Dog or canine cancer is becoming more prevalent these days. It is also perhaps one of the most feared diseases. Many holistic vets believe that dogs develop cancer as a result of a weakened immune system. Of course, there are other definitive causes of canine cancer. Here we’ll take a look at some of these common causes, how cancer in dogs is diagnosed, and more.
Cancer can certainly cause our pets a lot of pain and discomfort, and can significantly shorten their lives. However, not all cancers have a poor prognosis.
The key is to educate ourselves more about the different types of common dog cancer and their clinical signs, and to be more attentive to changes in our dogs’ behavior and physical conditions. If we notice some signs that may indicate cancer in our dogs, we must take them to a thorough medical check-up immediately. An early diagnosis can sometimes nip cancer in the bud.
What exactly is cancer? All forms of cancer begin when there are atypical genetic mutations in some susceptible cells. These mutated cells begin to reproduce and attack other normal healthy cells. When these atypical cells take over enough normal cells, cancerous tumors form.
As you know, the lifespan of normal healthy cells is limited – they die after a while. This normal cell death is called apoptosis. However, cancer cells have mutated genes (oncogenes) that send abnormal messages to cells, causing them to avoid apoptosis, allowing these cells to live indefinitely.
When they reproduce by cell division, the mutated genes are passed on to the new cells. As a result, cancer cells multiply and spread to larger areas or other parts of the dog’s body (metastasis). Once that happens, complications usually occur causing the dog to succumb to cancer.
Many holistic vets suggest that dog cancer is the result of a metabolic imbalance that has gotten out of control. The imbalance can be caused not only by numerous external factors (such as pollutants and poor quality food), but also internally (such as stress).
If a dog is strong and healthy, the immune system can prevent cancer cells from developing and spreading. However, if the immune system is weakened (by whatever factor there is), and therefore the body is not in a state of homeostasis, it may not be able to stop the growth of cancer cells, leading to a cancerous tumor. (evil one).
How does it kill cancer? Cancer can kill a dog in a number of ways. First, locally aggressive cancerous tumors can cause ulcerations and infections that cause extreme pain. Sometimes, due to the location of the tumor, surgical removal is impossible. The only option may be euthanasia.
Second, dog cancer can cause secondary physical disorders that lead to death. For example, acute leukemia in dogs can significantly weaken a dog’s immune system, causing the dog to succumb to secondary diseases.
Third, a primary cancerous tumor can spread (a process called metastasis) to other parts of the dog’s body, causing secondary disease and death. For example, many cancers metastasize to the lungs, causing shortness of breath and respiratory arrest, and sometimes death.
Finally, cancer can also kill by consuming a dog’s nutrition in the body. The dog, depleted of almost all nutrition, starves.
Possible Causes of Dog Cancer The exact causes of dog cancer are still unclear, although as mentioned above, all forms of cancer begin with genetic mutations that turn normal cells into cancer cells.
The mutations are generally thought to be caused by chronic inflammation or excessive oxidation.
If we look at our living environment, it’s not hard to find many substances that can cause inflammation or excessive oxidation in our dogs’ bodies (and ours, too). To name a few:
- Contaminated air (for example, cigarette smoke, gas exhaust) and water.
- Harmful chemicals and toxins found in some common products (for example, pesticides, household cleaners, dog flea products, etc.).
- Low-quality dog foods and treats that contain artificial colors, flavors, additives, and/or preservatives.
- Radiation: Dogs, like people, have been found to be more susceptible to developing cancer if they are frequently exposed to radiation in various ways.
Additionally, many veterinarians now believe that over-vaccination is a possible cause of canine cancer. Instead of giving our dogs booster shots every year, we should consider vaccinating our dogs as needed.
Also, due to our busy lifestyles, we tend to spend less time with our dogs these days. As a result, more dogs suffer from depression, anxiety, or boredom. This type of mental stress also has an adverse effect on our pets’ general well-being, weakening their immune systems and making them more prone to diseases such as cancer.
