam. It is best to consult with a board-certified veterinary oncologist to determine which chemotherapy agents would be best based on your dog’s history, overall health, the location of the tumor, and other factors. In general, the more common chemotherapeutic agents for TCC are Mitoxantrone or doxorubicin. Palladia is also another option.
Researchers at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine also are studying a novel delivery system for chemotherapy that uses nanoparticles. It would allow veterinarians to effectively deliver chemotherapy directly into the bladder to target the transitional cell carcinoma. This approach also has applications for treating human bladder cancer.
Comfort measures
Making a dog with bladder cancer comfortable is important too. Since these dogs are prone to UTIs, the dog parent should monitor for worsening of urinary signs or other indications of infection. Treating infection with antibiotics can help the dog feel better.
If the bladder cancer has progressed to the point it is obstructing the urethra, some dogs may be a candidate for laser ablation of the mass or balloon dilation to temporarily improve the obstruction. Placing a urethral stent can also help if the tumor is obstructing a ureter and keeping urine from reaching the bladder.
What is the prognosis for bladder cancer?
As you can imagine, the outlook for dogs with bladder cancer varies depending on the type of tumor present, the location, and if the tumor has spread. Unfortunately, without treatment, most dogs with bladder cancer are euthanized within two to four months of diagnosis due to the progression of lower urinary tract signs.
In cases of transitional cell carcinoma, the median survival time (i.e. the length of time after which 50% of affected dogs are still alive) with Piroxicam, or other NSAIDs, is four to six months. With the combination of NSAIDs and chemotherapy, the median survival time is nine to twelve months.
How does bladder cancer progress?
Because transitional cell carcinomas are usually located at the neck of the bladder, urinary obstructions are common as the tumor progresses to the final stages. The tumor may block a ureter so urine from the kidney cannot enter the bladder. Or the tumor may block the urethra so that the patient cannot urinate.
A urinary obstruction can quickly become a life-threatening emergency. If at any point, you think your dog cannot urinate, please make an emergency vet visit immediately.
In other cases, the tumor causes so much inflammation and irritation that it affects the patient’s quality of life. Sadly, I euthanized one of my canine patients a few months after diagnosis because she felt like she had to urinate every twenty minutes. She was so uncomfortable that she wasn’t able to sleep.
Some patients may also become sick because of metastatic spread of disease to other parts of the body. TCC can metastasize to lymph nodes, the lungs, bone, and prostate. In the final stages of metastatic bladder cancer, you may see pain, breathing problems, or swelling of limbs due to blockage of the lymphatic vessels.
Back to my Scottish Terrier patient
Due to the tumor’s location near the ureters and urethra, surgery was not an option for Sally. Her family did not want to pursue chemotherapy but were hoping to keep her comfortable as long as possible. We started her on a daily dose of Piroxicam. While on Piroxicam, we checked her blood work every two months to make sure the medication was not damaging her kidneys. We also checked her urine for secondary infections and treated with antibiotics when needed.
Sally lived another nineteen months after I diagnosed her with a bladder tumor. Unfortunately, her tumor eventually grew into a blood vessel, causing blood loss. Her family knew it was time to consider preparing for dog euthanasia when the bleeding became severe enough that she was anemic and weak. While they were sad to lose their beloved dog, they were also so thankful for the time they had with her after her diagnosis.
Pearls of wisdom about bladder tumors in dogs
I know it can get overwhelming when you and your sweet dog are facing a scary diagnosis like bladder cancer. So let me leave you with a few parting pieces of advice from my years as a veterinarian:
- You know your dog. If your vet is treating your dog for a UTI and it doesn’t seem like your dog is getting better as fast as expected, reach out to your veterinarian. Let him or her know what you are seeing. Be willing to do more diagnostics to get to the bottom of the issue.
- If your veterinarian suspects a bladder tumor, ask about a CADET BRAF test. It is probably the least stressful way to diagnose a TCC and will find 85% of tumors (or 95% if you do the CADET BRAF-PLUS too).
- Although treatment for transitional cell carcinoma is rarely curative, medications such as Piroxicam and/or chemotherapy can help your dog have a good quality of life for many more months.
- Stay in close contact with your vet during the treatment period. Ensure you keep him or her informed of any changes with your dog.
