Owner’s Guide to Cancer in Dogs
As a dog owner, it is always important to be proactive when it comes to your pet’s health. This not only means taking your dog for regular veterinary checks, but also taking the time to notice any signs that something might be wrong with his health. Believe it or not, canines are prone to the same forms of cancer as humans. The only major difference is that it can start to spread faster in dogs than in humans.
Of course, the best way to try to spot any potential signs of cancer is to look for some telltale symptoms. Have you noticed any kind of abnormal swelling? This could actually be a sign that the lump is growing and should be examined to try to confirm whether or not it is cancerous.
Appetite is another factor you should consider if you are concerned about your dog’s health. If you have cancer, you may start to lose your appetite and also lose a significant amount of weight. Loss of appetite can lead to a loss of stamina and decreased energy levels.
Some dogs who are in the later stages of cancer will start to have problems when it comes to expelling waste. Abnormal breathing patterns can be a concern and there may be infections, bleeding, and / or secretions that will occur just because they have a weak immune system. If you start noticing these or any other troubling symptoms or a major change in the way your dog behaves normally, it is important that you take him to the vet as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis.
Making sure your dog is relatively stress-free and happy may be more important than you think. Stress actually kills, as we have all expected for a long time, and it can lead to Cancer in Labrador Retrievers. Therefore, it is very important that you find a way to help your four-legged companion to de-stress as much as possible. Feeling that he or she is an important member of the herd is very important to a dog. So whatever activities you need to do to help your canine companion feel “part of the team”, they will go a long way toward avoiding the stress that can lead to cancer in dogs.
There are treatments that you can discuss with your veterinarian that are known to help fight cancer in dogs. However, it can be very painful and costly in the long run. The more you educate yourself about the type of cancer your dog has, as well as the options available to you when it comes to treating or caring for his life, the better equipped you will be to help keep him comfortable for as long as possible. In general, while it can be devastating to hear that your dog has some form of cancer, you can work with your veterinarian to try to treat your pet as quickly as possible.