A tumor or neoplasia can be benign or malignant in nature. A carcinoma is a type of malignant tumor that arises from epithelial cells of the organ of an animal while adenocarcinoma is characterized as glandular in structure and/or originating in the glandular tissue.
Pancreas is an important organ of the body. Located behind stomach, this endocrine gland is responsible for maintaining sugar level and excreting digestive enzymes in the body.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma refers to a malignant and metastasizing tumor of the pancreas. Though this type of tumor is rare in dogs, it is fast growing and spreads quickly to other parts of the body. In most cases, the tumor is diagnosed when the metastasis has already occured, making the treatment more difficult.
The occurance of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is more common in older dogs (older than 8 years of age). Older female dogs and airdale terriers are at higher risk of being affected by this tumor although it can occur in any dog of any breed and gender.
There are no specific tumor related symptoms. Following are some of the signs commonly seen in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas:
Fever
Weakness
Jaundice
Poor digestion
Weight loss
Abdominal pain
Fur loss
