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Did you know that cancer is the leading cause of death among older pets? In fact 1 in 3 of our furry loved ones will develop cancer over their lifetime. Cancer is a serious disease and can virtually affect all areas of a dog’s or cat’s body.
Did you know that cancer is the leading cause of death among older pets? In fact 1 in 3 of our furry loved ones will develop cancer over their lifetime. Cancer is a serious disease and can virtually affect all areas of a dog’s or cat’s body.
Signs of Cancer
The importance of annual check-ups regardless of the age of your pet is critical. Here are the top 10 early warning signs of pet cancer listed out by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
- Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive odour
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent lameness or stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating
The most common forms of cancer in pets are lymphomas, skin and oral tumours. Many types of cancer can be cured if caught early enough and if the lump is small enough to surgically remove. Even after a lump is removed, your veterinarian may wish to send the sample to a pathologist to ensure that the margin of the growth is cancer free.
Treatment Options
If your dog or cat is diagnosed with cancer, many of the same human treatment options are available for pets, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. It’s important to understand that these therapies can be costly and some forms of cancer are more easily treated than others. Coverage for cancer treatment and care is available on all levels of coverage through Petsecure.
Steps to avoid cancer in your pet
Keeping your pet active with a healthy weight and on a high quality diet will prevent some forms of cancer. Obesity is a major cause of cancer in pets. Having your pet spayed or neutered will drastically decrease the chance of various reproductive cancers.
To learn more about pet cancer and other illness that can affect your pet’s life, visit: petsecure.com/pethealthipedia