Dog Cancer Causes and Treatment
Geriatric dogs should see the vet at least twice a year
The word cancer often creates a great sense of alarm in pet owners. And it is reasonable, because cancer is a very serious disease, however, thanks to advances of veterinary medicine, more and more dogs are able to lead quite normal lives despite their cancer diagnosis. It is not unheard of today, dogs going through chemotherapy and radiation therapy. And it is not unheard of dogs in remission from what once were cancers with a poor prognosis.
While cancer in some cases may eventually lead to death, the goal of veterinary medicine in those cases is to prolong life while allowing the dog to live comfortably. Such deadly cancers are often those that cause symptoms only once they have sadly spread. Examples are osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcomas.
However, many times cancer can be caught before it has spread. In this case the dog's prognosis may be good. Owners should always keep a watchful eye on symptoms possibly suggesting cancer. The key to a good prognosis often relies in the owners being able to recognize key symptoms of cancer.
Prevention of Cancer in Dogs
Many forms of cancer can be prevented in dogs. Here are a few examples:
- Limiting exposure to fungicides, pesticides and weed killers
- Limiting exposure to households with people that smoke
- * Early Spaying and neutering dogs
- Feeding good diets without by products and chemicals
- Avoiding unnecessary vaccinations
- Using natural insecticides
- Boosting the dog's immune system
- Keeping the dog lean and exercised
- Minimizing exposure to the sun (especially light colored pets)
- Routine vet exams especially in geriatric dogs
*Studies on Rottweilers reported that there was a higher incidence of developing Osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone) when neutered and spayed earlier than 1 year old.
Potential Early Warning Signs of Cancer
Owners should be watchful for potential signs of cancer. Once the pet is seen by the vet, appropriate diagnostic testing should take place. For instance, a dog with a lipoma should always undergo a fine needle aspirate before the owner being told that very likely it is just a fatty tumor, because sometimes it may be cancer. A dog that is senior and is limping should always undergo an x-ray before prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis because sometimes it may be osteosarcoma and so forth.
Following are some symptoms that should grant a prompt vet exam:
- A lump
- Sores that do not heal
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Persistent limping
- Coughing and difficulty breathing
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Abdominal enlargement
- Unexplained bleeding
- Offensive odor
- Changes or difficulty eating, urinating and defecating
While cancer often is still sometimes perceived by owners as a mysterious,silent killer that takes over the dog's life, owners can actually be proactive in attempting to prevent it or at least, having it diagnosed at an early stage. This makes it possible to treat it early before it spreads to vital organs, rendering the prognosis more difficult. Keeping a watchful eye on the dog and ensuring it leads a healthy lifestyle may really make a difference when it comes to preventing cancer. As the saying goes, it ultimately comes down to ''an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure''.