- If you have a high-risk breed of dog such as a Scottie, ask your vet if it would be wise to run the CADET BRAF test as a screening tool every four to six months. Early detection of a TCC allows you to start treatment sooner.
Finally, don’t lose hope. I know that no one wants to hear the word “cancer” in reference to their sweet dog. You can’t change the fact that your dog has bladder cancer. But you can try to enjoy every remaining day together to the fullest.
Has your dog been diagnosed with bladder cancer?
Please share his or her story below.
My sweet baby girl Lola (9 yr old French bulldog….just turned 9 on Dec 24) was unfortunately diagnosed with TCC bladder cancer on June 23. We started her on piroxicam and IV chemo(first Vinblastine then had to switch to mitoxantrone due to manufacturing issues shortage with Vinblastine. She had 8 chemo treatments and all ultrasounds stayed stable until the last one when it showed a 33% growth! This was only 5 weeks after her last one. Needless to say I was in shock and still am, I’m devastated and my heart is broken. We are looking at trying SRS radiation. It’s very expensive but we have good insurance for her luckily. I’m torn because I hate to put her through the stress and go under anesthesia a few days for this plus any potential side effects etc. I don’t know anyone who has done this type of radiation especially after tumor has grown, do you have any info on this or know anyone? I need some guidance and clarity here on what to do and what’s best for my sweet baby girl. Other than urinating frequently she is 100% herself! She goes a lot maybe 60 times a day she still has a good strong streak at first then lots of little ones and drops etc to follow as I know the tumor is pressing on her bladder making her think she has to go again and again etc. Goid news is she sleeps 6 hours in a row at night then wakes to go potty, no accidents in bed. So grateful for this! She is also on Prazosin more recently but doesn’t seem to help lessen the frequency. Any guidance, help, insight here is greatly appreciated..
Thank you.
Lara
Hi Lara,
I am sorry Lola is battling this terrible disease. She is very lucky to have you taking such good care of her and advocating for her health and well-being. I did some research, and it seems as though radiation is the best way to fight TCC, but that SRS may not be the best type of radiation to use. Here is a link to NC State College of Vet Med’s page on radiation oncology treatment: https://hospital.cvm.ncsu.edu/services/small-animals/cancer-oncology/radiation-oncology/bladder-and-prostate-cancer/
Specifically, the section titled “types of radiation therapy” seemed informative. I hope you can find the answers you need to make a decision in which you can be confident. Wishing you and your sweet girl all the best and praying for a positive outcome.
My pups (9 y/o in a few weeks golden doodle) was diagnosed a few weeks back. But it appears had symptoms (urinary incontinence, going inside, going frequently) in January but I thought it was just a spell and it stopped. In May we noticed drops of blood on the floor when he would come back in from the bathroom. Tried UTI meds and all the things, the ultrasound showed a mass. . It took some time to get the Braf cadet test specimen cup in but as soon as we did got him tested and got the results of TCC a few days later.
He has been on piroxicam since then and it definitely helped for the first few weeks but the last few days the blood has been really bad and started passing clots (long worm like ones)
He is due to start radiation next Wednesday and will have 5 treatments a week for a total of 18 treatments. He will have to stay at the clinic which will be sad without him but I’m happy to know he will be cared for and around the vets all the time if anything happens. . They will begin chemo concurrently and he will like continue that for a few more weeks. My main goal is to shrink the tumor especially in the urethra so he isn’t bleeding all the time causing discomfort. I can also tell the bladder tumor is causing discomfort in its hard to lay on the belly. Luckily his CT scan yesterday showed that the cancer had not spread to the lungs so hopefully the targeted radiation plus chemo will help contain the spread.
Unfortunately I think he is pretty far along (if the January symptoms were related) but hoping an aggressive form of treatment will lead to providing the most relief and quality time.
