Why do so many dogs get cancer?

1. 68

   Ask Ashleyposted 11 years ago

   Why do so many dogs get cancer?
   
   Almost everyone I know who has had a dog ended up losing their dog to some form of cancer, including myself. I lost one dog six months ago to cancer and just learned yesterday my other dog has bone marrow cancer...If you've ever experienced this, it's agonizing... Any ideas why cancer is so prevalent in dogs?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 76

   Nettlemereposted 11 years ago

   
   
   I think it's like with humans, that they're living longer and have to die of something. Having said that I've been lucky and had only 1 of seven dead dogs die of cancer. Hope that makes sense; it sounds clumsy. I am really sorry you have a second dog with it so soon after the first died. It is very unfair for you, but I suspect bad luck/coincidence rather then a result of anything you've done.
   The picture is Jake my Belgium shepherd who got a very aggressive bone cancer when he was 11.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Efficient Adminposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Jake is such a beautiful dog, I'm very sorry he got sick.

      replyreport
   2. 68

      Ask Ashleyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed. Jake is a very cute dog.

      replyreport
   3. 76

      Nettlemereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you both, He was a brilliant dog and very stoic and full of joy even though his leg must have given him pain towards the end.

      replyreport
3. 68

   Ask Ashleyposted 11 years ago

   Hi Nettlemere,
   Thank you for your feedback.You've had more luck than me. This is my 3rd dog with cancer, but I do think you raise an interesting point. I have no idea how long dogs lived 25+ years ago verses today or how many died of cancer 25+ years ago verses today. I wonder if there is a consistent pattern that corresponds to human longevity. In terms of dying of "something" I guess I am wondering why cancer and why not just natural causes? But I guess cancer is a natural cause..ugh.

   replyreport
4. 97

   DrMark1961posted 11 years ago

   30 years ago the average lifespan was 7 years; most dogs died of truma (like hit by car). Dogs live much longer now but there is also a lot of kidney disease, congestive heart failure, etc. We almost never see distemper, previously the number one cause of death in dogs.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      Ask Ashleyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wow...only 7 years. That does give me more perspective. Thank you.

      replyreport
5. 85

   Efficient Adminposted 11 years ago

   Ashley I'm very sorry you lost a pet to this disease and I hope the other pet can get cured.  I often wonder if there is something in the dog food nowadays that makes them sick? Kind of like people food is not as pure as it used to be, and if you eat enough bad people food you could possibly get sick? When I was growing up we had a dog, and on the dog food bag there was a statement "Not for human consumption".

   replyreport
   1. 68

      Ask Ashleyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. Only time will tell if they were able to remove it all. I have wondered about food as well...maybe they are processing dog food differently...since "not for human consumption" is a bit of a red flag.

      replyreport