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.

These are just among the most common dog cancer symptoms that you can easily see and spot. Observing them as early as now will help relieve the fear of losing your dog.

The following are dog cancer symptoms that we hope are not experienced by your dog right now. If they are, you need to contact your veterinarian for consultation and remedy:

·    Sudden loss of appetite.

Generally, dogs are fond of eating. When you notice that your dog becomes slow, weak and obviously does not show interest on the food that you serve, there must be something wrong.

·    Growth of sores and wounds

From out of nowhere, you see your dog’s skin and other body part become unhealthy. This is another common dog cancer symptom. Wounds that start to grow and to discharge, swollen body parts such as the stomach and any portion of the skin may mean the presence of tumors in the body.

·    Weight loss

This is a result of not eating well. We all know that it can also lead to a poor immune system. Eventually, not having a strong immune system can cause more possibilities of sickness.

These are just among the most common dog cancer symptoms that you can easily see and spot. Observing them as early as now will  help relieve the fear of losing your dog.

This article will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of mammary cancer in dogs.

Symptoms & Diagnosis of Dog Breast Cancer

• Mammary tumors can appear as a single mass or as multiple pustules.
• They tend to be very hard and rigid.
• They can grow very rapidly, doubling in size over the course of a month.

Dogs have five mammary glands on the underside of the abdomen. Malignancies are usually indicated by rapid growth, irregular shapes, firm attachment to the underlying skin, bleeding and ulceration. It is impossible to definitely determine the type without a biopsy or tumor removal for analysis.

Dog Mammary Cancer Treatment & Prognosis

Unless the patient is very old, or not physically able to withstand it, the initial recommended treatment is surgical removal. If detection is early and the tumor is contained and promptly excised, the cancer can be totally eliminated in 50% of malignancy cases.

• Chemotherapy may be suggested following surgery to decrease the risk of recurrence.
• On its own, chemotherapy has been shown to result in complete or partial remissions in only a few isolated cases.
• Radiation therapy may be suggested for local control of inoperable mammary cancers.

A downside of radiation therapy is that it is not completely effective in larger tumors. Cancer cells at the center of the mass will often survive, opening the door for recurrence at a later date. Because of this, veterinary oncologists will often use radiation therapy in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy in an attempt to target residual cells.

As a loving dog owner, it is important you know and understand canine cancer because all dogs have a 1 in 2 chance of developing it.

Our newest book contains everything you need to know about the care & treatment of a dog with cancer.

The Top 10 Signs of Canine Cancer

Early detection of canine cancer is the difference between life and death. The American Veterinary Medical Association has compiled the ten most common signs of cancer, but these are certainly not the only signs of cancer.

Here are the most common signs of cancer:

1. Abnormal swellings that grow or persist
2. Bleeding or discharge from any opening
3. Difficulty urinating, defecating, or breathing
4. Difficulty eating or swallowing
5. Lack of stamina or aversion from exercise
6. Loss of appetite
7. Offensive odor
8. Persistent lameness or stiffness
9. Sores that do not heal
10. Weight loss

There is no reason to wait until the signs of cancer manifest themselves before learning how to prevent cancer in dogs. Half of all dogs will develop cancer. You can help your best friend’s chances by learning everything you can about canine cancer. Check out our book Canine Cancer SECRETS today.

Detecting Canine Cancer

Some veterinarians recommend doing a monthly exam of your dog. There are some small signs you can look for without even visiting your vet.

Check the following areas for abnormalities monthly:

• Lymph node regions
• Mammary glands
• Inside of mouth
• Skin

Try to keep a log of the size of each area for reference purposes. Your veterinarian can teach you how to check these areas if you are unfamiliar. Some vets even recommend making “dermal maps” which will let you chart the current bumps, lumps, and abnormalities on your dog’s skin. Any changes in these bumps and lumps can indicate a problem.

Testing and Predisposition For Canine Cancer

Annual blood and urine tests can also help in diagnosing cancer early. Biannual chest x-rays and abdominal ultrasounds may be useful for breeds that are predisposed to hemangiosarcoma or other forms of cancer such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. As the dog gets older, increase the amount of veterinary visits.

In addition to tumor detection, you should arm yourself with the important knowledge of feeding a dog with cancer. Include specific canine cancer recipes found in my book.