Cancer In Greyhounds: Symptoms, Prognosis & Quality Of Life Considerations

There  is something about greyhounds, and the way they worm their way into  every part of your soul and world…and the greyhound community is like no  other we’ve ever seen.  

Perhaps  because greyhounds are so naturally attracted to their own kind that  their owners inevitably connect?  Or the greyhound meets and walks that  occur regularly up and down the country, bringing people together from  all walks of life, mutually bonding over their quirky, silly four-legged  companions?   Maybe it’s the countless greyhound support and  appreciation groups on social media, and much-loved hound-influencers  like Blue The Grey (RIP) who connect to people all over the world.

Our  greyhounds are cherished members of our families, sharing all of life’s  joys and hardships with us.  Initially, they come out of the racing  industry like fresh little lambs experiencing the real world for the  first time.  We show them all that the world has to offer them, and they  give us unconditional love in return.

So,  it’s of no surprise that when a cancer diagnosis is given to one of our  beloved greyhounds it can have a profound emotional impact on the  entire family and greyhound community as a whole.  Greyhounds are not  just pets, but companions deeply woven into the fabric of our daily  lives, making the diagnosis all the more devastating.

The  prospect of facing such a serious illness in a creature so full of life  and vitality can be overwhelming.  Then having to make decisions about  their future and quality of life becomes an agonizing challenge,  especially when the diagnosis occurs at a young age.   So many people  grapple with the weight of determining what is best for their beloved  companion, balancing hope for recovery with concerns about suffering and  long-term prognosis.

The thought  of potentially depriving a greyhound of a what should have been a full  and happy life is heart-wrenching, yet the desire to alleviate any pain  or distress should be paramount.  In these moments, families turn to the  community for support, which we have seen rally behind families in  crisis, while they lean heavily on veterinary advice amidst the  uncertainty.  

Because all we  want is to ensure the best possible outcome for our beautiful  companions, no matter how difficult the journey may be.

While  greyhounds are considered a very healthy breed, with pedigree lines  able to be traced back generations, like all living things, they are  still susceptible to some health challenges.  Cancer is one of the most  prevalent.

While there is not a  great amount of data out there about greyhound-specific cancer, like  many other large breeds, they are predisposed to a handful of cancers.   Most common is osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, which typically affects the  long bones in the legs.

The  trouble is with osteosarcoma, and many of the other cancers, is that  they are not always evident.  It doesn’t always present in an obvious  tumour, and the symptoms aren’t always clear or present.  So quite often  it goes unnoticed and undiagnosed, and without that early detection and  treatment, it’s difficult to ensure their quality of life moving  forward.

We’ve seen it time and  time again, where a hound is playing in the garden, running on the  beach, trotting along on a walk, or pelting it around a rental  field…nothing out of the ordinary, just another day, and the greyhound  enjoying the simple pleasures in life…only for everything to become very  real, very suddenly.  The greyhounds screaming, their leg is broken,  there was no warning.  They’re taken to the vet at record speed, only to  be given a cancer diagnosis.  The cancer has eaten through the bone,  causing it to break.

Either they  amputate the leg, or they have to be put to sleep.  In the space of an  hour, your whole world has gone off axis and you must make a  life-or-death decision for your hound.

Not  all dogs cope with three legs.  Older dogs may have arthritis in the  other limbs, already struggling without the additional pressure of  compensating for a missing limb.  Others may have racing injuries that  impact the decision in the same way.  

Also,  there is no guarantees that the cancer isn’t elsewhere in the body, in  another leg, or metastasised in the lungs of abdomen.

Goodness  knows it’s hard to think straight in these situations.  It’s a  situation you hope you will never have to be in as a dog owner, but with  any dog, there is a chance it’ll happen.  It’s a risk we take in return  for the years of happiness they give us.

It is one of the most heartbreaking and traumatising things you can experience.

We’ve  seen countless families go through this, and very few chose to  amputate.  Of those few, they all regretted making the decision for they  lost their hounds to the cancer months down the line after putting  through the trauma of learning to live with three legs.

It’s  horrible to think about.  We’ve seen plenty of three-legged greyhounds  in the social media groups who are living their best lives, but sadly  there are no guarantees with cancer.  It’s a coin toss at best.

If  you’re lucky, you can catch osteosarcoma early if your hound develops a  limp or otherwise favours one side.  X-rays can confirm, and a plan can  be made with your vet as to your hounds future care.

Other  common cancers include lymphoma, and mast cell tumours, the latter of  which is the easiest to catch due to being able to identify a lump or  mass somewhere on their body.  Lymphoma is less clear with symptoms that  can be associated with other medical conditions.

Common  symptoms for cancer include lameness, lethargy, often quite dramatic  weight loss even when still eating well, changes in appetite, difficulty  breathing, and visible lumps or masses. Diagnosis often involves a  combination of physical examination, imaging techniques (such as X-rays  and ultrasound), and biopsy.

The  prognosis for cancer in greyhounds varies massively depending on the  type of cancer and how progressed it is when it’s discovered.  Surgery  is a common treatment plan, but there are other treatments that may be  used in conjunction or as standalone treatments such as chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy,  apart from rarely being curative, is incredibly expensive and comes  with risks, as well as big ethical concerns.  It is often used as  palliative treatment with the aim being more to maintain or improve  quality of life, rather than cure the cancer.

While  some cancers may respond well to treatment and offer a good prognosis,  others may be more challenging to manage and owners are faced with the  question of their hounds quality of life.

No  one likes making the decision to put a pet to sleep, it is a hugely  emotional and deeply personal decision and one that can be very  traumatic for a lot of pet owners.  While vets will advise, there is no  one-size-fits-all answer.  They can provide guidance based on the dog's  medical condition and quality of life, but the decision will be that of  the owner to do what is best for their hound…especially if they’re in  pain.

A lot of people will say,  if they're still eating then they're happy enough to keep going...and  nothing winds us up more than this old wives tale.  There are so many  other considerations to take into account.

Goodness, getting emotional writing this.  

Cancer  in greyhounds presents significant challenges for both the hounds and  their owners.  But the hope is that with early detection, timely  intervention, and compassionate care, many greyhounds can enjoy an  improved quality of life despite their diagnosis…at least for a little  while…their welfare should always be put first, and not be kept alive  for human benefit.

Understanding  the symptoms, prognosis, and quality of life considerations is  essential for navigating this journey with grace and dignity, ensuring  that every greyhound receives the love and support they deserve in their  battle against cancer.

The funny  thing is, we all know that cancer is potentially on the cards when it  comes to greyhounds.  Any dog really.  Yet regardless of this knowledge,  it doesn't stop us adopting greyhounds again and again because they are  worth every minute we get with them.  Losing them breaks you, but being  able to adopt another heals you.  Once you've had a greyhound, you  never go back.  No other breed is quite like them.