Content
- What is cancer in dogs
- What are the most common types of cancer in dogs?
- What are the races most likely to suffer from cancer?
- Symptoms of Cancer in Dogs
- Dog cancer diagnosis
- Dog cancer treatment
- dog cancer prevention
Dogs, like humans and other animals, are animals susceptible to cancer. Cancer is a group of diseases caused by uncontrolled cell proliferation. This uncontrolled cell growth produces an excess of tissue known as a tumor or neoplasm.
Malignant tumors have the ability to disperse diseased cells to other parts of the body, which makes them extremely dangerous, and are called cancerous tumors. Benign tumors, on the other hand, are not cancerous because they do not disperse diseased cells to other parts of the body. However, it may be necessary to surgically remove them when they impair normal body functions.
In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll detail everything you need to know about cancer in dogs, the different types that exist, the symptoms, the diagnosis and the treatment.
What is cancer in dogs
This disease starts at the cellular level, when a genetic error occurs in transcription. A cell that should perform a specific function, stops doing that and starts to multiply in an uncontrolled way, generating an excess of tissue.
There are a hundred different types of cancer that can affect your best friend, and they all manifest in different ways. However, cancers are divided into two types, oma (benign) and carcioma or sarcomas (malignant). The basic difference is that a benign tumor reproduces excessively without affecting other organs, while malignant ones can affect the entire body.
What are the most common types of cancer in dogs?
- Skin cancer;
- Breast cancer;
- Head and neck cancerous tumors;
- Lymphoma;
- Testicular cancer;
- Bone cancer.
At causes of cancer there is no concrete theory, however, there are factors that can aggravate this situation, such as inbreeding, exposure to toxic substances or extreme solar radiation. There is also a predisposition in elderly individuals, dogs that suffer from poor living conditions or who suffer from serious and untreated illnesses. A quality diet, good care, and adequate health partially reduce the risk of developing this disease.
What are the races most likely to suffer from cancer?
- Boxer;
- Golden retriever;
- Labrador retriever;
- Dogos;
- Mastines;
- St Bernard;
- Bulldog.
Symptoms of Cancer in Dogs
A cancer usually goes unnoticed until it reaches a considerable volume. That's when most tutors realize that they are facing an abnormal situation, whether due to behaviors or by the appearance of lumps.
Strictly follow the puppy vaccination schedule and visit every 6 months the veterinarian, they are excellent ways to detect possible cancer as soon as possible. Elderly individuals and puppies should go to the specialist more regularly, every 4 months. Below, we will detail some of the symptoms that may suggest the onset of cancer:
- Ache;
- malaise;
- Vomiting;
- Crying;
- Abnormal inflammations;
- Abnormal lumps;
- Ulcers that don't heal;
- Loss of appetite;
- Weight loss;
- Frequent hemorrhages;
- Putrid odor in some area of the body;
- Discouragement;
- Apathy;
- Changes in behavior;
- Difficulty exercising;
- Stiffness in some area of the body;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Difficulty to urinate;
- Difficulty defecating.
Faced with any of these signs or different behavior of your dog, seek help from a trusted veterinarian so that he can make a correct diagnosis.
Dog cancer diagnosis
Cancer is common in dogs, being more frequent in dogs older than 10 years. However, its diagnosis is not always easy, as symptoms may go unnoticed in the early stages of the disease.
Blood tests, x-rays, routine veterinary examinations, and ultrasounds can provide circumstantial evidence of cancer. However, a reliable diagnosis often requires a biopsy.
Biopsies consist of a small extraction of possibly cancerous tissue from the animal that is submitted for analysis. As mentioned earlier, the veterinarian is the only professional capable of providing a correct diagnosis of this disease, indicating whether the case is a benign or malignant cancer.
Dog cancer treatment
Cancer treatment in dogs should be recommended and followed by a veterinarian. This treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. As these treatments are often specific and complicated, a veterinarian specializing in oncology may be required. The treatment to follow will depend on the type of cancer your pet has and the physical location of the tumor.
The consequences of cancer in dogs may change. In some cases, dogs may simply not experience any physical changes, but in other cases it may cause pain and discomfort to the animal. In these cases, it is highly recommended to use medicines or homeopathy products for dogs with cancer to try to minimize the dog's pain sensation.
dog cancer prevention
Cancer prevention is very difficult since its causes are often unknown. However, good dog care and routine veterinary visits will help maintain your pet's general health. An early diagnosis of cancer is essential to be able to treat the disease as soon as possible, preventing it from progressing and even spreading throughout the body.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.