Dear SMM,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult diagnosis in your pup. I am glad you have a good plan for treatment and am hopeful it will offer the benefits you seek. Thank you for sharing your experience with us as this may offer comfort to others as they face a similar situation. Wishing you all the best of luck and praying for healing for your sweet boy. ♥
Hi Lara,
My little Yorkie, Eloise, was diagnosed with TCC the very end of June, 2023. We opted for surgery because the ultrasound looked as though the tumor was at the apex of the bladder. Unfortunately, when the surgeon was in there, she found that it was at the trigone and was so large that it extended to the apex. After surgery, we started chemo. She didn’t seem better at all after 3 treatments, and my gut told me to get another ultrasound. Sure enough, the cancer had spread. I immediately suggested radiation. She completed her radiation successfully on November 22nd. with only one problem being that because she is so small and her bladder is small, they accidentally radiated part of her small intestine and she had a colitis for a few days. We let her heal and then completed the radiation. Three weeks later we resumed chemo with a different drug and she completed that the end of January 2024. She is due for a follow-up ultrasound in a week. She made it through all of the treatments with flying colors (except for the one episode mentioned above) I would definitely do it again for her even though I did NOT have insurance and I am now heavily in debt!! Every time I look at her sweet face and see her so happy, I know it was worth every second and every penny. She is also on Piroxicam and Misoprostol and a Chinese Herb regiment. Please pray that her followo-up ultrasound is good! Good luck with your sweet Lola!
Hi Jean,
I am glad to hear that Eloise is doing well and made it through treatment with minimal issues. What a blessing you have gained so many extra months with your sweet girl. Hoping her follow up ultrasound will show favorable results. Thank you for sharing your story and for offering encouragement to others. Praying for healing and wishing you all the best.
Hi Dr Buzby, .
I’m not sure you’ll remember me and my little old lady staffy from earlier in the year. She was diagnosed in March, although I suspect she’s had this cancer since June ’22 when a polyp was misdiagnosed. It’s been a road of ups and downs with her but she’s still here enjoying life!! She had a nasty UTI a few months ago that appeared 48hrs after finishing antibiotics and unfortunately it spread to her kidneys causing irreversible damage, she’s now stage 2 kidney failure. She’s now on antibiotics longterm as both myself and my vet agreed she wouldn’t be able to cope without them (she proved that) as we almost lost her to the last infection, she was so poorly.
She’s been taking Chlorambucil for a few months now, no side effects whatsoever apart from a liver spike the first week which settled down. Her last scan 3 weeks ago showed her tumour had potentially grown (her bladder was empty so was difficult for him to be certain) and her iliac LN’s were enlarged, I asked if we could maybe up the dose of the oral chemo as she was on a really low dose, he agreed and she’s been on the doubled dose for 3 weeks and doing really well! She passed a clot a few days ago with a whitish component to it, I’m thinking it was part of the tumour. We’re back next week for a repeat scan and bloods to see if the doubled dose is managing the cancer. Her last bloods did show her CREA is now WNL’s but still classed as stage 2.
I’m in complete awe of her and how she copes with everything, she’s still my happy, cheeky and stubborn girl. Her birthday is 3 weeks today where she’ll be 13, at the start of the year I would never have thought we’d be here now with her but she’s such a tough little cookie.
My vet did say around 7 weeks ago that he thinks we only have around 12 weeks left with her and maybe that’s true, nobody has a crystal ball though and she’s doing well, her quality of life remains good so we’ll keep fighting alongside her until she shows any sort of decline, then i’ll break my own heart to save her any suffering.
She shows no signs of the kidney failure and the only signs she shows of the cancer are she’s a little incontinent. She does have other health issues too but if we could just make her birthday and then maybe one last Christmas with her it would be the best news!
For now though we’re enjoying each and every moment with her.
I just want to thank-you again, what you do with your site is an amazing thing and taking time out of your busy days to respond to people like me means more than you’ll ever know, so thank-you!
