Lymphoma in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.^[1] It can be found in many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, liver and skin.^[1]

Signs

Lumps under the jaw or elsewhere on the body
Reduced appetite
Drinking and peeing more than usual
Low energy
Weight loss
Vomiting
Diarrhoea or constipation
Pale or yellow gums
Breathing problems or coughing
Discharge from the nose

Causes and risk factors

Golden Retriever
German Shepherd
Boxer

How a vet finds out

Physical examination
Blood tests
X-rays
Ultrasound
Biopsy

How vets treat it

Surgery
Fluids or a drip
Diet change
Anti-sickness medication
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Medication
Steroids

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“To confirm a diagnosis, decide on the best treatment plan, and to give a prognosis your vet may advise doing certain tests to grade and stage your dog’s lymphoma: Grading - tells us how aggressive the lymphoma is by taking a sample of tissue from the lump.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What is lymphoma in dogs?

Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.^[1]

Where can lymphoma be found?

It can be found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver or skin.^[1]

Which dogs have an increased risk?

An increased risk has been reported in Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and Boxers.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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