Is my dog's mast cell tumor bad if intestinal or symptoms are sudden?

Question

What's the difference between a mast cell growth and cancer? If it's intestinal/ colon,is it usually bad news regardless? Also why would a bunch of symptoms come on in a ten day period? Can it really be that quick? Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 8 years and 10 months old | 108 lbs

Stacey Anstaett, DVM · Accepted Answer

A mast cell tumor is a type of cancer-- if your dog has a mast cell tumor, it has a form of cancer. Generally, mast cell tumors are in the skin or in the connective tissue just under the skin. Sometimes, these are more aggressive and do spread to other parts of the body including the intestine or colon. Primary mast cell cancer in the intestine or colon are quite rare in dogs, usually its the result of spread of the cancer from a primary tumor in the skin. Mast cell tumors contain histamine. Therefore, symptoms can occur pretty quickly. Histamine affects the entire body-- it can cause vomiting, hives, and vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels which can lead to swelling, bruising, etc). Vomiting or diarrhea as a symptom does not necessarily mean that the cancer has spread to the GI tract, rather it could just be histamine release from a primary tumor in the skin. I hope that clears things up a bit for you. Here is some additional information that you may find helpful. https://www.petcoach.co/article/mast-cell-tumors/ https://vth.vetmed.wsu.edu/specialties/oncology/information-for-owners/mast-cell-cancer

Is my dog's mast cell tumor bad if intestinal or symptoms are sudden?

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