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Dog Cancer

Dog Cancer Dog cancer is perhaps one of the diseases most feared by dog parents. Unfortunately, canine cancer is appearing in dogs with increasing frequency.

Cancer can no doubt cause a lot of pain and discomfort to our pets, and can significantly shorten their lives. However, not all cancers carry a poor prognosis.

The key for us dog parents is to educate ourselves more on different types of common dog cancer and their clinical signs, and be more observant for changes in our dogs' behavior and physical conditions. If we notice some signs that may indicate cancer in our dogs, we should take them for a thorough medical check-up immediately. An early diagnosis can sometimes nip cancer in the bud.

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Learn more about different types of common cancer in dogs:

What Exact is Dog Cancer?

All forms of cancer start when there are atypical gene mutations in some susceptible cells. These mutated cells then begin to reproduce and attack other normal, healthy cells. When these atypical cells take over enough normal cells, cancerous tumors form. Many holistic veterinarians suggest that dog cancer is the result of a metabolic imbalance that has gone out of control. The imbalance can be caused not only by numerous outside factors (such as pollutants and poor quality food), but also from within (such as stress).

Most healthy normal cells are genetically programmed to live only for a limited period of time. However, in cancer cells, the gene that causes cell death is inactivated, enabling cancer cells to live, reproduce, spread and finally kill the dog patient.

If a dog is strong and healthy, the immune system can stop the cancer cells from developing and spreading. However, if the immune system is weakened (by whatever factor there is) and therefore the body is not in a state of homeostasis, it may be unable to stop cancer cells from growing, resulting in cancerous (malignant) tumor growth.

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How Does Cancer Kill?

Cancer can kill a dog in various ways. First, locally aggressive cancerous tumors can cause ulcerations and infections resulting in extreme pain. Sometimes due to the location of the tumor, surgical removal is impossible. The only choice may be euthanasia.

Second, dog cancer can cause secondary physical disorders that result in death. For example, acute leukemia in dogs can significantly weaken a dog's immune system, causing the dog to succumb to secondary illnesses.

Third, a primary cancerous tumor can spread (a process called metastasis) to other parts of the dog's body, causing secondary diseases and death. For example, many cancers metastasize to the lungs, causing difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest and sometimes death.

Finally, cancer can also kill by consuming a dog's nutrition in the body. The dog, depleted of almost all nutrition, is starved to death.

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Possible Causes of Dog Cancer

Canine Cancer

The exact causes of dog cancer are still unclear, although as mentioned above, all forms of cancer start by genetic mutations that convert normal cells into cancer cells.

It is believed that mutations are usually caused by chronic inflammation or excessive oxidation.

If we look at our living environment, we may find a lot of possible factors that may cause inflammation or excessive oxidation in our dogs' bodies. To name just a few:

  • Polluted air (e.g. from gas exhaust)
  • Polluted water (e.g. from rivers and lakes)
  • Artificial colorings and flavors in pet foods
  • Poor-quality pet foods (e.g. pet foods that contain preservatives)
  • Toxic chemicals (e.g. from flea or tick control products)
  • Frequent exposure to various forms of radiation (e.g. TV, x-ray)

As well, many veterinarians now believe that over-vaccination is a possible cause of canine cancer. Instead of giving our dogs booster shots every year, we should consider vaccinating our dogs on an "as-needed" basis. Visit our page on Canine Vaccination for more information on this important topic.

Moreover, due to our busy lifestyle, these days we tend to spend less time with our dogs. As a result, more dogs are suffering from depression, anxiety, or boredom. These kinds of mental stress have an adverse effect on our pets' overall wellbeing as well, weakening their immune system and making them more prone to develop diseases such as cancer.

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Prevention of Dog Cancer

Since the exact causes of cancer are unclear, it follows that there is not a clear "to-do" list showing us how to prevent cancer in dogs. All we can do is adopt a holistic preventive care approach to minimize the chance of our dogs developing cancer.

