November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
It is estimated that 1 in 4 dogs, and 1 in 5 cats, will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. What does this mean? Technically, the term “cancer” refers to the uncontrolled division and multiplication of cells. It is normal for cells in the body to divide and multiply - this is how skin renews itself, how tissues heal, and how young individuals grow into bigger adult bodies. In normal circumstances, this multiplication is controlled at just the right pace, and cells also naturally die off to maintain balance. In cancer, however, the uncontrolled division leads to a growing tumour. Some tumours progress slowly, while others invade and affect other local tissues, or spread through the blood and lymphatic systems to other parts of the body. This spread is known as “metastasis”.
Age, breed, and other factors can affect a pet’s cancer risk, but we often don’t know exactly what causes most cancers. The good news is that many cancers are treatable and some even curable, and early detection leads to the best possible chances of success.
How can we detect cancers early, when we have the best possible chance of eliminating them? What should pet owners look for? This can be a bit tricky, as there are nearly as many types of cancer as there are types of tissues in the body. Cancer does not always appear as a fast-growing lump.
Melanomas can appear as small pigmented lesions on the skin, in the mouth, or even just as a colour change to the eye. These are not usually painful and don’t appear to bother the pet at first, so it can be easy to overlook them.
Cancers of the bones are more common in large-breed dogs. There may not be visible changes or bumps in the early stages, but are often painful. Any ongoing limping should be taken seriously.
Cancers of the blood and gastrointestinal tract can be even more difficult to spot signs of at home. Some pets will slowly lose weight. Others may have changes to their appetite, or have ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea.
It is easy to think that we will always know if our pets have a serious illness like cancer, because we know them well and we love them. However, these signs can be very subtle in the early stages, and dogs and cats can be very good at hiding illness.
Because cancer can be so difficult to spot early with the naked eye, our best chance at early detection is to schedule our pets for regular, routine health checks, even when they seem healthy. This is increasingly important as our pets get older, but is a good idea for pets of all ages at least once per year.
At a health check, a vet and/or vet nurse will examine your pet’s entire body: they will look inside their mouth, eyes, and ears; feel for abnormalities in their abdomen, check for lumps, bumps, and colour changes; check their limbs for pain and range of motion; and feel the size of their lymph nodes. They will also weigh your pet and listen to their heart and lungs.
If they notice anything that seems unusual, often they will recommend some testing to get more information. This may include blood and urine tests, and/or tests that show images of the insides of the body, such as x-rays or ultrasound scanning. If your pet has a lump or area of colour or skin texture change, the vet may recommend taking a small sample of that tissue for identification. Without these tests, it is not possible to definitively know if a pet has cancer, and if they do, what type it is and how advanced it is. A full physical examination and diagnostic testing can also uncover other conditions that may not be obvious at home, like dental disease, kidney disease, and arthritis. This information is vitally important to creating the best treatment plan for the pet.
This November, commit to your pet’s long term health and Make the Call to schedule a health check for your furry friend. You can find out more about Pet Cancer Awareness Month and how nutrition can support pets with serious illnesses like cancer here.
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