| Cancer is not restricted to human beings. As a | | | | should take all skin tumours to the vet to be |
| disease it is indiscriminate and completely unbiased | | | | examined. Bone cancer occurs most often in large |
| when it comes to affecting different species. Our | | | | dogs and seldom in cats. As with humans, it's most |
| beloved pets are not immune with dogs bearing the | | | | often the joints that are affected, particularly in the |
| brunt of the disease, being affected by tumours | | | | legs. Symptoms include swelling in the joint, difficulty |
| twice as often as people. Cats on the other hand | | | | walking and persistent pain. Lymphoma is common is |
| develop tumours only half as frequently as humans. | | | | both dogs and cats and occurs when one or more |
| Cancer occurs most often in older pets and is in fact | | | | lymph nodes in enlarged. Chemotherapy is the most |
| the leading cause of death among cats and dogs. If | | | | effective treatment for this type of cancer. There |
| you suspect that your pet has cancer it is vital that | | | | are many more types of cancers that animals get; |
| you get him or her to a vet immediately as the | | | | the list is as endless as that for people. |
| earlier the cancer is detected, the earlier treatment | | | | The treatment for animals with cancer is the same |
| can begin and the better the chances of survival. | | | | as that for people and includes surgery, |
| Cancer can be difficult to detect in animals especially | | | | chemotherapy, radiation, cryosurgery (freezing), |
| as they can't describe their pain or show you exactly | | | | hyperthermia (heating), or immunotherapy. Treatment |
| where it is. Here are 10 of the most common signs | | | | will depend on the type of cancer, its severity, and |
| to look out for: | | | | the breed of dog/cat and its size and also on you, |
| 1) abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow | | | | the owner and what you want to do. |
| 2) Sores that don't heal, | | | | In regards to the side effects of treatment, surgery |
| 3) Weight loss and | | | | is usually the easiest to recover from with the animal |
| 4) loss of appetite, | | | | able to return to his or her previous level of |
| 5) bleeding or discharge from any orifice, | | | | functioning within a relatively short space of time. |
| 6) offensive odour, that is not normal pet odour. | | | | Chemotherapy, however, does have side effects for |
| 7) difficulty eating or swallowing, | | | | animals just as it does for people, even though the |
| 8) hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina, that is | | | | dosages are much lower. There can be nausea and |
| not laziness or due to heat, | | | | vomiting accompanied by a reluctance to eat. Your |
| 9) persistent lameness or stiffness and | | | | pet may become lethargic and be reluctant to move |
| 10) difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating. | | | | or even stand. There may be a fever and if this is |
| Should you see any of these signs you should take | | | | the case you should call your vet immediately as it |
| your pet to a vet straight away so that the correct | | | | can be lethal. In general most animals that have had |
| tests can be carried out and a diagnosis can be | | | | cancer and gone through treatment, enjoy a good |
| made. | | | | quality of life. They resume their normal activities and |
| These tests can include x-rays, which will show | | | | play and have fun the same as before. |
| tumours, abnormal masses of tissue and degradation | | | | On a sad note, it is important to add that in most |
| of bones; blood tests; ultrasonography; a physical | | | | cases the cancer is not cured it is merely in remission, |
| exam and a complete medical history. To be entirely | | | | and that it will eventually come back. This must be |
| sure that it is cancer, however, a biopsy will have to | | | | thought about and discussed amongst the family |
| be performed and the tissue graded to assess how | | | | before the initial decision is made to treat the animal. |
| serious the cancer is. | | | | It will help you to decide if treatment is worth it in |
| Animals get many of the same types of cancers that | | | | the long run. If it looks as if the treatment is not |
| we do. They even get breast cancer, although | | | | working or if the animal is experiencing pain and |
| spaying your female pets when they're between the | | | | discomfort the vet is ethically bound to tell you. They |
| ages of 6-12 months significantly deceases their risk | | | | are also bound to tell you that the pets enjoy their |
| of breast cancer. Breast cancer is also one case | | | | lengthened lives and do not know that they are on |
| where cats are more at risk than dogs, with more | | | | borrowed time. But you must know that they will |
| 85% of all tumours being malignant in cats and only | | | | have to go through the whole experience again and |
| 50% malignant in dogs. Skin tumours are very | | | | so will you. It is up to you, the owner to decide what |
| common in dogs but quite rare in cats. However, in | | | | is the right thing for your pet in that situation. It is a |
| the case of cats skin tumours are more often than | | | | difficult decision to make and one that can only be |
| not malignant, while in dogs they are benign. You | | | | made with love. |