Author Archive for Andrew Lewis
What Are The Four Main Types of Dog Bone Cancer? Part 3: Fibrosarcoma
The type of bone cancer called Fibrosarcoma is rare. It is responsible for less than 5% of the primary types of bone tumors. It comes from the fibrous connective tissues (hence the name) that are found in the ribs, spine, pelvis, and skull. It can however come from any bone type. It is a non-osteosarcoma bone type, but it is still very difficult to set it apart from the very common osteosarcoma or OSA, specifically what they call fibroblastic osteosarcoma. There are two varieties of this tumor type: Central, and Parosteal. Main treatments for Fibrosarcoma involve amputation, limb salvage and surgical resectioning. Radiation therapy can be applied as alternative pain relief in some special instances. There is chemotherapy to threat the rare instance that cancer spreads, and pain medication.
Why fibrosarcoma develops is still unknown because it is a rare tumor type. It is found more commonly in older male canines, but there is a variety that develops in the mouths of younger dogs.
These can be signs that a dog has fibrosarcoma:
What Are The Four Main Types of Dog Bone Cancer? Part 2: Chondrosarcoma
The second main type of bone tumor in canines is called Chondrosarcoma. It is responsible for 5-10% of all main bone tumor types, although it is not as malignant as Osteosarcoma. It is a tumor in the cartilage, and generally it appears on bones that are flat: ribs, skull bones. It may also appear in the limbs such as the femur bone. The symptoms of this type of bone tumor mimic those of OSA. In most cases the course of action is to remove the tumor to manage the disease. It is found that chemotherapy is ineffective against Chondrosarcoma. In recent studies, however, an antibiotic called fluoroquinolone is seen to be toxic to the cancer cells in the cartilage. Whether this antibiotic will be effective in treating chondrosarcoma remains to be seen. Further studies are needed.
Immediate attention is important in treating chondrosarcoma.The vet will have x-rays taken of the patient so that the affected area is clear. He will determine if the cancer has spread, as about 10% of cases metastasize to the lungs. They can take samples of the enlarged lymph nodes through a needle biopsy, because lymph nodes are usually areas where cancer gathers in the circulatory system.
It is important to take note of the symptoms, which vary relative to the tumor’s location.
Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor:
Ribs – there will be a swelling in the costochondral junction, or the area where the ribs meet.
Nasal area – breathing may be difficult, accompanied by sneezing, and nasal discharge.
Pelvis – pain in the pelvic area, especially during examinations
Spine/Vertebrae – no visible clues
Determining Dog Cancer Symptoms as Early as Now
There is nothing as disheartening for dog owners as knowing that your pet is in the brink of being a dog cancer victim. Canine cancer cases are indeed growing these days. The environmental factors that affect the over-all health of your pet and the possibilities for it to have cancer are two important things that you need to take note of. Early diagnosis by a professional can give you time to treat cancer.
Canine cancer cases are indeed growing these days. The environmental factors that affect the over-all health of your pet and the possibilities for it to have cancer are two important things that you need to take note of. Early diagnosis by a professional can give you time to treat cancer.
As much as possible, think of prevention rather than cure. Detecting the earliest dog cancer symptoms can be a huge way of allowing you to keep your pet for a longer time. What are the symptoms that each dog lover must observe and report to the vet about?
One is the presence of wounds and lesions on the skin of the dog. If you keep its shelter clean and you are strict about its hygiene, be alert when you suddenly see swollen body parts and foul-smelling skin. This can be an early sign of tumor or cancer. When your pet has been active for months and has been great at eating its food, be conscious when all of a sudden it loses the usual appetite and the zest. Also, this can possibly be a signal that you have to consult your veterinarian about canine cancer. If you have monitored your dog’s weight and it has become unexpectedly lower in a short span of time, be careful because this can mean that its body is experiencing an abnormal condition: it can be canine cancer or something similar to that.
Do not be saddened by the thought that any dog can suffer from cancer nowadays. Think of this: modern medicine makes it easier now that before. When you are able to identify these dog cancer symptoms, there are treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and other alternative medicines that can treat canine cancer.
Cancer-Fighting Treatments: Their Benefits For Your Dog
The immune system matters. When it begins to weaken, the body is prone to acquiring diseases. This is true for both humans and animals. For dogs, it has been observed that the death rate caused by canine cancer has elevated through time. This disheartens dog owners. The good news: there are more dog cancer treatments now compared to before. Dog owners now have more options to choose from in order for them to enjoy the company of their pets longer.
The immune system matters. When it begins to weaken, the body is prone to acquiring diseases. This is true for both humans and animals.
These dog cancer treatments options give that feeling of relief to dog lovers. As a matter of fact, there are even ways now that are both low-cost and drug-free. Cancer-fighting herbs are popularly used for treatment. Burdock roots for example are really good in fighting against the production of cancer cells. It specifically strengthens the liver because it works to get rid of toxins. In addition, they aid in the recovery of the liver after the chemotherapy. Turmeric extracts are another dog cancer treatments. They are capable of strengthening immune cells and help the body repair helpful tissues for body-building. Indian ginseng is also becoming a popular herb when it comes to curing canine cancer. What does it do? It is responsible for boosting hemoglobin production. There has to be a good supply of red blood cells in the body. Indian ginseng consumption makes the dog much stronger and insusceptible to any case of blood cancer. Studies show that anemia is now common even in dogs. Dog cancer treatments herbs like this can save your dog from the sickness and from death.
One way that you can keep your dog cancer-free is by maintaining healthy diet. For your information, food like garlic and green tea are major anti-oxidants. They flush harmful toxins from the body resulting to vitality and good metabolism.
Food as Part of Dog Cancer Treatments
Dogs with cancer, also called canine cancer, normally lose their appetite since their organs and different parts of the body are affected by the disease. It is not only important that we keep their natural environment healthy and comfortable to help them recover faster. Administering their medicines properly is a big help as well. However, for a faster recovery, their diet should also be composed of foods that are essential to their health. This is one way to fight canine cancer and can be considered as one of the important dog cancer treatments available. They need proper a specialized diet that provides them with better chances of getting healthy again and fighting the disease. If dogs lose their appetite because of cancer, their liver and kidneys could eventually fail. This is why their immune system should be strengthened through a proper diet.
Dogs with cancer, also called canine cancer, normally lose their appetite since their organs and different parts of the body are affected by the disease.
Dog cancer treatments have many side effects. In worst cases, dogs with cancer have to undergo chemotherapy. This could result to vomiting and nausea. That is why dogs need to eat regain their energy. They also build new tissues in their body, so food rich in proteins and fatty acids should be given to them. Meat, cheese and raw bones are good sources of protein. Dogs with cancer should also be administered with fatty acids such as Omega 3, 6 and 9, which are required by veterinarians to fight cancer. One of the best source of fatty acids is fish oil. It is usually available in soft gel capsules which you can give to the dog at least 3 times a day, depending on their body weight. To make dog cancer treatments more effective, minimize giving them food rich in carbohydrates such as barley, wheat and corn because they are naturally carnivores and can’t process this very well. However, you can give them healthy options of sardines, eggs, cheese and most time of food rich in protein. They should also be aromatic to bring back their appetite.
