Canine cancer affects one in every three dogs. Roughly half of those dogs will die due to cancer. With the risk so high, many doctors are working on treatments for canine cancer and medicine has made some important advances.
While it remains difficult to diagnose cancer in dogs, medicine has been advancing rapidly in treatment of the problems associated with the many different forms of canine cancer. When you know what to look for, you have a much better chance at spotting possible canine cancer before it is too late to be treated.
As with humans, dogs are vulnerable to a variety of different cancers. However, dogs may not exhibit signs or symptoms which are as obvious as in humans. Even in humans, cancer can go undetected for long periods of time and some people may have untreated cancer in their bodies for years.
Your dog will never tell you when he feels sick and he cannot possibly know that his condition could be life-threatening. Because of that it is up to you to monitor them for any signs or symptoms of possible ill health.
If you notice any abnormal swellings or growths, they may only be fatty deposits. While these swellings are common in older dogs and are just harmless fatty deposits, there is always a chance that they could be cancerous and your vet should check them out.
If your dog has any sores or legions that are not healing, these could be signs of cancer as well. No one wants to get close to a dog's leavings, but the stool your dog leaves behind can tell you a tremendous amount about their health. A strong and foul odor is a sign of poor health, as is any fluid or blood in the stool.
If a dog loses their appetite or is not drinking plenty of water, you should consider that a warning sign of poor health as well. Finally, if your dog is acting lethargic or sore and does not want to participate in normal daily activities, you should have them checked out by the vet.
If your dog is diagnosed with cancer, there are many different treatment options which you can pursue. The first response for most types of cancer is surgery, which is done to reduce the mass of the tumor.
If surgery is not enough, chemotherapy is also available, although it comes at a price. Not only is the treatment expensive, but the toxins which are used to kill the tumor may harm the dog's immune system as well.
Radiation treatments can be use to ionize the tumor and kill the cells, but it may also harm healthy tissue nearby. As with most sicknesses, prevention is usually the best option and some herbs such as Echinacea and Astralagus are thought to help prevent cancer.
The side effects from treating cancer can often be worse than the cancer itself, especially with an older dog. Maintain a healthy diet and plenty of activity for your dog.
If they live a healthy lifestyle, their immune system will be able to better cope with illness. Ensuring that your dog has a healthy lifestyle will also help ensure that they live a long and happy life.
Danny Fitzgerald is huge dog lover and currently has 4 rescued mixed breeds. If your dog has been diagnosed with cancer then you need to have a look at
Canine Cancer Secrets, this information could save your dogs life.
