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Canine Cancer - Cancer in Dogs - What Causes Canine Cancer and What Can I Do?

Ever wonder if dogs can get cancer?  The answer is yes.  Cancer is not at all uncommon in dogs, rarely occurring before 5 years of age and most often after age 10.  Dogs can get cancer pretty much anywhere.


Causes

Just like people, obesity plays a part in canine cancer.  Exposure to the same chemicals that cause cancer in people can cause cancer in dogs.  Canine papilloma virus or dog warts can, over time, turn into cancer. These warts, as the name suggests are caused  by a virus.  The papilloma virus is the only virus known to cause cancer. In females, not spaying before her first cycle could be the cause for a later cancer. Some suggest all the additives in dog foods eaten over a dog's lifetime can contribute to cancer.


Types  

There are two main types of cancers, with all falling into one of these catagories:  Carcinomas are made up of epithelial cells, cells that line the sufraces of structures in the body.  This includes skin and glands. Sarcomas are tumors that originate from the dog's connective tissue.  This includes bones, muscles and cartilege; the tissue that holds organs in their places.

The prefix of the diagnosis tells you where the cancer originates, for instance, osteosarcoma is bone cancer.


Treatments

Treatment for canine cancer depends on the age of the dog and the severity of the cancer.  With a later stage cancer in an elderly dog the symptoms may be all that is treated.  If the dog is near the end of a normal life span, keep him pain-free and comfortable and lavish all the love on him that you have to give.  Why put your elderly dog through surgery and chemo?

A younger, otherwise healthy dog with an early diagnosis can easily be treated with a good survival rate.  Many types of canine cancer require surgery and chemo.  Some just surgery.  It will be up to you and your vet to discuss the best course of care.  

A cancer diagnosis is scary, but is not necessarily a death sentence.  With some knowledge and treatment, you can have your pup with you for many years to come.  I know from experience.  Our malamute, about 12 at the time was diagnosed with cancer; a tumor in her mouth.  Surgery was the vet's recommended course of treatment and a one by three inch section of her mouth was removed.  Because of her age (she was at her life expectancy), the vet recommended we just watch her and hope for the best.  Our dog recovered and lived to be almost 18!  

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