Symptoms

• Lymphoma often first appears as swollen lymph nodes in the neck, behind the knee and in the shoulders. There are also lymph nodes in the chest or abdomen that cannot be seen. Other symptoms will vary depending on the stage of the disease and size and location of the tumor, but they include weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and increased thirst or urination.
  
  

Stage I and Stage II

• In stage I, a single lymph node or lymphoid tissue is involved in the disease. Stage II involves several lymph nodes in the same area.
  
  

Stage III and Stage IV

• All surrounding lymph nodes are involved in stage III. By stage IV, the liver, spleen and/or anterior mediastinum in the chest are involved.
  
  

Stage V

• In stage V, the bone marrow becomes involved in the disease.
  
  

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Your vet will discuss the proper course of treatment.frau doktor image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
  
  Initially, the pet owner may find one or two lumps before going to the veterinarian, who will determine if the surrounding lymph nodes are affected. Blood panels, urinalysis and biopsies are used to completely assess the situation. Lymphoma can also be diagnosed with x-rays and ultrasound. The choice of tests performed will depend on the location of the tumor.
  
  Chemotherapy treatment is used to treat the cancer and usually consists of a combination of oral and injectable drugs given on a frequent basis. Some common protocols include multi-drug protocol, doxorubicin, COP and prednisone alone. The average survival time varies from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the stage, location and treatment.