Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with tracheal cancer treated by surgery and recovered
By Tsang, Wayne et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2025·Department of Small Animal Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tracheal squamous cell carcinoma treated with tracheal resection and anastomosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old spayed female Labrador retriever was brought in for a persistent cough and breathing difficulties that didn't improve with medication. After imaging tests revealed a mass in her trachea, the vet performed surgery to remove the affected section of the trachea. The mass was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, but fortunately, the surgery was successful, and the dog recovered well without any complications. Three months later, she was doing great and showed no signs of the cancer returning.
People also search for: dog cough and breathing problems · Labrador retriever tracheal cancer treatment · squamous cell carcinoma in dogs
Abstract
A 9-year-old spayed female Labrador retriever was presented with intermittent expiratory cough and dyspnea unresponsive to prednisone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Radiographic and computed tomographic examinations identified a localized dorsal intraluminal tracheal wall mass without detectable locoregional metastasis, leading to surgical resection and anastomosis of the affected tracheal segment. Histopathological analysis confirmed the mass as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with clear lateral and deep skeletal muscle margins. Monitoring after surgery, rather than adjuvant therapy, was elected by the dog's owner. The dog recovered with no complications noted and was in a state of clinical remission at the final in-hospital evaluation (3 mo after surgery). This case represents the second documented instance of canine tracheal SCC treated successfully with surgery. It underscores the potential for surgical intervention as a viable treatment option, potentially improving prognosis and survival outcomes in dogs affected by tracheal SCC. Regular evaluations and serial imaging examinations are recommended to monitor for recurrence and ensure long-term clinical remission. Key clinical message: This case marks the first documented tracheal resection and anastomosis as treatment for canine tracheal SCC and only the second reported tracheal SCC in a dog. Despite the typical negative outcomes associated with this SCC, the dog in this report achieved clinical remission without the need for chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Surgical intervention may be a viable treatment option for tracheal SCC, potentially improving prognosis and survival outcomes in affected dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40510272/