Metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a dachshund with prolonged survival time

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common primary renal tumour in dogs. In this case, a 3-year-old female dachshund was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, with high mitotic index (40). Metastatic spread was detected in the lungs in the form of multiple discrete masses. She was treated with nephrectomy, urethrectomy and ovariohysterectomy to remove the primary mass and the surrounding tissue it was invading. This was followed by tyrosine kinase inhibitor (toceranib: Palladia) medication. The patient has been rechecked bi-monthly, and haematology and biochemistry samples have been taken to monitor for toceranib phosphate adverse reaction. No clinical or biochemical alterations have been noticed in the rechecks performed. A computed tomography was performed 3 years after the initial scan, and the lung masses appear reduced in size. The reported survival times in dogs with mitotic index of less than 30 has been reported to be of 8-9 months, and at the time of writing this case report, the survival time has already been of 36 months.