Pets
and Cancer
Cancer in dogs and cats, especially
aging dogs and cats, is a significant
problem, as millions of pets are
diagnosed with cancer every year.
An estimated six million dogs
are diagnosed with cancer every
year. Cats are much less likely
to be diagnosed with cancer, according
to the American Veterinary Medical
Association.
Although occurrence of cancer
in dogs and cats is alarming for
pet owners, the veterinary field
continues to make advances in
the treatment of cancer in both
dogs and cats. The first step
in combating cancer is awareness:
Pet owners should know and be
able to recognize the common symptoms
of cancer.
Symptoms of Cancer in Dogs and
Cats
Because dogs and cats cannot
speak and tell their owners when
they are sick, owners must be
vigilant of their pet’s behavior,
so they’ll know when something
is wrong. According to the American
Veterinary Medical Association,
there are several warning signs
that could indicate a dog or cat
has cancer:
- weight loss
- a loss of appetite
- difficulty urinating, breathing
or defecating
- discharge or bleeding from
any open part of the body
- an offensive odor
- difficulty swallowing or
eating
sores that are not healing
abnormal swellings that are
growing and do not go away
- a persistent stiffness or
lameness.
Pet owners who notice any of
the common cancer symptoms are
advised to seek veterinary advice
immediately. While there may be
another cause of the dog’s or
cat’s symptoms, it is recommended
that the pet be seen by a veterinarian
as soon as possible.
Common Cancers in Dogs and Cats
Forms of cancer in dogs and cats
include:
• Abdominal cancer
– Often signaled by weight loss
or an enlarged abdomen, abdominal
tumors are prevalent in both dogs
and cats. This can include peritoneal
mesothelioma.
• Bone tumors
– While cats are rarely diagnosed
with bone tumors, large dogs are
particularly susceptible to bone
tumors, which are most commonly
found on the legs.
• Breast cancer
– To reduce the chance of a dog
or cat developing breast cancer,
the American Veterinary Medical
Association strongly recommends
spaying and neutering dogs and
cats. Breast cancer is typically
treated through surgery.
• Feline Leukemia Complex
– Feline Leukemia Complex, for
which there is no one effective
type of treatment, is highly contagious
amongst cats, particularly kittens.
(Humans cannot get Feline Leukemia
Complex from cats.) Research is
ongoing as to what causes and
how to treat Feline Leukemia Complex.
To date, however, there is no
one treatment that consistently
works with the majority of cats.
• Lymphoma –
Lymphoma, which is generally treated
with chemotherapy, is common in
both dogs and cats.
• Mouth cancer
– While mouth cancer is not common
in cats, it is common in dogs,
and most mouth cancer is malignant.
Warning signs of mouth cancer
include bleeding of the gums,
a lump on the gums, or difficulty
eating.
• Skin cancer
– The most common victims of skin
cancer are older dogs while cats
of all ages are far less susceptible
to this form of cancer; it’s more
likely for a cat to have malignant
skin tumors than it is for a dog.
Skin tumors tend to be benign
in dogs.
Cancer Treatment for Dogs and
Cats
Cancer is not an automatic death
sentence for dogs and cats and,
in fact, there are numerous treatment
options for pets with all stages
of cancer. The three most common
types of treatment for dogs and
cats battling cancer are chemotherapy,
radiation, and palliative radiation.
The choice of treatment is generally
determined after careful consideration
and consultation with the veterinarian
and, in most cases, an oncologist.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment
of cancer in dogs and cats and,
can be less difficult on dogs
and cats than it is on their human
counterparts because it is given
in lower doses and fewer drugs
are combined for treatment.
While chemotherapy is generally
easier on dogs and cats than on
people, there is still the potential
for such side effects as diarrhea,
vomiting, and a decreased appetite.
The severity of the side effects
largely depends on the pet, and
for those pets that have moderate
or severe side effects, a veterinarian
may prescribe medication to help
curb those side effects. Owners
should not expect to see side
effects in their pet on the same
day as treatment as it usually
takes between three and five days
for side effects to exhibit themselves.
How a pet will be treated with
chemotherapy depends upon the
type of cancer being treated,
the stage of the cancer, and the
pet’s overall health. Not all
chemotherapy treatment requires
visits to the veterinarian: Oral
medications may be used, or an
injection may be given at the
veterinarian’s office. In some
instances a pet will need to spend
the day at the veterinary hospital
to have the chemotherapy administered
in slow infusions.
Chemotherapy may be prescribed
as a short-term treatment that,
if successful, will only be used
again if the cancer comes out
of remission, or it may be necessary
for a pet to have chemotherapy
treatment for the rest of his
life.
Another form of cancer treatment
for pets is radiation. One objective
of radiation, which is usually
given prior to chemotherapy or
surgery, is to shrink the size
of tumors.
Palliative radiation is generally
used only for those dogs and cats
whose cancer is so far along that
there is little to no chance of
recovery. Rather than attempting
to cure the cancer, palliative
radiation is used to help control
the symptoms of the cancer, particularly
inoperable tumors. Pain medication
and anti-inflammatory medication
is typically used in conjunction
with the palliative radiation
to combat the pain and other symptoms
of cancer.
In addition to chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, and palliative
radiation, a veterinarian may
also try surgery, immunotherapy,
cryosurgery, or hypothermia.
Caring For A Pet With Cancer
Caring for a pet with cancer
isn’t difficult just for the pet;
it can be an emotionally trying
time for the owner as well. In
addition to the worry of whether
the dog or cat will respond to
treatment, many owners must also
consider the financial cost of
treating a pet with cancer.
Treating cancer begins with a
positive diagnosis after which
time the pet’s family and veterinarian
can determine the best course
of treatment. The cost of treating
a pet with cancer depends on several
different factors, including where
in the country the family and
their pet lives, the type of cancer
the pet has and how advanced it
is, the type of treatment being
pursued, and the length of the
treatment. Cost of treatment can
range from anywhere between several
hundred dollars (for a month of
medication, for example) to $6,000
or more.
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