May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. It’s important to know how common it is, what to look for, and how to proceed if you think your pet may have cancer. Cancer in pets is more common than one might think, and with advances in veterinary medicine, treatment and survival is more possible than ever before.
One in four dogs will develop neoplasia, an abnormal growth of cells and almost half of dogs over 10 will develop cancer. There are limited known facts regarding cancer in cats.
Cancer in a pet is diagnosed much like in humans. Many times, it is found through a physical exam or bloodwork. From there a sample of cells or a biopsy is performed to confirm diagnosis and can help determine if a tumor cancerous or not. If the biopsy does show cancer, further biopsies may be performed to determine how much it has spread.
Also, much like human diagnosis and testing, CT scans and PET scans are performed to give the veterinarian a better idea of the location and treatment options.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, possible signs of neoplasia includes the following:
- Abdominal swelling
- Bleeding from the mouth, nose or other body openings
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty eating
- Lumps, bumps or discolored skin
- Non-healing wounds
- Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
- Sudden changes in weight
- Unexplained swelling, heat, pain or lameness
- Visible mass/tumor
Although these symptoms do not always mean a tumor or cancer, they should receive prompt veterinary care. Early diagnosis is key to treating and beating cancer in pets.
Many of the treatments for cancer in pets is just the same as humans including surgery, freezing, chemo, radiation, and many others. There’s no clear-cut treatment for cancer in general. Treatment will be tailored to the type and stage that your pet is in.
The key to a good outcome is early detection and treatment. If your pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms above, please see medical advice for them as soon as possible. You can learn more by visiting the link below.
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Cancer-in-Pets.aspx