Cancer Disease In Dogs (Part-1)

Cancer is pretty leading cause of death in senior dog. It is curable also if caught early. Cancer cause a lot of pain and discomfort to dogs and can significantly shorten their lives.

 

There are some different types of dog cancer .

Brain tumors, breast cancer, bone cancer, mouth cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, hemangiosarcoma leukemia, melanoma, prostate cancer, mast cell tumors ( a type of granular basophil cell in connective tissue that releases heparin, histamine and serotonin during inflammation and allergic reaction ).

 

Causes of dog cancer :

All forms of dog cancer start by genetic mutations that convert normal cells into cancer cells though still unclear the exact causes. It is believed that mutations are usually caused by chronic inflammation/ excessive oxidation. It is not difficult to find a lot of substances that may cause inflammation/ excessive oxidation in dog's body.

Here are some examples :

* Low quality  dog foods, contains artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, etc.

* Pollutaed air example gas exhaust, cigarette smoke, then water also.

* Toxins, harmful chemicals found in some common products ( dog flea,tick products, pesticides, household cleaners, etc )

* Radiation

* Over vaccination

* One cause can be If dog is suffering from mental stress like anxiety, depression, boredom have also an adverse effect on d dog's immune system which become weak and it develop the cancer disease.

 

Symptoms of dog cancer :

Some symptoms are shown by dog that suffering from cancer. But remember it may be caused by some other forms of illness as well. By diagnosis only it can be confirm the disease.

* Lumps and Bumps, that can arise on dog's skin from different forms of cancer. The way to tell whether a lump is cancerous or not is by examine under the microscope.

* Acute Coughing and sneezing, that caused by some kind of infection/ allergies/ heartworm infection/ lung fungal infection/ heart disease/ sneezing accompanied by a bloody nasal dischare from one side of the nasal cavity.

* Acute Diarrhea and Vomiting, can be the cause though several dog illness that can cause the same symptom. 

* Appetite loss, that can be done by proper diagnosis for cancer.

* Chronic skin disease, such as wounds that do not heal, itching, skin sores, etc.

* Urinary Incontinence/ blood in urine, these symptoms can be caused by some types of dog cancer.

* Pain, cancer can cause a lot pain to a dog.

* Lameness, some types of dog cancer like bone cancer can cause lameness.

* Weakness and lethargy, is the most common symptom of dog cancer. Dog become weak and lethargic.

* Swelling in bones and bad breath, oral cancer in dog can cause bad breath.

* Seizures, dog suffering from brain tumor can cause seizures. 

#One important note is a lot of the above symptoms of dog cancer may not cause to cancer. The disease can be diagnosed by examines and tests only.

 

Diagnosis of dog cancer :

If dog shows any symptom of dog cancer, without delay take him/ her to experienced veterinarian. He will ask dog's medical history, current vaccination status and past vaccination history, medications, dog's diet, etc. After getting medical history and physical examination dog will be given some tests that may includes :

* Urinalysis - this test will provide information that can identify the cause of the dog's symptoms. A urinalysis may be done to see if there is blood in the dog's urine.

* Blood tests - CBC, blood profile. OnoPet diagnostics.

* X-rays, CT Scan, MRI, Ultrasound - X-rays are necessary for the  to properly evaluate cancer in dog. If x-ray can not reveal any abnormalities then  CT scan or MRI may be required for evaluate the disease in dog. During the scans dog is usually put under anesthesia.

* Biopsy - tumors are surgically removed. A portion of the tissues is sent for examination microscopically in pathology.

* Fine needle aspiration - that is a easy and quick way to determine the growth of a tumor. A tiny amount of cells/fluid pulling back on the plunger of the syringe and then examined under the microscope for proper diagnosis of cancer in dog.

 

Treatments of dog cancer :

There are three main types of cancer treatment for dog.

* Surgery - It depends on the type, size, location of the tumor. Some times canser is not cured by surgery but it helps in relieving  pain and discomfort.

* Chemotherapy - These drugs help to stop the cancer cells from reproducing, growing and spreading but only temporarily. Side effects like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, hair loss, do arise in this treatment.

* Radiation - This therapy utilizes high energy to kill cancer cells more readily in dog. It may be used before surgery to shrink cancer tumors or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. Side effects like soreness in the mouth or throat, localized skin burn, localized hair loss do arise in this treatment.

 

Dog cancer Prevention :

Cancer is one of the most feared of dog disease. There are some certain things one only can help minimize the chance of the dog's developing cancer which includes eliminating stress in the dog's life, minimizing exposure to toxins, feeding the dog a natural healthy diet with supplements, strengthening the dog's immune system using essential oils and herbs.

