Dog Canine Cancer - Top Pet Diseases | PetPlus Condition Center

What is Canine Cancer?

Symptoms

Canine Cancer can affect nearly any part of the body, so abrupt or unexpected changes in your dog’s actions, diet, or physical appearance warrant a visit with the veterinarian.
Unusual tiredness
Weakness
Sudden weight loss
Vomiting or diarrhea
Swollen glands or any other abnormal swelling
Lumps or tumors
Black or bloody feces
Sudden and extreme bad breath

Quick Facts

Canine cancer, similar to human cancer, refers to more than 100 specific conditions that relate to the uncontrollable abnormal growth of cell tissue. It is a common and serious disease which can present itself in your dog as a single tumor or multiple growths throughout the entire body.
One in four dogs will develop cancer at some point in their lives according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, with percentages rising in those over 10 years of age. Half of all dogs who get cancer survive, but it is the leading cause of death for dogs older than 10.
Certain types of cancer are more common for specific breeds of dogs. For example, Rottweiler dogs are more prone to get osteosarcoma, while a Boxer is most susceptible to develop lymphoma, mast cell or brain cancer.
More dogs develop cancer now than in the past mostly because they live longer as a result of advances in veterinary science.

Tips

In addition to treatment, discuss pain management with your veterinarian. For financial or medical reasons, some dog owners have to forgo treatment, and quality of life becomes more significant.
There are a number of unpreventable factors including genetics or the environment that may lead to cancer, but the specific causes of canine cancer are largely unknown. Certain actions, such as spaying, can help reduce the likelihood or certain cancers, such as breast cancer in female dogs.
If you suspect that your pet may have cancer, contact your veterinarian immediately - earlier detection often leads to better results, such as remission. Biopsies, ultrasounds, blood tests, radiographs and a number of other tests can help determine if your dog has cancer and which type it may be.
Discuss the need for a canine cancer expert with your veterinarian. They often work at veterinary college hospitals or other large animal health facilities. The Veterinary Can

Treatment Options

Canine cancer treatments are similar to human cancer treatments. The best method is often surgery to remove a tumor before it metastasizes. Cryosurgery or electrocautery are less traditional surgical methods that freeze or burn off the tumors.
When surgery won’t be wholly effective, other medical treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy.

Changes In Behavior

During and following treatment your dog may be tired, lethargic and generally act sick. Treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are hard on your dog’s body and require a significant amount of rest.
Watch out for fevers. A fever can be a symptom of the body trying to fight off an illness or infection. When your dog is already sick, a fever should be a signal to help your furry friend get immediate help.

a PetPlus Member's story

PetPlus has been a godsend. I don’t know what I would do without them. Cody uses Leukeran to treat canine cancer. SAVED $657 last year Sondra + Cody New York, NY Read More

PetPlus has been a godsend. I don’t know what I would do without them.

SAVED $657 last year

Cody is a West Highland Terrier and he is basically an ideal lap dog. He loves sitting around getting petted and pampered, and he is great around all types of people. Cody loves Sondra, a member of the PetPlus community, but he is more than happy to let anyone give him a good scratch behind the ears. Also, for whatever reason, Cody loves to chew on wood. “Since he was a puppy he had an attraction to chewing on wood. We named him nicknamed him Woody,” Sondra tells us.

More than anything, Cody is always happy and full of life. Nothing can get him down -- not even Cancer.

The Diagnosis

One day when Sondra was petting Cody’s back, she felt a lump. Like any concerned pet parent, Sondra rushed Cody over to the vet to have the lump biopsied. What happened next Sondra will never forget. “I woke up to the worst call of my little baby’s life -- cancer.”

Dealing with Cancer

While Cody was the model of a trooper throughout the entire process, the effect it had on Sondra was devastating. “Like any parent your heart drops and your eyes tear. All I thought was how can I fix this and make it go away.”

To treat Cody’s condition, Sondra added a holistic approach on top of the medication her veterinarian prescribed. She started Cody on a specialized organic diet that she prepared at home, as well as magnet therapy around the area of the tumor. Like many pet parents, Sondra wanted to do anything that might help.

How PetPlus Helps

On top of the holistic treatment, Cody was put on Leukeran, a prescription medication used to treat the spread of various types of cancers in dogs and cats. Sondra also made sure that Cody was making frequent visits to the vet to closely monitor the progression of his condition. With cancer it is of the utmost importance to make sure that the treatments are effectively slowing the growth of the tumor.

Luckily, PetPlus was able to save Sondra a significant amount of money on Cody’s medication and on the trips to the vet. And because PetPlus would never turn someone away because of a preexisting condition, Sondra was able to enroll Cody for our complete care plan even after he was diagnosed.

“PetPlus has been a godsend. I don’t know what I would do without them.”

Sondra + Cody New York, NY

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