Types of Dog Cancer Just like in people, there are quite a few different types of cancer in dogs: some are more common than others and some are more deadly than others.
Here is an index of different types of dog cancer. For detailed information on a specific type of cancer, click on the appropriate link
Dog Cancer Diagnosis If your dog shows signs of dog cancer, take him to a vet without delay.
The vet will ask about your dog’s medical history and general condition; it is important that you provide as much information as possible so that the vet can better evaluate your dog.
In addition to telling your vet any abnormal signs you’re noticing, be prepared to tell your vet the following:
- Your dog’s diet
- Current vaccination status and past vaccination history.
- Past major physical disorders, if any.
- Medications your dog takes, conventional and/or alternative.
- Diagnosis and suggested treatment prescribed (if your dog has been to another vet).
After obtaining your dog’s medical history and performing a thorough physical exam, your dog will undergo various laboratory tests, which may include:
Blood test Complete blood count (CBC) and blood profile are useful in diagnosing diseases, especially when the patient shows non-specific symptoms such as loss of appetite and lethargy.
There is a diagnostic test performed by the Veterinary Diagnostic Institute (VDI) that allows vets to detect cancer before it actually develops in the dog’s body. It is based on three values:
- TK (thymidine kinase) levels
- CRP (C-reactive protein) levels
- Vitamin D levels
TK is a measure of unregulated abnormal cell growth. An increase in TK levels in a dog’s blood indicates a high probability of tumor development within the next 4-6 months.
CRP levels are elevated in the presence of systemic inflammatory disease. Studies have shown that cancer and chronic inflammation are closely related. Research shows that very often chronic inflammation can lead to cancer.
CRP levels are good indicators of whether a dog is suffering from inflammation in the body, and therefore whether there is a chance of developing cancer in the near future. (Keep in mind, however, that elevated CRP levels can also mean that the dog is suffering from some diseases other than cancer, such as infections, some autoimmune diseases, and other chronic diseases.)
It has been discovered that the vitamin D It has cancer-protective and cancer-killing properties. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to inflammation, cancer, IBD, and other infectious diseases.
By looking at these 3 values, your vet can determine if your dog is healthy or a strong candidate for cancer, and if so, preventative measures can be taken at an early stage to prevent or delay the onset of cancer.
Currently, not many veterinarians are using these diagnostic tests to detect cancer in dogs. Talk to your vet about using it to help manage your dog’s health.
Urine analysis A urinalysis is useful in assessing the health of the canine patient; it also provides information that can identify the cause of some of the patient’s symptoms. For example, bladder stones, bladder infections, and bladder cancer share similar symptoms (urinary incontinence, frequent urination, etc.). A urinalysis can then be done to see if there is blood in the dog’s urine. If so, x-rays may be taken to see if there are any bladder stones, and if not, an ultrasound may be done to allow early detection of bladder tumors.
X-rays, MRI, CT scan, and/or ultrasound X-rays allow the veterinarian to evaluate the canine patient’s chest, abdomen, and bones. When done correctly, X-rays are the only diagnostic images needed for the vet to properly evaluate for cancer.
To avoid movement and multiple X-ray exposures, dog patients should be sedated while taking X-rays.
When X-rays cannot reveal any abnormalities, sometimes more specialized diagnostic imaging is required, such as MRIs or CT scans. This is especially true when cancers of the face, sinuses, brain, and spinal cord are suspected.
Dogs are usually put under full anesthesia during these scans.
fine needle aspiration Fine needle aspiration is a quick and easy way to determine the malignancy of a tumor. The vet inserts a fine needle into a syringe into the mass to extract or aspirate a small amount of fluid or cells by pulling back on the symbol of the syringe. The removed material can be examined under the microscope and a proper diagnosis can be made at the veterinary clinic while the parents are waiting.
Sometimes cells cannot be removed from some tumors, such as soft tissue sarcomas. In these cases, a biopsy is necessary for diagnosis.
Biopsy Most often, tumors are removed surgically (an excisional biopsy) and then a piece of the tissue is sent to a pathologist for microscopic examination.