Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation treatment options for dogs with nasal cancer and bleeding
By Hayes, Alison et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2025·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: A Single Institution Retrospective Comparison of Two Radiotherapy Protocols for the Palliative Treatment of Canine Nasal Carcinoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with nasal cancer and experienced frequent nosebleeds (epistaxis). The dog received palliative radiation therapy using two different protocols: one with ten treatments and another with six treatments. Both methods effectively controlled the nosebleeds and other symptoms, with the second protocol resulting in a longer median survival time of 375 days compared to 298 days for the first. Overall, the treatments helped improve the dog's quality of life, and the majority of dogs in the study showed a positive response to the radiation therapy.
People also search for: dog nasal cancer treatment · dog nosebleeds · palliative radiation therapy for dogs
Abstract
Optimal radiation protocols for canine nasal carcinoma are not established. Co-morbidities, access, and owner compliance can influence scheduling. Between 2015 and 2022, two radiotherapy protocols were used in the palliative treatment of canine nasal carcinoma at a single institution. Group A comprised 17 cases receiving 40 Gy in ten 4 Gy fractions delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Epistaxis was present in 11/17 (65%) cases. Median survival time (MST) was 298 days (95% CI: 163.54-432.45); progression-free survival was 173 days (95% CI: 117.87-228.12). Group B comprised 24 cases receiving 36 Gy in six 6 Gy fractions delivered Monday and Friday. Epistaxis was present in 20/24 (83%) cases. MST was 375 days (95% CI: 240.73-509.27); progression-free survival was 243 days (95% CI: 138.42-347.58). Dogs with Adams Stage 1 disease had the longest median overall (593 days) and progression-free survival (609 days). Four cases each received additional radiation treatment and/or toceranib at relapse. Palliative radiation therapy achieved control of clinical signs in the majority of cases, with an overall response rate of 100% (Group A) and 96% (Group B). In a multivariate Cox regression model with backwards elimination, when cases were stratified for tumor stage, neither the presence of epistaxis nor treatment (6 vs. 10 fractions) was independently associated with significant improvements in survival. Epistaxis at presentation did not appear to influence survival. These results indicate that palliative radiation therapy is highly effective in controlling clinical signs associated with nasal carcinoma. Increasing fractionation may have a limited effect on survival outcome or toxicity in the palliative setting.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41047698/