November 3, 2010

This is White Dog and Quinn's Angel Sister,
Sheena. She died of liver cancer.
White Dog and The Other White Dog want to share some things you need to know about Canine Cancer. November is National Canine Cancer Awareness Month and they ask that everyone join in getting the message out.

Cancer.Touches.Everyone. We're closer to a cure, now's the time to beat this cancer! If we all work together, WE ARE THE CURE ™.

• Canine Cancer affects one out of every three dogs. Of those, over half of them will die of the disease.

• Cancer is the cause of nearly half the deaths of older dogs (10 years and up), according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

• Early detection is vital. You should routinely examine your dog for any physical or behavioral abnormalities and bring your dog in for regular veterinary exams. Things to look out for include: abnormal swellings, lumps under armpits and under the jaw, sores that won’t heal, foul breath, weight loss/poor appetite/difficulty eating, difficulty breathing, or bleeding/unusual discharge from any orifice on your dog’s body.

• Mast cell tumors are one of the most common cancers found on and under the skin of dogs. Any breed or mixed breed can get them, but Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pugs, and Shar Peis have shown an increased propensity for them, according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Between 10 and 15 percent of dogs with a mast cell tumor end up getting more of them throughout their lifetime, the ACVIM reveals.

• Not all skin growths and masses on your dog are cancerous. Just like with humans, some tumors are benign (harmless), while others are malignant (harmful). Veterinarians confirm tumors in dogs through x-rays, blood tests and ultrasounds, and diagnose benign or malignant tumors through a biopsy, where a tissue sample is taken from the dog and examined under a microscope.

• Spaying and neutering reduces your dog’s risk of certain cancers. This is particularly true of uterine and breast/mammary cancer in females, and testicular cancer in males (if neutered before six months). This is important because breast cancer in dogs is fatal in about 50 percent of cases, according to the ASPCA. And let’s not forget, spaying and neutering helps control the pet population, as well.

• Chemotherapy isn’t just for humans. Chemotherapy can extend the life of a dog with cancer, even canine lymphoma, and in some cases, even pose a cure. The bad news is chemo can produce some rough side effects in your dog, like vomiting and nausea; however, the good news is dogs rarely lose their hair from the treatment like humans do, the ACVIM says.

• Transitional studies and comparative oncology research shows promise in connecting similarities and patterns across species to perhaps give researchers bigger clues in how to conquer this killer. Cancer doesn’t just affect dogs in the animal world; almost every species is subject to this terrible disease. Through a major project funded by the National Institute of Health, the mapping of the genome sequence of the dog has been complete. Knowing the mapping of every gene in the dog, gives researchers an advantage not yet achieved in humans.
Alvina Lopez contributed to this post. Source: Canine Cancer Foundation.