Health » Vet

Cancer in Animals

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:52:48 +0000

Cancer is not restricted to human beings. As a disease it is indiscriminate and completely unbiased when it comes to affecting different species. Our beloved pets are not immune with dogs bearing the brunt of the disease, being affected by tumours twice as often as people. Cats on the other hand develop tumours only half as frequently as humans. Cancer occurs most often in older pets and is in fact the leading cause of death among cats and dogs. If you suspect that your pet has cancer it is vital that you get him or her to a vet immediately as the earlier the cancer is detected, the earlier treatment can begin and the better the chances of survival.

Cancer can be difficult to detect in animals especially as they can’t describe their pain or show you exactly where it is. Here are 10 of the most common signs to look out for:

1) abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow

2) Sores that don’t heal,

3) Weight loss and

4) loss of appetite,

5) bleeding or discharge from any orifice,

6) offensive odour, that is not normal pet odour.

7) difficulty eating or swallowing,

hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina, that is not laziness or due to heat,

9) persistent lameness or stiffness and

10) difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating.

Should you see any of these signs you should take your pet to a vet straight away so that the correct tests can be carried out and a diagnosis can be made.

These tests can include x-rays, which will show tumours, abnormal masses of tissue and degradation of bones; blood tests; ultrasonography; a physical exam and a complete medical history. To be entirely sure that it is cancer, however, a biopsy will have to be performed and the tissue graded to assess how serious the cancer is.

Animals get many of the same types of cancers that we do. They even get breast cancer, although spaying your female pets when they’re between the ages of 6-12 months significantly deceases their risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer is also one case where cats are more at risk than dogs, with more 85% of all tumours being malignant in cats and only 50% malignant in dogs. Skin tumours are very common in dogs but quite rare in cats. However, in the case of cats skin tumours are more often than not malignant, while in dogs they are benign. You should take all skin tumours to the vet to be examined. Bone cancer occurs most often in large dogs and seldom in cats. As with humans, it’s most often the joints that are affected, particularly in the legs. Symptoms include swelling in the joint, difficulty walking and persistent pain. Lymphoma is common is both dogs and cats and occurs when one or more lymph nodes in enlarged. Chemotherapy is the most effective treatment for this type of cancer. There are many more types of cancers that animals get; the list is as endless as that for people.

The treatment for animals with cancer is the same as that for people and includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, cryosurgery (freezing), hyperthermia (heating), or immunotherapy. Treatment will depend on the type of cancer, its severity, and the breed of dog/cat and its size and also on you, the owner and what you want to do.

In regards to the side effects of treatment, surgery is usually the easiest to recover from with the animal able to return to his or her previous level of functioning within a relatively short space of time. Chemotherapy, however, does have side effects for animals just as it does for people, even though the dosages are much lower. There can be nausea and vomiting accompanied by a reluctance to eat. Your pet may become lethargic and be reluctant to move or even stand. There may be a fever and if this is the case you should call your vet immediately as it can be lethal. In general most animals that have had cancer and gone through treatment, enjoy a good quality of life. They resume their normal activities and play and have fun the same as before.

On a sad note, it is important to add that in most cases the cancer is not cured it is merely in remission, and that it will eventually come back. This must be thought about and discussed amongst the family before the initial decision is made to treat the animal. It will help you to decide if treatment is worth it in the long run. If it looks as if the treatment is not working or if the animal is experiencing pain and discomfort the vet is ethically bound to tell you. They are also bound to tell you that the pets enjoy their lengthened lives and do not know that they are on borrowed time. But you must know that they will have to go through the whole experience again and so will you. It is up to you, the owner to decide what is the right thing for your pet in that situation. It is a difficult decision to make and one that can only be made with love.

Recommended sites:

Link 1 [http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/cancer/cancer_brochure.asp]

Link 2

Arthritis Cripples Older Dogs

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:26:02 +0000

It’s a sad fact, but many people who look into the eyes of their faithful old dogs don’t realize that their pets are suffering inside from the pains of arthritis. They just aren’t able to tell you, so you need to watch for the signs. Have you noticed him slowing down from his younger frantic pace? Does he pass on the active play he used to love? It just could be that he’s suffering from the very common doggie malady, arthritis. Larger dogs are more prone to get arthritis, and it’s more likely to debilitate them than it is smaller dogs. However, any dog can get it.

Dogs experience the same progression of arthritis that people do. It starts with mild pain and swelling and then worsens over time. The joints are inflamed, and the cushions that once padded them have been destroyed. At this point, it’s become a challenge for your dog to get around at all. He also suffers from damaged nerve endings which exacerbate his pain. He wants to frolic and play with you like always, but he isn’t able to any longer.

Helping Your Dog Cope with Arthritis

It’s sad to see your loving friend deteriorating before your eyes. With arthritis he’s sleeping a lot more and likes to just lay and watch you rather than joining in playtime. As he experiences more and more pain, the more he will balk at any form of movement. The stairs he used to scramble up and down so madly won’t even tempt him now.

