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 !
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