| Many people don't realize that cats and
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| | difficult to detect. Only a veterinarian
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| dogs are as vulnerable to cancers as
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| | can diagnose cancer, so regular
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| humans and that proper veterinary care
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| | preventative examinations are important.
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| can help ensure your pets get the
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| | If cancer is diagnosed in your pet, there
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| treatment they need.
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| | is hope. Due to rapid advances in
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| Pets develop the same types of cancers as
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| | veterinary medicine, early detection of
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| people. Dogs, for example, are 35 times
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| | cancer in pets can be battled with some
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| more likely to develop skin cancer than
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| | success. Sophisticated treatments such as
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| humans, four times more likely to get
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| | chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy,
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| breast cancer, eight times more likely to
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| | and surgical procedures that were once
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| succumb to bone cancer, and twice as
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| | only performed on humans are now
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| likely to develop leukemia. Insurance
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| | available for pets, too.
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| claims show lymphosarcoma and skin cancer
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| | These procedures can be expensive, but
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| as the most common pet cancers.
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| | cancer treatment costs can be affordable
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| "Dog and cat owners should take their
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| | with financial assistance for pets in the
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| pets in for annual checkups," Dr. Carol
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| | form of medical insurance. Medical plans
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| McConnell of Veterinary Pet Insurance
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| | from VPI, for example, reimburse for the
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| (VPI) suggests. "Clinical signs of cancer
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| | testing and treatment of common cancers.
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| can present themselves in dogs and cats
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| | Pet owners can also purchase a special
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| at a very rapid rate."
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| | Cancer Rider as an add-on to their base
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| Cancer causes almost half the deaths of
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| | policy, which increases the cancer
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| pets more than 10 years old. Here are
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| | benefits, so they receive about twice as
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| some signs to watch for:
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| | much in reimbursement after a claim is
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| • A growing lump or a sore that
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| | filed. If added to a policy before the
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| doesn't heal
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| | pet is 3 years of age, an annual puppy or
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| • Discharge or bleeding
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| | kitten lock-in rate for the rider
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| • Your pet is losing weight despite
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| | applies.
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| eating normally
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| | VPI reports that cancer claims are the
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| • Going more than a day or two
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| | fourth-highest type of claim that dog and
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| without eating
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| | cat owners submit. To help in the fight
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| • Difficulty in chewing or
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| | against pet cancer, VPI encourages pet
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| swallowing
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| | owners to contribute to a special cause.
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| • Any unusually bad smell coming
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| | Pet owners can display their support by
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| from your pet
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| | purchasing a limited-edition Pet Cancer
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| • Tiring easily and unwillingness
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| | Awareness dog collar adorned with
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| to exercise.
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| | lavender ribbons; all profits from sales
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| If you're attuned to your pet's needs and
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| | go directly to the Animal Cancer
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| ordinary behavior, you may be able to
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| | Foundation, a nonprofit organization
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| spot changes that indicate problems.
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| | dedicated to pet and human cancer
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| However, in many cases, the signs are
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| | research.
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