If your dog is suffering from arthritis, he won’t be able to do a lot of the things he used to do. If you want to take him for a ride, you’ll have to lift him into the car, because he can’t make the jump any more. You find that you’re doing more and more for him. That means you should be taking him to the vet for a check up. Your vet will be able to diagnose his problems and make suggestions for treatment.

Taking Care of your Dog’s Arthritis

You’ll be glad to know that there are measures your vet can take to make your dog feel better. He can prescribe medications that work to relieve pain and swelling. No medication will reverse the damage that’s already been done, but your pet will feel better, although he may experience side effects. Some pet medications come with a hefty price tag, but isn’t the comfort of your baby worth it to you?

It’s difficult seeing a beloved pet suffer the infirmities of old age. Your vet will be able to give you advice on how to make your dog feel as comfortable as possible. It’s hard to accept that because of his shorter life expectancy, your dog has reached old age many years before you.

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Finding An Arthritis Cure For Your Dog

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:39:38 +0000

Strangely enough, very few people know much about the human body. They know even less about their pet’s body. So when their dog starts to not act himself, most folks don’t know where to begin as far as looking for the cause of the problem. And then, once the problem is diagnosed, they are just as confused when it comes to finding a treatment. So, it is the hopes of this article, that should you have a dog that has just been diagnosed with arthritis or if you suspect that he does have arthritis, you’ll have some direction as to how to proceed in finding treatment for your canine companion.

The first thing to do, if you haven’t already done so, is to talk to your vet. If you don’t have one, get one. Just like people need doctors, dogs need doctors as well. A vet will be able to examine your dog and accurately diagnose his condition, if indeed there is one. If arthritis is present, your vet will be able to tell you how far along it has progressed. From there, he will suggest possible courses of action to take. It is important that you thoroughly discuss your dog’s lifestyle with your vet so that he has a total picture of what he’s dealing with. This includes telling your vet what kind of diet your dog is on as well as what kind of exercise he gets or doesn’t get.

The next thing you need to do is get educated about your dog’s nutrition. Just like people read up about what foods are good for them, you need to do the same thing for your dog. By getting educated, you will be in the best position to be able to care for your dog at home, as your vet is only going to be able to do so much. Ultimately, you are the one caring for your dog.

The next thing you need to do is get educated about supplements. There are many natural supplements on the market that will help your dog’s arthritis. You need to read up on each of them in order to understand what each one does and thus decide on what the best supplements for your dog are. Some supplements will work very well for advanced arthritis while others will only work during the early stages. It is important to know this as giving your dog a supplement that won’t help his stage of arthritis is simply time and money wasted. Get the facts!

Finally, as a last resort, it is important to get information on pain medication for your dog. In some cases of arthritis, supplements and remedies may have little or no effect. If this is the case, you need to find out all you can about pain medications and their side effects. There are no pain medications without side effects, some of which are quite dangerous. Again, get the facts so you can make an informed decision about the course of treatment to pursue.

Finding an arthritis cure for your dog is actually a simple step by step procedure as I have outlined. Follow it and you’ll have the best chance of finding a cure that will be safe and effective.

Using MRI For Dog Arthritis

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:13:08 +0000

One of the newest diagnostic procedures for dog arthritis is the use of MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This procedure is not really new for human patients but it is quite the first time that its use is being extended to man’s best friends.

Dog arthritis is a very common concern. Almost all dogs suffer from this the moment they reach their senior years. But even so, this condition can also be prevented with right intervention.

MRI is a welcome addition to the diagnostic tools that vets use to detect and cure arthritis in dogs. With the use of this high-tech medical scanner, veterinarians don’t have to perform surgery on your pets just to know which joints sustain the problem. What’s more, the use of this equipment allows vets to diagnose other diseases in your pet as well.

Dogs aged two years old can use the MRI scanner. Right now, vets would require dog owners to take their dog for an MRI scan several times within six months to monitor their disease. This way, the vet can easily see the improvement or the worsening of the condition. As such, they can adjust the pet’s medication accordingly. MRI has been a great help not only for your dog but for you and its vet as well.

The MRI scanner uses a large cylinder running through a magnet. The scanner uses radio waves that are sent through the body, which in turn, would produce the image of the dog’s joints, or any other part of its body for that matter. The image produced is either a two dimensional or a three dimensional reproduction of the muscles and joints.

However, only selected hospitals are offering this service right now. Most veterinarians are not yet equipped with this device, as it is quite a little too expensive for small clinics. Also, only a few hospitals allow pets and other small animals to be placed inside the MRI scanner. Hospitals currently allow only human patients for their equipment, although much of it is due to the fact that they don’t have the necessary restraints and devices fit for animals.

The cost of MRI scanning for animals is not much different from human subjects. For people who have limited budget on their pets, it could be quite a big decision whether or not they should put their pet through the scan. However, this still proves to be one of the most efficient ways to provide your pet with the treatment it needs so that it can live life comfortably despite its condition.

If you want to know more about MRI or if you want to subject your pet for one, talk to your vet today. Your vet would know if the diagnostic procedure is necessary for your pet or if the old way of treating arthritis is sufficient. It also pays to know which hospital is offering the service to pets so that you’ll know where to take your dog for one should it require the test in the future.