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Treatment

Squamous cell carcinomas in the nose and sinuses are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. If your dog has surgery, the part of the sinuses that are affected by the tumor will be removed during surgery. After your dog has recovered from surgery, your veterinarian may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy. For some types of radiation therapy, your dog may need to stay in the hospital.

In some cases, surgery may not be practical and your dog may be treated with radiation or chemotherapy alone. Some forms of radiation therapy are just as effective as the combination of surgery and radiation. Your veterinarian will counsel you on the possible treatments that are available.

Living and Management

It is common for a dog that has been affected with a squamous cell carcinoma of the nose or sinuses to have nasal discharge and inflammation after surgery and radiation therapy. These symptoms usually go away in in the course of several weeks. Fungal infections are also possible in its nose after surgery. Your veterinarian will tell you what to look for and will help you monitor your dog for these infections. As with many carcinomas, it is common for these tumors to recur after treatment. Usually when they return, they have spread (or metastasized) to the brain. Some dogs can do well for up to a year after treatment.