Do not feed the dog a low-grade grain based commercial dog food at all. Low grade dog foods contain artificial flavors/ colors, chemical preservatives. Grains may feed cancer. The best diet is home made natural diet. It consists of vegetables, fat, protein, etc. And about water also one should be careful. Dietary supplements are very important to protect the dog's body against damage by free radicals. Even Organic coconut oil and Vitamins A, C, E are an excellent antioxidant that help prevent and make less severe inflammation and other problems.

Some herbs like green tea, ginger, garlic, turmeric, curcumin, mushrooms, etc, that have been found to have anti cancer properties and are good to help in dog cancer.

 

Final Note :

Do not keep attitude of wait and see if a dog has a disorder, does not respond to treatment for some days and is showing certain symptoms of dog cancer. Immediate action and diagnosis can save the dog's life !

 

Do not care only for your pet but care for all animals/ stray animals. They desperately need our help, love and care. Do not let them die on the streets. They deserve happiness. They have right to live their lives without pain and sufferings !

Arthritis in dogs :

Arthritis in dogs is very painful disease just like in humans. It can develop at any age of dog and can make dog's life miserable. It is an inflammation of the joints. Joints are the site of the junction of two or more bones and the joints of the skeletal system are responsible for co-ordinating the movement of a dog. All activities of dog like jumping, running, etc require the use of him/her's leg joints. Arthritis cause the severe pain for the dog because it causes stiffness in the joints and muscles. So early diagnosis can save dog from discomfort.

Types of Arthritis:There are two types of arthritis in dogs.

Degenerative arthritis (DJD)/ Osteoarthritis - which result from damage to the cartilage cushioning the bones of the joint. Cartilage  protects the bones that make up the joints . Normal stress from years on abnormal joints can cause destruction of the cartilage. Hip dysplasia and malformation of the hip sockets, loose knee caps, trauma are the example of normal stress on abnormal joints. Constant jumping,stretching,injuries because of accident or fall, are the examples. Since cartilage has no nerve, it lost ability to protect the bone surfaces and the damage can progress with no outward symptoms.

Inflammatory Joint Disease ( IJD) - can be caused by infection/ by underlying immune-mediated diseases. Fungal infection, bacteria, tick-borne disease also can be the cause of inflammatory joint disease. It affects multiple joints. It cause fever, stiffness, anorexia ( lack or loss of appetite for food/ desire to lose weight by not eating food.

One more rare type of arthritis is Rheumatoid arthritis. It is rare in dogs.  

Types of arthritis can be distinguished by their causes and symptoms.

Causes :
Age, obesity, hip dysplasia and related to it diseases, injuries, improper nutrition, poor breeding practices, pain in the legs, etc.

Symptoms :
Stiffness, intermittent lameness, swollen joints, reluctance to move/ rise, depression, lethargy, irritability, weight gain, painful joints, sleeps/rest more than usual, loss of appetite, aggression when joints are touched, disinterest in physical activity, visible joint deformities, while walking abnormal stance, limping, lagging behind on walks, yelping when touched, difficulty in changing position, etc.
Dog arthritis usually so mild and appear gradually then slowly worsen over time that's why owners/ animal lover people may miss them. Affected dog may become three-legged lame.

Diagnosis :
Because infectious joint disease and immune-mediated joint disease call for different treatment protocols so no doubt diagnosis must be accurate. A complete physical examination  can help to see the location of dog's joint pain. MRI ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging)  and CT ( Computed Tomography ) will help to diagnosis arthrisis in dog. Also it may be diagnosis by present symptoms, history, sample and analysis of synovial fluid and lubricating inside of the joint capsule may help to diagnosis of infected joints.

 

Treatments :
There are Surgical and non-surgical types of treatment in dog's orthritis. These options can improve in dog's comfort. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ( NSAID's,drugs like Rimadyl, Deramaxx are the example which may advised by vet), vaccines, surgery, joint fluid modifiers, natural cures, etc.
According to veterinary doctor If surgical/surgery is not advisable then vet may suggest for non-surgical treatments like massage therapy, weight management, diet, supplements, acupuncture, rest, etc. which are the best ways to improve dog's comfort in orthritis.

There are some Natural cure treatments like massage oils, herbs, vegetable's intake, these are the natural remedies which will help in dog's arthritis. But be sure, in dog's arthritis any type of treatment surgical/non-surgical/natural cure, should be given under veterinary care only.

 

Animal lovers and pet lovers should be aware of all diseases of dogs/cats/stray animals. All diseases are painful. Arthritis in dogs is really a worse disease.

 

Make a difference by taking care of not only your pets but be kind to all stray animals and take care of them. They desperately need your help. By helping them every time you will be saving voiceless innocent lives.