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Dog Bone Cancer and Its Treatments
There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing our pet and constant companion in agonizing pain. Dogs are known to be wonderful friends to humans. This because of their active and friendly personality that best compliments ours. Dogs are known to be energetic animals who like to play around and even accompany us on errands. They are can also be trained to do some important things such as aid policemen and accompany the blind. Dogs, whatever their breed may be, are probably the most popular pets in the world. So imagine how hard it would be if they get sick. Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths among dogs these days because of its devastating effect on the organs.The good news is, there are a variety of dog cancer treatments available today. These treatments are more or less similar to human cancer procedures, and unfortunately, expensive as well. As a pet owner, the best way to shoulder the cost of dog cancer treatments is to get a pet insurance right from the start.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing our pet and constant companion in agonizing pain. Dogs are known to be wonderful friends to humans.
One of the most common dog cancers is bone cancer or Osteosarcoma. It starts from the outer layer of the bone and would progress inwards. The worst thing that could happen is when it would affect the portion where the bone marrow is. It can be caused by a malignant tumor that would eventually spread to the other parts of the body. Surgery can be used as one of the most effective dog cancer treatments. In most cases, the part where the tumor has grown should be amputated, but it would also depend on whether or not the tumor can also grow in other parts of the body. For a faster recovery after the surgery, immune therapy should follow for the remission of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is not an advisable treatment since the bone is too dense. Radiation is a better option since it can help reduce pain.
Early Dog Cancer Detection
Prevention is better than cure. However, in some cases, cancer occurs without even some recognizable symptoms. When it comes to pets, humans are generally unaware of how it could manifest. Even the thought of cancer in animals seems like a vague idea to us humans. When our beloved pets acquire a disease, we would notice it only after a careful observation of their symptoms. Normally, we know that our pets are suffering from a disease if they’ve lost their appetite, have developed some sores in some parts of their body, or they lost their ability to move around and are not usually their energetic self. These symptoms can actually be attributed to canine cancer. Canine cancer is caused by malignant and harmful tumors that have spread on your dog’s body parts and organs. Seeking dog cancer treatments is the best possible way to save our pets’ life, but they have to be detected first.
Dog cancer treatments depend on how serious the cancer has spread to the dog’s body. Modern science has made it possible for pet oncology to further develop.
Dog cancer treatments depend on how serious the cancer has spread to the dog’s body. Modern science has made it possible for pet oncology to further develop. Cancer treatments in animals are as expensive as they are with humans. The manner to which the disease is approached is also similar. Certain procedures such as undergoing urine and blood tests, X-rays, cytology among others are also done to ensure that proper treatment should be given to a dog suffering from cancer. Dog cancer treatments also include surgery if the tumor or cancer cells are benign, and as with human cancer treatments, they might also undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Pain management is also important in helping our pet from suffering. Medications to relieve pain are necessary and should be given or applied especially when the pet is undergoing surgery or serious treatments. Dogs that are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation are also prone to nausea and vomiting. Thus, it is very important to keep them from starving.
Treatment Options You Can Consider for a Dog With Skin Cancer
So you took your pet to the vet and confirmed that your dog has skin cancer. Now what do you do? What is the next step? Don’t give up just yet. One good course of action is to consider treatment options for your pet.
So you took your pet to the vet and confirmed that your dog has skin cancer. Now what do you do?
Three Mainstream Cancer Treatment Options There are several ways of treating your dog for skin cancer. Depending on the tumor’s grade and stage, procedures such as surgical excision, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and several drugs may be effective or useful.
Two surgical excisions at most may be enough to remove a Grade I tumor. It has been observed, however, that 50% of these cases reappear at the same origin. In some situations, as with Grade II dog skin cancer, and a surgical procedure is not completely accurate, radiation therapy may be employed as well. Most often, the combined efforts of surgery and radiation therapy are considered effective in removing grade I and II dog skin cancer.
In worst cases and scenarios, chemotherapy is looked to as the recommended treatment. Drugs such as Lomustine, Doxorubicin and Corticosteroids may also be added for the effective treatment of advanced dog skin cancer cases.
