Lymphoma in dogs, especially the common multicentric form presenting with swollen lymph nodes, can be confused with infectious diseases like tick-borne illness (Ehrlichiosis), fungal infections, or lymphoid hyperplasia (reactive nodes). Other mimics include skin allergies/infections (for cutaneous lymphoma) and inflammatory bowel disease (for gastrointestinal lymphoma).

What is mistaken for lymphoma in dogs?

"It could be something else, like an infection or tick-borne disease, but because of the potentially aggressive nature of lymphoma, if you do feel something swollen, you should have the veterinarian look at it." In some cases, tick-borne disease can be mistaken for lymphoma or vice versa.

What conditions can mimic lymphoma?

Some infections can cause symptoms similar to lymphoma:

• Mononucleosis, which can cause fatigue, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
• Tuberculosis, which may cause fever, weight loss and night sweats.
• HIV, which can cause enlarged lymph nodes.

What is lymphoma commonly misdiagnosed as?

Lymphoma can be misdiagnosed as influenza, HIV, infections, and mononucleosis, among many other diseases. However, a thorough battery of tests should rule out other illnesses. Unfortunately, sometimes doctors and other medical professionals can disregard symptoms or misinterpret test results.

How to rule out lymphoma in dogs?

The most common methods for lymph node biopsy are Tru-cut needle biopsy, incisional wedge biopsy, or removal of an entire lymph node (excisional biopsy). The larger the biopsy sample, the better the chance for an accurate diagnosis of lymphoma.

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What labs will be elevated with lymphoma?

Blood tests

Blood chemistry tests are often done to look at how well the kidneys and liver are working. If lymphoma has been diagnosed, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level may be checked. LDH levels are often increased in people with lymphomas.

What are the early warning signs of lymphoma?

Common symptoms of having lymphoma include swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, in your armpits or your groin. This is often but not always painless and often could be associated with fevers, or unexplained weight loss, or drenching night sweats, sometimes chills, persistent fatigue.

What acts like lymphoma but isn't?

Benign etiologies of lymphadenopathy can include infections, autoimmune disorders, drug hypersensitivity reactions, sarcoidosis, and amyloidosis. Rare but benign lymphoproliferative disorders include Kikuchi's disease, Rosai-Dorfman disease, and progressive transformation of germinal centers.

What infection can mimic lymphoma?

The morphological features of EBV-infected lymphoid tissue can easily mimic lymphoma.

Can symptoms of lymphoma be something else?

Itchy skin doesn't necessarily mean you have lymphoma. It can be a symptom of other, more common causes. These include allergies, skin conditions such as eczema, skin infections or menopause.

What is lymphoma in a dog?

Lymphoma in dogs is a common cancer of the immune system's white blood cells (lymphocytes) that causes abnormal cell growth, often starting in the lymph nodes but potentially affecting organs like the spleen, liver, or intestines, leading to symptoms such as swollen glands, lethargy, weight loss, increased thirst/urination, and poor appetite, and while not curable, treatment (like chemotherapy) can achieve remission and improve quality of life.
 

What can confirm lymphoma?

Diagnosis of lymphoma often begins with a physical exam. This exam checks for swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms and groin and an enlarged spleen or liver. Other tests and procedures include blood tests, imaging tests and taking a sample of tissue for lab testing.

What autoimmune disease is mistaken for lymphoma?

ALPS can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms and laboratory results overlap with a number of other common childhood diseases including childhood cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia, and chronic viral infections, such as infectious mononucleosis, commonly known as mono.

How can you tell the difference between a lipoma and lymphoma in dogs?

Lymphoma can also manifest with lumps under the skin. Unlike lipomas, however, these lumps develop as the result of swelling in the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are glands that belong to the lymphatic system.

Can a dog have lymphoma and act normally?

Will my dog be sick? Often owners will notice enlarged lymph nodes in dogs with no apparent signs of illness. Some dogs will show signs of illness, which will vary depending on the extent and location of lymphoma.

How to tell the difference between IBD and lymphoma in dogs?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal lymphoma are intestinal disorders in dogs, both causing similar chronic digestive signs, although with a different prognosis and different treatment requirements. Differentiation between these 2 conditions is based on histopathologic evaluation of intestinal biopsies.

What could it be if not lymphoma?

Misdiagnosis of Lymphoma

Pathologists have recently discovered a non-deadly disease that mimics many symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Called indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disease of the gastrointestinal tract, or indolent T-LPD the disease causes similar lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

What can imitate lymphoma?

Diagnosis of lymphoma is challenging. Reactive lesions such as Kikuchi lymphadenitis, infectious mononucleosis, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, and immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease can be misdiagnosed as lymphomas.

What are the red flags for lymphoma?

Late signs and symptoms of lymphoma

As the disease progresses, symptoms may become more severe or widespread: Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Feeling of fullness in the abdomen due to an enlarged liver or spleen. Coughing or shortness of breath, often caused by enlarged lymph nodes in the chest.

What is lazy lymphoma?

Updated: August 8, 2025. Medically Reviewed By: Eric D. Jacobsen, MD. Indolent lymphomas are types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that grow and spread slowly. They account for about 40% of all NHL cases in the United States and generally arise later in life.

What infection mimics lymphoma?

Benign etiologies of CL which can mimic lymphomas include: infections like HIV or Epstein–Barr virus (EBV); autoimmune, hypersensitivity, or other benign disorders including sarcoidosis; benign reactive lymphadenopathies, like Kikuchi's disease; and atypical potentially malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, ...

What other symptoms come with lymphoma?

Other symptoms

• night sweats.
• unintentional weight loss.
• a high temperature (fever)
• feelings of breathlessness.
• persistent itching of the skin all over the body.

What is lymphoma in dogs?

Lymphoma in dogs is a common cancer of the immune system's white blood cells (lymphocytes) that causes abnormal cell growth, often starting in the lymph nodes but potentially affecting organs like the spleen, liver, or intestines, leading to symptoms such as swollen glands, lethargy, weight loss, increased thirst/urination, and poor appetite, and while not curable, treatment (like chemotherapy) can achieve remission and improve quality of life.
 

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