May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

​It's the one word you fear hearing the most from your veterinarian. CANCER. The word alone immediately strikes fear in the heart of a pet parent. Sadly, the odds are you will hear this word someday, especially if you have more than one dog in your lifetime. One in four dogs get cancer; half of the dogs over 10 years of age die from or with it. In the US, cancer is the primary cause of death in dogs over two years of age. The disease is rampant, much more so than in the past when our pets were much healthier. There are approximately 65 million dogs in the United States. Of these, roughly 6 million new cancer diagnoses are made in dogs each year*. 

It may be hard for us to notice something is wrong with our dog at first...unless a mass is bulging out noticeably from the skin, most cancer grows invisibly inside the body. Most of the time, routine blood tests are normal, and the disease may be advanced by the time of diagnosis. That’s why it’s called the silent killer. Consult your veterinarian if you observe any of the following signs in your pet:

• Abdominal swelling
• Bleeding from the mouth, nose or other body openings
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty eating
• Lumps, bumps or discolored skin
• Non-healing Wounds
• Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
• Sudden changes in weight
• Unexplained swelling, heat, pain or lameness
• Visible mass/tumor

Many of the signs seen with cancer are also seen with non-cancer conditions, however, they still need prompt attention by a veterinarian to determine the cause. Cancer is frequently treatable and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.

Why are dogs getting cancer at an increasing rate?

The potential for cancer begins when carcinogens damage and alter the DNA in a cell. The damaged DNA sits and waits until the conditions that promote the creation of a cancerous cell are just right. Exposure to toxins and viruses, and in some cases genetic predisposition, can damage the gene that protects the body from cancerous cells. With each passing year, the number and concentration of carcinogens our dogs are exposed to increases. Sadly, these days, exposure to toxins and carcinogens is unavoidable. 

While it’s impossible to avoid every carcinogen, we can certainly work to decrease our dogs’ exposure to these toxins. By following the steps below, you may be able to help reduce the risk of cancer in your dog:

• Reduce the use of harmful toxins, including chemical pesticides like flea and tick preventives (including spot-on drops, collars, internal medications, dips, powders), lawn chemicals, second- hand tobacco smoke, flame retardants and household cleaners (detergents, soaps, cleansers, dryer sheets, and room deodorizers). There are many natural alternatives available for most of the chemicals we currently use on a daily basis.

 

• Do not spay or neuter your dog too young. Consider waiting until 12 to 24 months of age. Numerous studies show a clear link between spaying/neutering and increased cancer rates in dogs, especially large breeds.**

 

• Eliminate or minimize vaccinations as much as possible. Consider vaccine titer testing instead. Titer’s test your dog’s blood for antibodies (immune system proteins involved in managing infectious organisms that attempt to enter the body), that can determine if the dog already has an adequate immune response from previous vaccinations. Titer tests are readily available if you want to make sure your pup has immunity. 

 

• Reduce calories, and keep dogs lean and fit. Caloric restriction has been shown to help prevent tumor development and progression. Fewer calories cause the cells of the body to block tumor growth. 

 

• Feed a natural, anti-inflammatory diet. Focus on whole food instead of processed foods. A healthy diet is the first step toward cancer prevention. Simply avoiding toxins is not enough, as it’s important to give your dog the tools to not only dump carcinogens but to also boost the immune system so it can kill any newly created cancer cells. Instead of processed pet foods, consider a commercially available or home prepared diet formulated from whole-food based ingredients.

 

• Perform daily DIY physical examinations. Take a proactive approach by placing your hands on your dog daily. Check for areas of discomfort, heat or swelling, skin lesions or masses, or other abnormalities that can then be brought to a veterinarian’s attention.

What if your dog is diagnosed with cancer?

First, take a deep breath and do not panic. Second, don't give up hope! Although the treatment for cancer in dogs is similar to the treatment for humans (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation), most dogs tolerate it extremely well. Additionally, there are many natural and holistic therapies that have been proven very helpful, such as Turmeric Golden Paste. Essiac Tea, Medicinal Mushrooms and CBD/THC oils. Do your research, join Facebook groups…educate yourself.

Finally, as difficult or insensitive as it may seem, enjoy today. This may be the most important step of all. Dogs live in the moment, so take whatever moments you have left and enjoy them. Cancer or not, no pet parent can anticipate how long their dog will live. If laughter truly is the best medicine, then living life to the fullest with your pet is the most powerful treatment of all.

 *Animal Cancer Foundation
**Animal Wellness Magazine