You may ask, “All this seems very daunting. My dog doesn’t have skin cancer, but I want to make sure he never gets it. What can I do to help prevent Dog Skin Cancer?”
Things That Help Prevent Dog Skin Cancer
Avoid Carcinogens
Mentioned in previous articles is that carcinogens can be found in our surroundings, as well as that we use and consume them daily. In order to lessen your dog’s risk of developing cancer, it is best to avoid the use of carcinogenic substances. They promote the interruption of your pet’s metabolic processes and this may help trigger the growth of cancerous cells in his or her body. Examples of carcinogens are house chemicals–cleaning products should be kept away from your pet. He cannot protect himself from these things the way you and I can.
Right Nutrition “What if my pet already has cancer and is undergoing treatment?” If your dog already has dog skin cancer or any form of cancer, for that matter, and he is going through treatment, then his health may decline not only from the cancer, but from the treatments themselves. Many experts agree that the one thing that may have a huge impact on your pet’s recuperation rate and help tremendously in the treatment process is good nutrition.
The right diet should contain vitamins, minerals, and other substances that are essential in fighting cancer and giving your dog optimum good health.
The Causes of Dog Skin Cancer, Part 1: Environmental Carcinogens
Why do dogs develop skin cancer? There are a variety of reasons to answer this question.
Tumor formation is primarily due to abnormalities, mutations or defects in the way cells grow. Another contributor to these irregularities are what we call risk factors. These risk factors can come from the environment (like carcinogens), or they could also be internal factors (such as genetic or inherited inclinations). In this article, we will discuss environmental carcinogens.
Environmental Carcinogens
Why do dogs develop skin cancer? There are a variety of reasons to answer this question
Carcinogens present in the environment are inescapable in daily life. Everyone, which includes you and your dog, interacts with these carcinogens every day. Unlike their human masters, however, dogs are unable to wear protection and are therefore at a higher risk. Environmental carcinogens can be classified two ways: as either chemical carcinogens, or physical carcinogens.
Chemical carcinogens are found in products that we commonly use and consume. Examples of these would be lawn-care products, chemicals we use to clean our houses, or even food can contain carcinogenic ingreients. The chemical content of these products may be reactive by themselves, or can be reactive with bodily enzymes that, when introduced into the body, may interfere with the natural cell growth process. Such interference with natural metabolic processes can lead to defective cell growth and the beginning of cancerous tumor growth. Chemical carcinogens can enter the body through the skin, inhalation, and ingestion.
Our food, for example, contains chemicals such as artificial additives, preservatives, by-products, and fillers, while fruits and vegetables are grown with the aid of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Dog food isn’t exempted from these harmful chemicals. Both we and our pets ingest these elements on a daily basis.
As stated before, humans can wear protection. While we wear shoes everyday as we walk out of our houses, or wear gloves and masks, our dogs walk all over our properties barefoot, sometimes licking his feet as any innocent and trusting creature would.
Physical carcinogens affect the body and cause cancer through their physical properties and effects. Some of the most common forms of these carcinogens that are always present in our surroundings are radiation, hard and soft materials, fibrous and non-fibrous particles, and gel materials.
Examples of carcinogenic radiation are electromagnetic radiation, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation. Carcinogenic hard and soft materials are metals and alloys such as platinum, titanium, steel and silver. Some synthetic materials that are also cancer-causing are rubber, cellophane, Teflon, silicone gels, linen, parchment paper, silk, and ivory. One of the most common forms of physical carcinogens is asbestos–an indestructible fibrous carcinogen that is found everywhere, including the air, in homes, and the workplaces. This agent is now even detected in water, food, and drugs.
These environmental factors need not cause you undue alarm, if you are a responsible and caring pet owner. Knowing what to fight against is half the battle. Continue reading the next article in this series called The Causes of Dog Skin Cancer, Part 2: Genetic Factors to know more about what causes skin cancer in your dog.
Other contributors to cancer aside from carcinogens and genetic defects are obesity, vaccinations, immune system problems, and hormonal factors.
Skin cancer may occur when mast cells are chronically or frequently activated by allergic reactions brought about by environmental carcinogens or genetic factors. This is when antibodies bind with mast cells and release reactive agents such as histamines, heparin, enzymes, and cytokines.