Hi Mrs,
Yes, I remember you and your sweet girl! Goodness, she has been through just about everything in the last year. I am glad her quality of life is maintaining well for now and she is tolerating the treatments. Thank you for the update. I appreciate you sharing her story with us. Praying for her last days to be full of happiness and comfort. Wishing you all the best. Bless you both. ♥
My Great Dane was diagnosed with TCC in July she is 11 years 9 months old which is old for Great Dane, she is on strong painkillers but nothing else, she is eating drinking still going for little walks, vet is amazed by how well she is given the size of her tumour my concern is how will we know when the time is right for euthanasia don’t want her to suffer
Dear Lynn,
I am so sorry your big girl is nearing the end of her days. Deciding when to say goodbye is difficult and different for every dog. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. The main thing to watch for is a decline in her quality of life. If she is no longer happy or wants to do the things that bring her joy it may be time to let go. When her day-to-day routine is more work and stress than rest and peace then I would think it might be time. Willingness to eat and drink is not a great indicator of the level of suffering present. Some dogs will continue to eat until their last breath despite extreme pain. Don’t forget you can lean on your vet for advice and support. They can periodically evaluate your sweet girl and let you know if letting go is the most loving option. I hope you can find the answers you need to navigate this unknown path ahead. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you both. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Signs Your Dog is Dying: A Caring Message to Bring You Peace
3. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
4. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
My 16 and a half years Westie was diagnosed with bladder cancer 2 months ago. He did 1 chemo session/week for 6 weeks. He is also on pills for pain, urinary tract and liver. For now he is still a very happy dog, playing, eating. However, he started again to urinate with blood and very often. Our vet does not know why he started urinating with blood again. I am affraid that his condition is getting worse, even if there is no other symptom for now. Is this something normal?
Hi Ana,
I understand your concern for your senior pup with this recent change in his urine. Without examining him myself, I can’t tell why the blood is present. The most likely cause is either an infection or the return of the cancer. Have you had your dog evaluated by your vet since the blood started again? They may want to do some follow up testing on his urine or schedule an abdominal ultrasound. You can also ask for a consultation with a specialist if one is not already involved with your dog’s case. Hoping you can get some answers and find a clear path forward. Praying for a positive outcome.
Wow, an amazingly comforting article; thank you Dr. Buzby!!
Chlo, my 15 yr old Cushing’s beagle, has been experiencing “uti symptoms” with urinalysis’ showing no identifiable infection for nearly 6 months. An ultrasound identified a larger mass in the best end of the bladder.
We know our time together is limited, and now the challenge is assessing pain/discomfort levels. I am hesitant to try Piroxicam, as she has a history of gastro-intestinal upset. For many years experienced a noisy sensitive stomach. She already has been inconsistent about eating meals with sometimes no appetite for food she gobbled down the day before. Very inconsistent.
Now facing the gut-wrenching decision of quality of life. I’ve already earmarked a number of articles here in your blog about this, and just want to thank you SO much for listening and offering answers/comfort to loving dog parents.
Thank you so much for all you do!!
Dear Tracy,
Thank you for the kind words. I am glad the article was helpful, and you have found others that may offer guidance as you navigate this unknown path ahead. My heart goes out to you and your sweet girl. Praying her final days will be peaceful and full of love. Wishing you strength and comfort for your heart. Bless you both. ♥
Thank you for this article. Mickey, our 12+ yo Dachsund (we didnt know for sure how old he is as we rescued him 3 years ago on the road), was having traces of blood in his urine for about a month. After several vet visits, they finally found mass within his bladder. As we live in Indonesia, it seems that the CADET BRAF test isn’t available here and we found out there’s TCC through catererization (cytology) last week. The vet quickly gave us piroxicam to start and it was all fine. Howecer after 5 days my dog started vomiting after his meal and his appetite seems to be decreasing by a lot. Is this a known common effect of piroxicam? I’ve stopped giving him piroxicam for now as I couldn’t bear to see him vomiting all the time after meal time and he doesnt seem to be vomiting and able to eat for now (it has been 2 days)
Unfortunately not many vets here are experienced and aware of TCC and the ones that do, need bookings weeks ahead and ours are booked for next week.
Just wondering if it’s ok to stop piroxicam or if there’s any other alternative.
Thank you so much
Hi Artista,
I am sorry your senior dog is dealing with urinary issues and a bladder tumor. I am glad you were able to get him scheduled for the traumatic catheterization procedure to obtain a cytology sample. Unfortunately, vomiting is one of the most common side effects of any anti-inflammatory medication like piroxicam. I am glad you have discontinued it for now and think you should let your vet know right away. In rare cases, NSAIDs like piroxicam can cause stomach ulcers or irritate the intestines causing major issues. If there is any chance this is happening to your pup, your vet would want to completely stop this medication. There are definitely other alternatives but piroxicam has demonstrated the best results for Transitional Cell Carcinoma. I hope the catheterization procedure goes well and you get the answers you need. Praying for good news and a clear path forward. Feel free to leave an update when you get a chance.
