Treatment would consist of radiographs of the chest to determine if the cancer has spread and if not then amputation of the affected leg and then chemotherapy. This will usually gain several more months for the dog and in a few cases a couple of years.

However there are some cases in which no treatment can be done. Take Hanna here…

Hanna is a Newfoundland with mild hip dysplasia. She had a bone tumor growing on her right shoulder.  Amputation was out of the question due to her hip dysplasia. She is a very large dog with a lot of weight taking the front leg off would cause her to put more weight on her hind legs which were also damaged. She would not have been able to walk after only a couple of weeks. So the owner decide to just provide Hanna pain relief and treat her holistically using the raw food diet.

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It has been reported that today,  there is cancer in about 50 percent of our pet population.  In the study of cancer there is a term known as Mutagenic Activity and you may want to know all about what this means if you have a pet dog or cat.   Mutagenic means anything that promotes a mutation.

A mutation is a sudden departure from the parent type, in one or more genetic characteristics.  A mutation is the act of changing a process, or changing or altering a form or nature.   Doesn’t sound good does it.  The very word mutation to me reminds one  of a sci-fi movie where the mutants from other planets come to earth and eat us, or mutate us to become them.  The word ‘mutation’ is not the best word to use, but in the world of science it’s a common term.   A word that comes to mind is “ deviant” or “ permutation” or  “ anomaly “ which means its not normal activity on the biological or physiological level. It a word or two, not good.

A study was conducted on the Mutagenic Activity and “ Heterocyclic” amine carcinogens in commercial pet foods.

This condition results in an enlargement of the gland that as the name suggests (benign), is not a truly cancerous condition. The enlarged gland however, tends to be more prone to infections (prostatitis) because the blood flow through the enlarged gland tissue area is less efficient, and if bacteria lodge here, the infection can be difficult to control and clear.

The gland of an intact male dog is known to be more susceptible to cancer. This has been confirmed in scientific studies, and because of the delicate location of this gland around the junction of the bladder and the urethra (the tube leading to the outside via the penis), the cancers can be difficult to control or cure in this location.You are obviously a responsible pet owner, and have been careful about preventing unwanted litters by keeping your male away from females. Unless you have firm plans to use this animal in a formal breeding program, the best prevention strategy for prostate problems is the surgery (castration).

Many owners express concerns about surgery and anesthesia for their pets; this is a natural response. Dog lovers want to do the best for their “best friend”, and need reassurance about surgery and the attendant risks. Your veterinary team can go over the steps involved, and many facilities will let you tour their establishment so that you can become familiar with the advanced medicine and surgery suites that they offer, and the focused care that they provide.

There is no such thing as zero risk for any procedure, anesthetic, medication, or other intervention, but with modern medicine, we are proud of, and have a great deal of confidence in our current level of practice. Most practices use the same anesthetic agents, equipment, and many of the monitoring systems that your own physician would use in a human hospital. Veterinary technicians (nurses) that assist the veterinarian during the procedure and anesthetic are highly trained paraprofessionals (look for AHT, RVT etc. on their name tag for proof of their certification).

The surgery itself is not a long one. The average procedure would take 10-20 minutes, and complications are rare. With proper post-operative rest and care, the chance of a problem is very low indeed. Most practices will see the dog back for a “post-op” check in 7-10 days, and during that early healing phase, they are especially willing and able to address any questions or concerns that might arise.

The risk of a routine surgery is very low, and it would not be considered an endangerment to health to make this decision on a dog’s behalf. It is often helpful to review information, and discuss the decision further with the health care team before making the final decision. The potential devastation from possible future prostate problems would be generally viewed as a much more worrisome scenario than a sterile surgical procedure performed in a modern veterinary practice by an experienced veterinary surgeon and their support team.

Skin cancer is common in dogs – early detection is the key to successful treatment. Read the following steps to learn how to spot the disease in the initial stages of development.

It is helpful, therefore, to get ourselves familiar with some common symptoms of dog cancer, and at the same time, learn about some other more common disorders that may cause similar signs.

The following signs are often shown by dogs suffering from cancer. However, they may be caused by some other forms of illnesses as well.

Lumps and Bumps

Different forms of cancer (e.g. lymphomas, mast cell tumors, fibrosarcomas) can arise as lumps and bumps on a dog’s skin.

Fortunately not all bumps and lumps are cancerous. Very often, benign growths such as warts, fatty tumors, cysts, etc. can arise in a dog’s skin as well. Usually, any lumps and bumps that appear, then decrease in size or even disappear, and finally reappear in a larger size are more likely to be cancer than benign lumps. However, the only way to tell for sure whether a lump is cancerous or not is by a quick and painless process called fine needle aspiration.

Coughing and Sneezing

While coughing and sneezing are common symptoms of dog cancer, there are also quite a few other dog illnesses that have the same symptoms. Acute coughing is usually caused by some kind of allergies or infection (e.g. kennel cough), while chronic coughing may be caused by heartworm infection, fungal infection of the lung, or heart disease. Sneezing can also be the result of allergies. However, if the sneezing is accompanied by a bloody nasal discharge from only one side of the nasal cavity, and it has been ruled out that there are no foreign bodies (e.g. foxtail) trapped up the dog’s nasal cavity, then cancer should be suspected.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract such as vomiting and diarrhea can be symptoms of dog cancer of the GI tract, or cancer anywhere else. There are, however, several dog illnesses that can cause the same symptoms. The most common one is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and another possibility is Addison’s disease. It is important to have an early diagnosis of whatever disease the dog is suffering, since chronic inflammation of the GI tract may eventually progress to cancer.

Appetite Loss

Appetite loss is also one of those symptoms of dog cancer that is indistinct, as many other diseases (e.g. dental or gum diseases, IBD, heart disease, kidney disease, to name just a few) can cause appetite loss in dogs as well. Also, older dogs tend to eat less. If you notice that your dog is suddenly losing his appetite, try to look for and convey any other accompanying symptoms to your vet so that a proper diagnosis can be made at the earliest possible time.

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When deciding on the best cancer treatment for dog patients, it is important to understand that each dog is different and should be treated as such. There is no one cancer treatment program that is perfect for all dogs. Even dogs with the same type of cancer may receive different treatment programs. Perhaps the most important questions to consider (together with our veterinarian) are:

• Which treatment provides the highest chance for cure?
• Which treatment ensures the dog’s quality of life?
• Which treatment is the best choice for the dog parents? (factors to consider – costs, emotional stresses, time)

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I had a family member who fought it for many years before losing their battle, a younger family member that died at the age of 15 after having been diagnosed less than 2 weeks before, giving little time for us to come to grips with the realization of the fact that she indeed had cancer.

I have had dogs die from cancer, one with the rare, and very fast growing blood fed cancer Hemangiosarcoma, which took my dog Jazz.  See story here: In Memory Of Jazz

It breaks my heart when I hear someone has cancer, human or animal.

Often the only choice for your dog is surgery, chemotherapy, or to let things progress and dread the day you will have to help your dog pass on to relieve pain and suffering.  Surgery and chemo often fail and you face the same end as if you had done nothing.

If you are worried about the diagnosis and putting off testing don’t.  If you don’t know what you are facing you can’t help your dog.  If you think there is nothing you can do to help your dog, you’re mistaken.  If you aren’t facing this issue currently, then get pet insurance now so money is never an issue if it happens.  Research the different companies and policies that cover cancer as well as breed specific issues your dog may face in the future.

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