Thursday, November 7, 2013

Dog Cancer - It's Scary

By Geraldine Dimarco


Cancer-- is there a word that strikes more dread than this? It is a very real state that we face not only with people but also with our pets. There is still not as much information as we would like to have regarding dog cancer; but experts continue to study and find the most effective ways to deal with this disease.

About half of all canine cancer cases are skin related. Cancer concerning the mammary glands account for twenty percent, and the rest are divided to the different systems like the lymphatic, alimentary, reproductive, etc. The cure prescribed for each are dependent on the specific animal?s breed, age, weight and if they have other health conditions that need to be taken into consideration. This article will give you some alternative cancer treatments for dog you can consider.

Cancer is the growth of abnormal tumors in the body. As you may already know, the two kinds of cancer are known as benign and malignant. The benign tumor is one that has clear and defined edges; therefore it can be fairly easily taken out by surgery. Malignant tumors on the other hand, spread fast and have blurry and fuzzy borders, making it virtually impossible for surgery to remove the whole tumor completely.

Radiotherapy is the treatment wherein radiation is used to destroy the cancer cells in damaged tissues so they will not reproduce. The challenge is to give the correct dosage so that the radiation will only affect the cancer cells and not harm the normal cells. To manage this, radiation is given in lower quantities at regular intervals. This will ensure that the cancer cells are dealt with while the normal cells are allowed to recover effectively.

Unlike when done with people, radiation does not give the dog harmful side effects like nausea and vomiting; primarily because of the smaller quantity used. It is estimated to prolong the life of the animal for months instead of just weeks as previously believed. Hyperthermia, another treatment done to kill cancer cells through the employment of high temperature, is used alongside radiation.

Chemotherapy uses drug therapy to disrupt the growth and spread of cancer cells and is frequently used for widespread forms of dog cancer. The levels of the drugs have to be closely monitored because the toxicity it contains may cause infection, heart and bladder problems - generally complicating the canine?s health.

More veterinarians are also supporting the use of herbal supplements to prevent and cure canine diseases. Flaxseed oil and fish oil are two powerful anti-tumor remedies that not only help in the energy, appearance and performance of the animal?it has been said to reduce tumor size by about fifty percent.

Before undertaking any kind of alternative cancer treatments for dog, consult your vet first. Observe any changes in your dog, behavioral or physical. Have regular check-ups so if he does have an illness, it will be detected in the earlier stages. Keep your dog as healthy can be with a good diet, regular exercise and clean living conditions.




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