Thank you for this helpful blog. Our 14-year-old lab/collie mix has bladder cancer and we are trying to guage our summer travels around her prognosis (we travel half the year in an RV). She has been drinking frantically since January and was treated twice by out-of-town vets for a UTI to no avail. We are home and had a sonagram/ultrasound which confirmed a mass about 3 cm x 1 cm and suspicious spots on other organs. Other than peeing a lot and intermittent shallow breathing, she seems fine, but we’ve decided to postpone traveling with her until she needs to be euthanized (because we don’t want to scramble to find a vet in aa rural area if her urethra closes up). We’re not doing chemo but hope to start her on a NSAID or steroid (we’re talking to her vet tomorrow). Based on my description, would you think her prognosis is weeks or a few months? We’re trying to figure out cancelling reservations.
Hi Scott,
I’m sorry that your beloved dog was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. Although I didn’t see this in time to be able to give you recommendations for your summer travels, I think your plan of staying at home until it is time to say goodbye is a good one. Unfortunately I can’t really give you a good estimate on how long she might have because a lot depends on how the tumor responds to the NSAIDs or steroids, when/if it obstructs the urethra, and how significant her clinical signs become. I hope that your appointment with the vet went well and that you were able to find a plan to keep her comfortable for as long as possible.
Hello, my 13 year old lab was just diagnosed last week with a mass on the outside of her bladder. She started on Piroxicam 5 days ago and she was voiding better the first two days, she now is hesitant to void again like it hurts so she doesn’t want to go. How long after starting the Piroxicam do you usually start to see any improvement? I hate the idea of my girl being in pain, I just want to prolong her suffering and I don’t know if it is time to say goodbye. Thank you
Hi Angela,
So sorry to hear that your lab was diagnosed with a bladder tumor. While Piroxicam seems to work well in many causes to help control clinical signs and possibly shrink the tumor, it isn’t always effective or tolerated. I did some research to try to determine how quickly the Piroxicam should work, but I couldn’t find anything specific in the literature. Unfortunately I also don’t know that I can give you a concrete answer based on my experience since each dog and tumor is a bit different. The anti-inflammatory effects should kick in pretty quickly, but the tumor-shrinking effects take more time. Since your pup got better for the first two days then started acting uncomfortable again, I would say it is definitely worth checking in with your vet to get a better idea of what is going in. Hopefully you were able to find some clear answers about how best to help your dear girl. Praying for you!
Hello my 11 1/2 rescue dog (chi mix) has been diagnosed with bladder cancer located in the bad place sadly. Started the Piroxicam & Dr has recommended chemo also. Oral chemo is Trametinib tables & IV chemo is mitoxantrone. Since we live an hour away from treatment center, I’m leaning toward the tablet. I’m just wondering if we would get the same results/benefits from the tablet. I do want to give her the best treatment possible to ensure a longer quality of life. Thank you for your help and info!
Hi Janett,
I am so sorry your senior girl has received this devastating diagnosis. I am not sure whether the tablet or IV chemo has demonstrated better results. That would be a great question for a veterinary oncologist. Please make sure your vet is aware of your concerns and they should be able to guide you through this decision-making process. Praying your girl will respond favorably to the treatment and you can gain some extra quality time to love on her. ♥
My 12 year old heeler was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. We started him on Piroxicam about a month and a half ago and he is feeling a lot better, although recently started to hold his leg up to pee for long periods again. This originally started over a year ago. My vet originally suspected beginning stages of kidney failure based on his bloodwork and urine tests. We also found out during that time he has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – which makes surgery not an ideal option for him. Our plan is to just enjoy the time we have and use Piroxicam and antibiotics when needed.
Dear Polly,
I am sorry your senior guy has received this difficult diagnosis. I am glad to hear that the Piroxicam is working well, and he is feeling so much better. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us. It is very helpful to others to know they are not alone and that they can still have good quality time with their beloved pups even after this is diagnosed. Praying you have many happy days ahead to continue making memories. Give your sweet boy a hug for me!