There are few things worse than hearing from your vet that your dog has canine cancer. Learn the common signs of cancer, the types of which your dog may be predisposed, and resources for learning more.
While the devastating disease has taken human loved ones from us, it can also take the lives of our precious fur family members. In fact, canine cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in pets, and the cause of nearly half the deaths of dogs age 10 and up according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Thankfully, veterinary oncologists have made great strides in developing effective treatments for canine cancers, and are continuing to identify new ones, so dogs have a greater chance than ever to survive cancer.
With November marking Canine Cancer Awareness month, it’s just the time to raise awareness about the prevalence of canine cancer and learn how to identify symptoms of cancer in our pets. To learn more about canine cancer, visit the links further below, and look out for Woof Report’s newsletter that will take a look at prevention tips.
Identifying Cancer Symptoms
Since identifying cancer early and treating it quickly will help your dog’s prognosis, know the common signs of cancer and which cancers are common in your dog breed.
Also, schedule regular vet visits and routinely examine your dog on your own. For instance, skin tumors above and below the skin are the most common cancer in dogs and you can feel for these as you pet and examine your pup. Do keep in mind that not all unusual growths may be cancerous! Also, not all early stages of cancer show symptoms, so when your dog simply ‘doesn’t seem right’ (and you know when that is), schedule a vet visit.
Know the ten common signs of cancer in small animals
According the AVMA, common symptoms are as follows:
- Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive odor
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent lameness or stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating
Know the types of cancer for which your dog may be predisposed
Again, since early detection has a significant effect on the success of treatment, learn which cancers are common to your breed so you’ll know what to look out for. At houstonpettalk.com, Dr. Mark Silberman explains how certain breeds are predisposed to specific types of cancer and lists a large number of breeds and common cancer types. On a related note, although experts say mixed breed dogs have a slightly lower risk of some cancers, they’re still at risk.
Learn more and be informed
- Visit these top resources to learn more about canine cancer. Feel free to add additional resources to the comments section of this post at WoofReport.com.
- The website for the Worldwide Association for Professionals in Veterinary Oncology has an extensive listing of canine cancer resources. www.vetcancersociety.org/resources
- Read or print the AVMA’s brochure about cancer in dogs and cats, which lists general symptoms to look out for and specific symptoms of common cancers. www.avma.org/cancer_brochure
- Learn which dog breeds are predisposed to certain cancers at Houston Pet Talk. www.houstonpettalk.com/canine-cancer
- Visit the National Canine Cancer Foundation for information, and also to participate in the National Dog Wash campaign. Make a $5 donation to help wash away canine cancer, and you’ll also receive goodies for your dog. www.wearethecure.org
Woof Report wishes you and your dog a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Thank you to digital image fan for the photo on flickr.
Great read and very informative. Also, I wanted to let your readers know that the book the 42 Rules to Fight Dog Cancer is now available at http://tinyurl.com/25p73b8. If any of your readers want the book and cannot afford it, please have them email me at aimee@fightdogcancer.com and we will send you a free copy. We also have a Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ventura-United-States/42-Rules-to-Fight-Dog-Cancer/177900715557730#
The book is compiled of dog cancer stories of survival, tips and treatments plans of 21 different dogs and their journey with dog cancer. Each dog survived past their original diagnosis and some are still alive. All proceeds are being donated to dog cancer charities.
The National Canine Cancer Foundation is hosting a National Dog Wash Fundraiser this month. A $5 donation gets you a packet of goodies to groom your dog! http://www.nationaldogwash.com.
Heidi was a Collie/Australian Shepherd mix. Due to her long hair, we did not notice the lumps in her lymph nodes along her trachea until they were huge (big enough to be felt when petting her in that area). We took her to the vet as soon as we felt the lumps and were told that Heidi had leukemia. Nothing could be done at that point. She collapsed in our yard one summer day, and I had to have my husband come home from work long enough to help me get her in the truck. I was giving her water through a syringe as she was in the sun, and I could not move her on my own. I can’t remember what year this was.