What You Need to Know About Canine Cancer

Cancer occurs when the body's immune system cannot stop cells from replicating at an abnormally fast pace and form a mass known as a tumor. Just as in humans, canine cancer is not caused by any single factor. Genetics and environmental factors both play a role in the disease's development. Carcinogens, including toxins, radiation, and tumor viruses, as well as hormones are also responsible for causing several types of cancer. Suppressed or deficient immune systems can increase a dog's risk of developing cancer, too. But since so many factors can cause cancer in dogs, pinpointing a specific cause is often hard. There are things you can do to lessen your dog's chance of getting cancer, however:

Top Five Ways to Prevent Cancer:

1. Do not smoke (indoors or outdoors) around your dog. The extensive turbinates in dogs' noses traps the carcinogenic particles. Nasal tumors, caused by smoke, have form in dogs just like they do in humans.

2. Do not use pesticides on your lawn. Studies have shown that some pesticides can

cause lymphoma in dogs.

3. Spay your dog at an early age. Spaying prior to a dog's first heat will reduce her chance of mammary cancer by 75%. Neutering a male dog will prevent testicular cancer.

4. Have any loose implants, such as bone plates, removed. They have been shown to

cause osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

5. Do a physical exam on your pet at least once monthly. This means run your

hands along their body and legs to feel for lumps. Also watch out for pale gums, personality changes, and limping.

How do vets diagnose cancer? What tools and methods will/would they use on my furry friend?

Since the signs and symptoms of canine cancer vary, diagnosing cancer is not easy but you should be on the look-out for these warning signs:

Top 10 Canine Cancer Warning Signs

1. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow

2. Sores that do not heal

3. Weight loss

4. Loss of appetite

5. Bleeding/discharge from any body opening

6. Offensive odor

7. Difficulty eating/swallowing

8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina

9. Persistent lameness or stiffness

10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or eliminating waste

If you notice any of these signs, take your dog to the vet immediately. Two of the most common diagnostic techniques vets employ are biopsies and radiography. (A biopsy is a test involving the removal of tissues for examination.) X-ray and Ultrasound are other diagnostic tools used for detecting canine cancer. While CT scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are not commonly available in veterinary medicine, larger veterinary hospitals and medical centers occasionally use them.

What are the treatment options for cancer? I want to make the best decision for my dog.

There are many different treatment options available to fight canine cancer; however, the one which is most appropriate for your dog will depend upon the type of cancer. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and a variety of anti-cancer drugs are all common treatments and one or more may be necessary. As your pet's comfort and resilience are vital when fighting cancer, it's important to take care of your dog's health as a whole. Consulting with a veterinarian on all aspects of your dog's health will help you give your dog the best chance at fighting this heartbreaking disease.

What should I feed Fido during his fight against cancer? I want to give him the best I can.

If your dog has cancer, it's critical that you feed him high-quality meat based protein and fatty acids, which actually slow down tumor growth. Two things he does not need are grains and carbohydrates because tumors thrive them while robbing the body of amino acids.