| Cancer affects a significant percentage of canines. | | | | American dogs is skin cancer followed by mammary |
| Know the risk factors that include: genetics, hormone | | | | cancer and lymphosarcoma. |
| imbalances, diet, vaccinations, environmental toxins | | | | Even though Shih Tzu is not among the breeds to be |
| such as lawn chemicals, flea and tick dips, tobacco | | | | targeted for high risks, we can still be on the |
| smoke to name a few. Nearly half of dogs over age | | | | look-out for cancer symptoms which are similar to |
| 10 die of cancer. There are similarities between | | | | those in humans. These include any abnormal swelling |
| canine and human cancers, but there are also | | | | that continues to grow, sores that don't heal, weight |
| differences. For example, dogs have 35 times as | | | | loss, bleeding or discharge from any body opening, a |
| much skin cancer as humans, 4 times as many breast | | | | reluctance to move or exercise, a loss of stamina or |
| tumors, 8 times as much bone cancer, and twice the | | | | difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating. Any sort |
| incidence of leukemia. Humans have 7 times as much | | | | of lameness in an older dog (but especially large |
| lung cancer as dogs and 13 times as much cancer of | | | | breeds, which excludes our Shih Tzu also), should be |
| the stomach and intestines. | | | | investigated, even though our Shih Tzu is not included |
| According to a Swedish study done in 1997, the | | | | in that either as being of high risk by breed, it does |
| breeds at highest risk for cancer were: Boxers, Giant | | | | not mean, this could not occur. Subtle signs such as |
| Schnauzers and Bernese Mountain Dogs, Irish | | | | sleeping, more than usual, refusing to play, or having |
| Wolfhounds, Cocker spaniels and Doberman | | | | less interest in social interaction, can be warning signs. |
| Pinschers, Pomeranians, Newfoundlands, German | | | | Even though it would seem at this time cancer is not |
| Shepherd Dogs, Saint Bernards, Great Danes, | | | | a huge threat to our Shih Tzu, it is still good to be |
| Greyhounds and Basset Hounds. | | | | alert to any symptoms that may be warning signs of |
| Today, the most common type of cancer in | | | | the disease. |