Gastric tumors make up less than 1% of all tumors in dogs, but most are malignant, and most are found late. Adenocarcinoma is the usual type, followed by lymphoma and the smooth muscle and stromal tumors (leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, GIST). Which type a dog has decides whether the answer is surgery, chemotherapy or a targeted drug, so the type is what the exam asks about most.
Key facts
Gastric tumor at a glance- Species / system: Dog; stomach (gastrointestinal/digestive).
- Main types: Adenocarcinoma (50–90% of gastric malignancies), lymphoma, leiomyoma (benign), leiomyosarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
- Signalment: Older dogs (about 7–11 years; median 10 in one register), males over-represented. High-risk breeds include the Belgian Tervuren and Groenendael, Bouvier des Flandres, Collie, Chow Chow and Norwegian Lundehund.
- Classic presentation: An older dog with weeks of vomiting (sometimes with blood), anorexia and weight loss, often with melena and microcytic anemia.
- Diagnosis: Ultrasound or CT to find and stage the lesion; biopsy (endoscopic or full-thickness) for histology, plus immunohistochemistry for spindle cell tumors.
- Not zoonotic or reportable.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 18 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.