Treatment of nephroblastoma in a juvenile dog

A 4-month-old female Bernese Mountain Dog that was examined because of abdominal distention was found to have a nephroblastoma during exploratory laparotomy. Nephrectomy was performed, but the tumor could not be completely resected. A chemotherapeutic plan for this dog was created by adapting current recommendations for treatment of people with nephroblastoma. Chemotherapy was tolerated extremely well; however, tumor progression became evident after 15 weeks of treatment, and the dog was euthanatized. Widespread metastasis was found at necropsy. Little is known about the natural behavior of this tumor in dogs.