First and foremost, we should make the living environments of our pets as carcinogen-free as possible, and feed our pets nutritious foods and supplements, especially supplements that can decrease inflammation and oxidation (e.g. Vitamins A, C, and E).

For example, we should not expose our dogs to:

  • cigarette smoke;
  • gas exhaust;
  • radiation (x-rays; TV);
  • toxic chemicals.

Moreover, we should:

  • feed our pets wholesome, natural, fresh foods;
  • avoid foods with preservatives, artificial colorings or flavors;
  • avoid foods high in organ meats and meat by-products;
  • enrich our pets' diet with quality nutritional supplements.

Certain types of dog cancer, such as breast, ovarian, and testicular cancer, can be prevented by early spaying or neutering. Also, certain skin cancers can be prevented by minimizing a dog's exposure to the sun.

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Diagnosis of Dog Cancer

Canine Cancer

If your dog shows signs of dog cancer, take her to a veterinarian without delay.

The vet will ask for your dog's medical history and general conditions - it is important that you give as much information as possible so that the vet can better assess your dog.

Besides telling your vet the abnormal signs that you are noticing, be prepared to tell the vet the following:

  • Your dog's diet.
  • Current vaccination status and past vaccination history.
  • Past major physical disorders, if any.
  • Medications that your dog is taking, conventional and/or alternative.
  • Diagnosis and suggested treatment prescribed (If your dog has been to another vet).

After getting your dog's medical history and conducting a thorough physical examination, your dog will be given various laboratory tests, which may include:

Blood tests

A complete blood count (CBC) and blood profile are useful for diagnosing diseases, especially when the dog patient shows nonspecific symptoms, such as appetite loss and lethargy.

While blood tests alone cannot diagnose most cancers, they can help the vet narrow the diagnosis and rule out other possible diseases with similar symptoms.

Blood tests also provide information on the overall health of the dog patient, and help the vet to decide whether a particular treatment is appropriate for the dog.

Urinalysis

A urinalysis is useful to evaluate the dog patient's health; it also provides information that can identify the cause of some of the patient's symptoms. For example, bladder stones, bladder infections, and bladder cancer share similar symptoms (urinary incontinence, frequent urination, etc.). A urinalysis may then be done to see if there is blood in the dog's urine. If there is, x-rays can be taken to see if there are stones in the bladder, and if not, an ultrasound can be done to allow early detection of bladder tumors.

X-rays, MRI, CT Scan, and/or Ultrasound

X-rays allow the vet to evaluate the dog patient's chest, abdomen and bones. When made correctly, x-rays are the only diagnostic imaging necessary for the vet to properly evaluate them for cancer.

To avoid movement and multiple exposures to x-ray, dog patients have to be sedated while taking x-rays.

When x-rays cannot reveal any abnormalities, sometimes more specialized diagnostic imaging, such as MRI or CT scans, may be required. This is especially true when cancers of the face, sinuses, brain, and spinal cord are suspected.

Dogs are usually put under full anesthesia during these scans.

Fine Needle Aspiration

Fine needle aspiration is a quick and easy way to determine the malignancy of a tumor. The vet inserts a fine needle attached to a syringe into the mass to extract, or aspirate, a tiny amount of fluid or cells by pulling back on the plunger of the syringe. The material extracted is then examined under the microscope and a proper diagnosis can be made then and there at the veterinary clinic, while the dog parents are waiting.

Sometimes cells cannot be extracted from some tumors, such as soft tissue sarcomas. In these cases, a biopsy is necessary for diagnosis.

Biopsy

Very often, tumors are surgically removed (an excisional biopsy) and then a portion of the tissue is sent to a pathologist for examination microscopically.

Occasionally, only a tiny piece of the tumor is removed (an incisional biopsy) for diagnosis.

Since biopsies are surgical procedures, sedation or anesthesia is necessary.



Also See

Canine Euthanasia

References

D. Hamilton, Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs (North Atlantic Books, 1999).
R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000).
Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
S. Messonnier, The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs (New World Library, 2006).

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