Cancer in Dogs – Symptoms and Solutions

Cancer, no wonder is a life threatening disease – be it for humans or for dogs. The only advantage to humans is that they can detect it, communicate about it and find a cure of it. But, pets cannot even tell you the symptoms that they are facing. Pet parents need to be vigilant about it and must be aware of the symptoms as according to the statistics around 50% of older dog deaths are due to cancerous cells. Canines above ten years of age are more susceptible to cancers.

Just like humans, dogs are also threatened by many kinds of cancers. Certain breeds of dogs are vulnerable to developing malignant cells. These breeds include Golden Retriever, Greyhounds, Boxers, Burmese Mountain dogs etc. Some of them are predisposed to certain types of cancers due to their genetic framework. Be it for any reason, this deadly disease leaves the pet debilitated, weak and prone to death.

How to detect cancer in dogs?

To know if it is cancer in your pet, you must first find the possible signs. You need to check with your veterinarian about these symptoms. Alternatively, you can ask a vet online and get his guidance about the various signs of dog cancer. By knowing all this, you can easily detect the growth of cancer in your pet’s body. You can even prevent this fatal disease by knowing the causes from your veterinarian.

Common signs of cancer in dogs:

That pungent odor: Foul smell may seem normal if your pet goes through unhygienic days but it actually is a prominent sign of something going wrong with his system. Apart from bad breath, if you observe offensive smell from his mouth, nose and anal regions then your first call should be to the vet.

Lumpy and bumpy body: Bumps on the pet’s body are again strong symptoms of development of malignant cells in his body. If these bumpy portions are growing in size then you must call your vet and find out the exact reasons of such lumps on your pet’s body.

Weight and appetite loss: Sudden drop in the pet’s weight and his unwillingness to have food and treats must ring an alarm in you. Your pooch would not stop eating without a reason. So, he may be going through some painful condition or facing problems like oral tumor. If you feel that your friend for life is saying no to food and is losing weight considerably then consult your vet at the earliest hour.

Inactivity and dullness: Lethargy is not just the sign of a lazy dog but there can be many more reasons for this behavior of your pet. If you observe a drop in Fido’s energy levels or a drastic change in his activity patterns then the reason for this depressive behavior might be cancerous cells in his body. Due to the changing cellular activities, your puppy might sleep more and avoid any physical activity.

Apart from all these noticeable signs, the pet may also go through limping, vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose, bloody stool, bloody urine, frequent urination, discharge from any part of the body, non healing wounds etc. All these are warning calls of cancer in dogs. If your pet’s body suggests all these then ask a vet online or go to a vet’s clinic and get your pet checked thoroughly.

The best solution of cancer is to prevent it. You need to be very much in tune with your vet and go for regular body checkups of your pet. You can easily prevent the malignant cells from making further damage to the pet’s body if you detect cancer at an earlier stage. So, make sure you are very regular with your vet visits so that such fatal diseases can be kept at bay. Just be disciplined about your pet care routine, check the symptoms and go for the solution. All the best!