Common Diagnoses | Cancer
The word 'cancer' often brings feelings of sadness and fear to many pet owners. But not all types of cancer are fatal, and many cancers that once were life threatening can be treated with today's medical, surgical, holistic and nutritional therapies.
What Is Cancer?
Cancer is a medical condition where normal cells within your pet's system multiply in an abnormal manner, interfering with function of other normal cells or causing mass formation that can cause your pet discomfort. As is true within human medicine, causes of most types of cancer in pets are not known.
Some factors that can influence the likelihood of a pet developing cancer include:
Your pet's age: Just about half of all dogs over 10 years of age will develop some form of cancer. Up to 85 percent of ferrets between 4 and 6 years of age will develop endocrine neoplasia.
Your pet's breed & species: Certain tumors are more common in specific breeds and species. For example; oral tumors in cats, adrenal tumors in ferrets, splenic tumors in Golden Retrievers, and bone cancer in giant breeds.
Your pet's spay/neuter status: Some forms of cancer are significantly more common in un-neutered pets. (This is one of the main reasons why we recommend spaying or neutering your pet)
Common signs:
There are many different signs may indicate the presence of cancer in your pet. The following are some of the most common signs we see in veterinary medicine:
- Lumps that appear red or "angry" or that grow rapidly under close monitoring; lumps that feel tightly attached to underlying tissue.
- Changes in social behavior.
- Weight loss despite increased appetite, or due to significant decrease in food intake.
- Dramatic increase in water intake.
- Changes in swallowing or breathing behavior.
- Decreased interest in exercise/play.
- Difficulty in urinating or defecating.
Once your pet has been diagnosed it is extremely important to watch for new symptoms and report them to your veterinarian as soon as they are noted. It is also important to maintain your pet's usual routine whenever possible. Please check with your veterinarian regarding any exercise or activity restrictions that may pertain to your pet's diagnosis.
Feeding Recommendations:
Maintaining nutrition is important in treating patients with cancer. These pets typically require increased protein and fat in their diets to maintain normal weight and energy levels. Talk to your veterinarian about foods that will help to improve their quality of life while undergoing treatment.