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Treatment

There is no single curative treatment for renal adenocarcinoma, but surgery is performed in the majority of cases. Complete resection (removal) of carcinoma tissue, along with some normal tissue, is done. There are some chemotherapeutic agents that may also be used in some patients, but the success rate is quite low. Patients with renal failure or other complications will be treated to prevent further aggravation of symptoms.

Living and Management

As no definitive treatment is available yet, dogs with renal adenocarcinoma may have only a few months to live even if the tumor is small and well-localized. If surgery is performed, your veterinarian will recommend serial urine and blood testing along with radiographs to monitor re-growth of the tumor. Re-growth is to be expected, as carcinomas are characterized by this behavior. Affected patients usually have several complications, like kidney failure, and will need to be monitored on a regular basis. During this time you can improve your dog's quality of life by keeping it comfortable and protecting it from stressful situations. Follow your veterinarian's guidelines, especially in giving chemotherapeutic agents at home. Many chemotherapeutic agents can be hazardous to your health if not handled properly; consult with your veterinarian on the best handling practices.