Metastases of perianal gland carcinoma in a dog: palliative tumor therapy

Palliative radiation therapy may provide significant relief in symptoms in pets with incurable cancer. Therapy is applied over a short period of time, using larger than normal fractional doses. Palliative radiation leads to minimal or no side effects. This case report describes the situation of a miniature poodle that was presented with severe dyschezia as well as fresh blood in the feces. The dog had a large abdominal mass which was diagnosed as lymph-node metastasis of a perianal gland carcinoma. Therapy included palliative radiation as well as chemotherapy. Six months after initial presentation the dog is free of clinical symptoms.