Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week! I feel blessed because I have the opportunity to teach children about science and taking care of our planet, but I also get to teach parent owners like you how together, we can take better care of our furry pals! May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month and I want to make sure you know more about it.
Pets can get cancer too!
Most people know that cancer is a disease that affects humans, but many don’t realize that it can also affect our furry friends. According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 20% of dogs and 10% of cats will develop cancer before their first birthday, and 50% will get cancer by the age of 10.
While this type of disease can be devastating for pets as well as people, there are ways you can help prevent it from happening in your own pet or treat it if they do happen to develop it early on.
The odds are getting worse for your pet.
As you read this, your pet is likely to be suffering from one of the above diseases. This is because the risk of cancer, heart failure and kidney failure in dogs and cats has been steadily increasing over the last few decades.
This trend can be blamed on environmental factors like pollution, stress and harmful chemicals. As you might have guessed by now, many modern-day products contain dangerous substances that can cause your pet to get sick or even die prematurely. So if you want to keep your furry friend healthy for as long as possible, avoid using these items around them:
- Coffee grounds (they contain caffeine)
- Paint thinner (it contains benzene)
It’s not just older dogs that can get cancer.
You may be surprised to learn that cancer can affect dogs of any age. While it’s true that older dogs are more likely to develop cancer than younger ones, it’s not unheard of for pets of all ages to develop the disease. In fact, younger dogs, generally between one and six years old, are at an increased risk for some types of cancer such as hemangiosarcoma (which affects the blood vessels) and osteosarcoma (affecting bone).
Cancer is often considered an “old-age” issue because most pet owners associate it with their senior canines—but this is not always the case! Younger pets with cancer will typically have more aggressive tumors and require immediate treatment; they also tend to suffer from higher mortality rates than older dogs who develop the disease later in life.
Cancer is NOT a death sentence.
If you’re worried about your pet’s health and would like to learn more about the treatment options for cancer in pets, visit our website for more information.
You should also read up on how to recognize symptoms of cancer and other illnesses, so that if a problem arises in the future you can get help sooner rather than later. However, it’s important to note that since many cancers are asymptomatic until they metastasize (spread), early diagnosis is key! This means getting check-ups regularly with your vet to monitor your pet’s health status over time.
Get educated on how to prevent and treat pet cancer.
- Check your pet.
- Be aware of what your pet is eating.
- Exercise your pet regularly.
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