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