Many common human cancers are not prevalent in pets, but there are some cancers we do share, including breast (mammary gland) cancer, lymphoma, skin cancer (mast cell tumors in pets), and bone cancer.
Four Common Types of Pet Cancer
Mammary gland cancer. Mammary gland or breast cancer is common in both dogs and cats. It is the most common tumor found in female dogs and the third most common in cats.
One of the presumed and much-touted benefits of early spaying of female pets is a decreased risk of mammary gland cancer. However, a 2012 study found that insufficient evidence exists that spaying at any age reduces the risk of mammary cancer.
Lymphoma. Lymphoma is an incurable cancer of the lymph system, which is part of the immune system. In cats, one in three cancer diagnoses is lymphoma, most often of the GI tract. Dogs also develop lymphoma.
To avoid contributing to your dog's or cat's lymphoma risk, make sure your pet isn't exposed to cigarette smoke or lawn pesticides, especially those applied by professional lawn care companies.
Mast cell tumors. The most common type of skin cancer in pets is mast cell tumor (MCT). MCT is much more prevalent in dogs than in cats. In cats, mast cell tumors are most often seen in the skin of the head or neck, but they can occur anywhere in the body. Cats with these tumors are usually middle-age or older. Unfortunately, kitties with mast cell tumors on the inside of their bodies -- typically in the GI tract or the spleen -- carry a much poorer prognosis than tumors occurring on the skin.
In dogs, mast cell tumors are most often found on the trunk, limbs, and in between the toes. Prognosis depends on the tumor location, the extent of the tumor, the grade, and the type of treatment given. Mast cell tumors of the skin are very different in dogs than cats. Surgery to remove the tumor is less invasive in cats, and the prognosis for a full recovery is much better in cats than in dogs.
Mast cell tumors with generally poor prognosis are those on the muscle, around the mouth or in internal organs, in the bloodstream or bone marrow, and ulcerated tumors. Mast cell tumors that cause GI ulceration or are large, fast-growing, or recurring also carry a much poorer prognosis.
Bone cancer (osteosarcoma). Osteosarcoma is a common and aggressive bone cancer that invades the long bones of large and giant breed dogs. Even with amputation of the affected limb and chemotherapy, which is the current standard of treatment, the average survival rate is only about a year.
10 Warning Signs of Cancer in Pets
According to the Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center, the top 10 warning signs of cancer in pets are:
1. Unusual swellings that don't go away or that grow. The best way to discover lumps, bumps, or swelling on your dog or cat is to pet him.
2. Sores that won't heal. Non-healing sores can be a sign of infection or cancer and should be evaluated by your veterinarian.
3. Weight loss. Illness could be the reason your pet is losing weight but isn't on a diet.
4. Loss of appetite. Reluctance or refusal to eat is another sign of possible illness.
5. Bleeding or discharge. Bleeding can occur for a number of reasons, most of which signal a problem. Unexplained vomiting and diarrhea are considered abnormal discharges, as well.
6. Offensive smell. An unpleasant odor is a common sign of tumors of the anus, mouth, or nose.
7. Difficulty eating or swallowing. This is a common sign of cancers of the mouth or neck.
8. Reluctance to exercise or low energy level. This is often one of the first signs that a pet is not feeling well.
9. Persistent lameness. There can be many causes of lameness, including nerve, muscle, or bone cancer.
10.Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating. These symptoms should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
To help your pet avoid cancer, keep him at a healthy weight, feed an anti-inflammatory diet, reduce/eliminate exposure to toxins, and make informed spay/neuter decisions.
Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. You can visit her site at: MercolaHealthyPets.com
Her goal is to help you create wellness in order to prevent illness in the lives of your pets. This proactive approach seeks to save you and your pet from unnecessary stress and suffering by identifying and removing health obstacles even before disease occurs. Unfortunately, most veterinarians in the United States are trained to be reactive. They wait for symptoms to occur, and often treat those symptoms without addressing the root cause.
By reading Dr. Becker's information, you'll learn how to make impactful, consistent lifestyle choices to improve your pet's quality of life.