Of all the neurological problems that affect pets, especially older dogs and cats, brain tumors are relatively common. Still, why these tumors occur is not easy to answer, as a combination of genetic and environmental factors can contribute to cancer development.
Brain tumors in dogs and cats can be divided into two categories:
- Primary tumors develop from cells that make up the brain itself and the lining of the brain. These include meningioma, glioma, ependymoma, choroid plexus tumors, pituitary tumors, and more.
- Secondary brain tumors are tumors that develop elsewhere in the body and eventually spread to the brain.
Meningiomas arise from the meninges (covering of the brain) and are the most common type of primary brain tumor in dogs and cats. In dogs, they are more common in long-nosed breeds, such as the Golden Retriever. They tend to be slow-growing and compress the brain from the “outside” in.
Also common in pets, gliomas arise from the supporting cells of the brain (glial cells) and include astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. In dogs, they are more common in short-nosed breeds, including the Boxer and Boston Terrier. They tend to grow on the ‘inside’ of the brain.
