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One of the most devastating diagnoses an animal guardian can receive concerning an animal companion is a diagnosis of cancer. Unfortunately, cancer is being increasingly diagnosed in younger and younger animals. With the arrival of Pet cancer awareness Month in November, this is a good time for animal guardians to become familiar with possible medical signs that a pet could have cancer.
Especially as animals get older, it is essential to physically analyze an animal frequently by running one’s hands across the body of the pet. One ought to speak with with a veterinarian if any lumps, bumps or swellings are detected, especially areas of enhanced sensitivity. Veterinarians may be able to carry out a easy test best in the office called a needle aspirate, which can rapidly reveal if these swellings are benign or something that may need much more aggressive workup and treatment.
Other signs of cancer can imitate numerous other diseases seen in animals, including changes in appetite, thirst/urination, weight loss, chronic digestive symptoms of vomiting and/or diarrhea, chronic respiratory difficulty or coughing, etc. numerous animals with cancer will develop significant drops in energy and enhanced lethargy, with some animals becoming much more withdrawn, while others become increasingly needy and clingy. any animal that exhibits any of these symptoms chronically ought to have a extensive veterinary exam and evaluation, which may include stool testing, extensive blood work, urine analysis and radiographic and/or ultrasound studies, depending on the history and particular situation presented.
My method in medical practice is to try and be much more preventative, with regards to cancer prevention in our companion animals. I always tension a species-appropriate, preferably meat based, minimally processed commercial food or homemade diet, as well as reducing unnecessary physical and/or toxic stresses on a pet’s immune system. Especially as animals age, the need for routine vaccinations is decreased dramatically, which animal guardians ought to become aware of, especially because over-vaccination has been linked with immune dysfunction and cancer in some animals.
Routine veterinary exams and evaluation, as well as periodic preventative blood work is also recommended. I suggest to also incorporate a much more holistic-oriented veterinary specialist as well, into a pet’s health program, who might utilize conventional Chinese medicine or acupuncture and/or classical, constitutional homeopathy in practice, which I have found can help reduce the risk and development of chronic, immune diseases, including cancer.
Cancer