CANCER WARNING SIGNS

Cancer is probably one of the biggest health issues for dogs and cats, particularly as they get older. A pet’s body becomes affected by “abnormal” cells growing rapidly and out of control. They can produce tumors, which can affect other areas of their bodies. Although it can be scary if your pet receives a cancer diagnosis, knowing the pet has been diagnosed early on provides better treatment opportunities and a good quality of life.

Dogs and Cats cannot verbally express pain or discomfort like humans; thus, pets will normally hide from showing any physical or behavioral signs of illness. The importance of identifying even slight changes in how the pet behaves, looks, and appears healthy is important. Early evaluation of abnormal behaviors and/or unusual symptomology through regular veterinary visits allows for early detection of cancer and other health-related issues.

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Causes and Risk Factors

Abnormal cell development causes the pet to experience cancerous growth. Many times, the actual cause of the abnormal cell development is unknown, although some potential contributing factors can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Age and Genetics

Older dogs and cats are generally at a greater risk of developing cancer since abnormal genetic mutations occur as each cell ages. Additionally, while genetics is just one possible factor that can lead to cancer, some dog breeds are more susceptible to developing specific cancers based on inherited characteristics.

Environmental Factors

Certain environmental exposures could potentially contribute to an increased risk of developing cancer. Examples include prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke, chemical exposure, radiation exposure, and other toxic substances.

Chronic Inflammation and Immune Changes

Prolonged periods of chronic inflammation or weakened immunity can create conditions where abnormal cell growth may become more likely. Some viruses are known to increase the likelihood of developing specific types of cancer (i.e., Feline Leukemia Virus, FeLV).

Common Cancer Warning Signs

Cancer can occur in most parts of your body, and therefore symptoms will be dependent on the type and location of the disease. While some possible warning signs may seem minor at first and should not be disregarded if they continue.

Unexplained Lumps or Swellings

New lumps, bumps, or Swellings under your skin need to be examined by your vet. The majority of lumps will be benign (not harmful); however, there are times when these could represent tumors, which would have been easier to diagnose earlier.

Keep track of lumps that:

• Increase in size
• Change shape or texture
• Become painful
• Bleed or develop sores
• Appear suddenly

Unexplained weight loss

Weight loss without a logical reason for it is the number one symptom of cancer. Your pet could be continuing to eat normally yet still losing weight because the cancer has changed its metabolism.

Changes in Appetite

There are two main ways in which cancer can affect a pet’s appetite. Some pets will lose interest in their food. Others may develop a greater interest in their food because their metabolism has been altered by the disease.

Regardless of how a pet’s appetite is affected, any Changes in this area should be evaluated, especially when combined with weight loss or lethargy.

Persistent Lethargy or Reduced Activity

When an animal does not want to play or walk or is not willing to interact with you, it may be an indication of a serious underlying illness. Animals with cancer may often lack the motivation to participate in activities previously enjoyed.

Abnormal Bleeding or Discharge

You have to investigate all cases of abnormal bleeding. The warning signals for this are;

• Blood from the nose, mouth, urine, stool, or reproductive tract
• Persistent wounds that do not heal
• Unusual discharge

Changes in Bathroom Habits

Persistent changes in urination or bowel movements should always be evaluated because they may indicate cancer or many other medical conditions.

Difficulty Breathing or Persistent Coughing

If your pet has tumors in their lung area, the chest cavity, or any other area inside their body, it can affect the ability of your pet to breathe. If you see a continuous cough or there is no apparent reason why your pet cannot take a full breath, you need to take them to a veterinarian.

Risks and Complications

When cancer isn’t diagnosed until after it has been able to grow (metastasize) into other organs using either the bloodstream or the lymphatic system, this makes the cancer harder to treat.

Once cancer reaches an advanced stage, it could result in:

• Loss of appetite resulting in severe weight loss and fatigue
• Persistent pain
• Dysfunction of various organs
• Weakened immune system
• Difficulty swallowing or moving about
• Rapid decline in quality of life

But early detection and diagnosis will give you many treatment options, which can improve the chances of recovery.

Diagnosis

To accurately diagnose cancer and its level of advancement, a veterinarian will use multiple diagnostic tools.

Physical Examination

Firstly, we do a complete physical exam to see if there are any abnormalities such as an abnormal mass, swollen lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, etc.

Diagnostic Testing

The next steps would depend on what the suspected issue was. These could include:

• Fine-needle aspiration to look at the cells from any lumps you feel
• Biopsy to determine the exact type of cancer
• Blood tests to assess your overall health
• X-rays or ultrasounds to view internal organs
• CT or MRI scans if necessary.

By getting a correct diagnosis, your veterinarian will have the best option(s) for treatment available.

Treatment

Treatments vary depending on whether the pet has cancer, where it’s located, how far along it is, and the pet’s current state of health.

Surgery

Many times, surgical removal of the tumor is the best option. The sooner the surgeon removes the tumor, the better the chances for a cure.

Chemotherapy

Using chemo is one way that medications are given that will slow down or even halt the growth of cancerous cells. In general, animals tolerate chemo much better than people due to their lower dosages and focus on keeping quality of life intact.

Radiation Therapy

For specific types of tumors that cannot be surgically removed entirely, radiation may be utilized.

Supportive Care

The focus of supportive care is to maintain the comfort of your dogs and cats. Supportive care may include managing your dog’s pain, providing nutritional assistance, using medication to control your dog’s symptoms, and treating secondary complications.

Prevention and Early Detection

Many types of cancer cannot be prevented in dogs; however, by staying up-to-date with your veterinarian and taking good care of your dog, you can help identify potential problems as they occur. Some ways to do this are:

• Regular check-ups with your veterinarian
• Keep an eye out for new growths (lumps) or changes on your dog
• Encourage a healthy body weight for your dog
• Provide a well-balanced diet
• Limit exposure to chemicals that could harm your dog
• Contact your veterinarian if you notice something different about your dog