Subscribe To
This Site
Dog CancerDog cancer has become rather common in recent years. Quite a few of our friends have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with cancer in their pets. All forms of cancer start when atypical cells begin reproducing 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). If a dog is strong and healthy, the immune system can stop the cancerous tumors 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 elimate the cancerous tumor, resulting in a malignant growth. Back in the good old days, dog cancer was almost unheard of. Why is it raising its ugly head among our pets now? Well, if we look at our environment now, we can find a lot more possible factors that may cause cancer in our dogs. To name just a few:
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, making them more prone to developing diseases such as cancer. TopHow Can We Tell If Our Dog Has Cancer?It is not easy for dog owners to detect dog cancer, especially at its onset, as the disease can manifest itself in so many different forms. It is therefore important to constantly watch for any minor changes in the physical conditions or behaviors of our dog, since anything out of the ordinary can be indicative of an early onset of cancer. And if we can nip the cancer bud in its early stage, we have a much better chance of fighting a winning battle against the disease.Possible Dog Cancer SymptomsAt the onset of cancer, a dog may show some of these signs:
Of course, just because your dog is showing some of the above symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that he has cancer, but if the symptoms persist, you should take him to a vet for a thorough examination. Warning Signs of Dog CancerHere are ten common signs of cancer in small animals as listed on the Veterinary Cancer Society website:
If your dog shows any or some of these signs, take him to a vet immediately. Don't delay! TopHow to Prevent Cancer in DogsThe best way to deal with dog cancer is to not let it happen! We can take a lot of preventive actions to protect our dogs from getting the disease. 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.For example, we should not expose our dogs to:
Moreover, we should:
Spaying female dogs while they are under 2 years old is an effective way to prevent mammary cancer in female dogs. Cancer Treatment for DogsConventional cancer treatment for dogs includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.Depending on the type of tumor and the extent to which is has metastasized, a suitable treatment will be chosen for a particular dog with cancer. Of course, other factors such as the quality of life for the dog, the dog's age, etc. will also be taken into consideration. Generally speaking, surgery is the preferred treatment when the tumor is small and easily accessible. During the surgery, the vet will remove the entire tumor and leave clean edges that have no cancer cells. Radiation is usually used to treat cancers that are localized, or for cancerous tumors that cannot be removed surgically. For example, radiation is used to treat cancers of the limbs, or on cancerous tissues on the chest, face, and mouth. Although radiation is not painful, it has some side effects, such as hair hair in the affected areas, skin burn, and occasionally ulcerated areas. Chemotherapy is usually used to attack rapidly-dividing cells and is the primary treatment for cancers such as leukemia. Sometimes, chemotherapy is used in conjunction with surgery or radiation for other types of cancer. Dogs do not generally have the side effects suffered by human cancer patients brought on by chemotherapy (such as hair loss). Because chemotherapy in dogs is generally used to prolong life, not cure the cancer, lower doses and fewer drug combinations are used. Natural Remedies for Dog CancerConventional cancer treatments for dogs can greatly compromise the proper functioning of the immune system. That's why it is a good idea to use natural remedies such as herbs, as well as supplements such as vitamins and enzymes in conjunction with conventional treatments to fight cancer.Herbal remedies can support and boost an animal's vital organs and immune system, so that the animal can become strong enough to rid itself of cancer, or if that is not possible, at least to enjoy a better quality of life. There are quite a few herbs that can be fed to dogs with cancer. Please visit our page on herbs for cancer for more information. Please also visit our page on dog cancer diet for information on diet and natural supplements that are beneficial to dogs with cancer. References D. Hamilton, Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs (North Atlantic Books, 1999).
TOP of Dog Cancer
|
