Cancer Symptomns in Dogs & Cats

Cancer Symptoms in Dogs and Cats by Natural Wonder Pet Products

Can you spot cancer symptoms in dogs and cats?

While it looks as though cancer affects greater and greater proportions of people in our society, it is also affecting larger numbers of our pets. It might seem like more pets are affected by cancer than in the past, but the hard numbers tell us we are recognizing and diagnosing the condition more frequently.

As our pets live longer and fuller lives with better medical and health care, they are equally subject to cancer in much the same ways we are. A diagnosis of cancer can be confusing, but it is not always a death sentence for our cats and dogs. There are numerous areas in which one should be informed.

Cancer is not one single disease. Rather, it is an overgrowth of damaged cells that can literally spring from any tissue in the body. This means there are many different forms cancer takes. Some times the tumor is benign, or a localized tumor that does not metastasize or spread to other parts of the body. Other times it is malignant, meaning cancer cells may travel to distant sites throughout the body by way of the bloodstream or through the vessels of the lymph system.

Most cancer symptoms in dogs and cats are identified through a variety of different behaviors. These are typically not recognized as cancer warnings by the pet owner. The American Veterinary Medical Association has organized a Top Ten list to help pet owners identify cancer symptoms in dogs and cats:

1. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow 2. Sores that do not heal 3. Weight loss 4. Loss of appetite 5. Bleeding or discharge from any body opening 6. Offensive odor 7. Difficulty eating or swallowing 8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina 9. Persistent lameness or stiffness 10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

(Veterinary Cancer Society) These symptoms are not always cancer related, but they should always be investigated, especially as a pet ages. Many kinds of cancers become more prevalent with age.

Once your pet has received a cancer diagnosis, your veterinarian will want to determine what extent the cancer or tumor is currently at. This is a conventional method of developing both a prognosis as well as the treatment protocol for your pet.

Depending on what kind of cancer it is and where it is located, a variety of tests may be performed including things like blood tests, biopsies, radiographs, ultrasounds, and endoscopy among other things.

Treatment is based solely on the type and extent of the cancer. If it is a localized tumor, surgery is often used to "debulk" and remove it. These tumors have a reasonable chance of removing all cancer. Other times more treatment will be necessary. Additional options include radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. A concerned pet owner should always ask as many questions as possible and do the right research to understand the situation. It’s okay to ask for a second opinion, especially from a board certified veterinary oncologist.

There is no exclusive answer when treating a pet for cancer. Many factors must be weighed such as the type of cancer, the severity, the prognosis, and the quality of life. For example, if a dog or cat is an elderly animal with bone cancer, will the quality of life be good to remove a limb if the others suffer from arthritis?

In a surprisingly high number of cases the use of alternative medicine and supplements offers an excellent addition to cancer treatment. These therapies can help boost immune systems, relieve nausea, calm digestive tracts, provide necessary anti-oxidants, and remove toxins (like residue from chemotherapy) from the system.

Many times these therapies alone, especially in cases where it seems the options are limited, provide a pet with more quality and quantity of life than expected. Our first job as responsible pet owners is to recognize cancer symptoms in dogs and cats, get informed, then get busy bringing our best friends back to good health.

SEE ALSO: Cancer Care Herbal Extract Food Drops

NOTE: Happy Tails notices a change in the coat condition, which isn't always cancer, but clearly indicates toxicity in the body. The coat could become coarse, dry or flaky when there are no other conditions that would cause that. Whenever the coat changes, it's time for major evaluation of what could be going on inside the dog, rather than just on the outside visibility of the coat.

Cancer is systemic, it may begin in one isolated part but is quickly carried by the blood and lymph system, so whacking off a leg will not stop cancer, however, debulking a tumor will remove millions of cancer cells from circulating in the body, thus making potential healing possible.

It's always easier to prevent a disease rather than trying to heal something that has a long standing grasp on the body. It is always critical to give the best, all natural/organic food and supplements every day of your animal's life.

Nothing "cures" except our own bodies and our creator, however, specific herbs and minerals do provide a beneficial environment in which our bodies can preform as nature intended and help the body emerge into wellness.