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Dog Cancer - It's Scary

By Geraldine Dimarco


Cancer - a word we all loathe to hear. Unfortunately, it is a very real situation that we encounter not only with people, but also with our pets. While not a lot of people are knowledgeable about dog cancer, studies are underway to help us find effective methods on how to better deal with this disease.

Around half of all reported cases of canine cancer are of the skin, twenty percent are of the mammary glands, and the others are of the lymphatic, alimentary, reproductive, etc. Cure for the animal varies depending on his specifics like breed, age, weight, and other health related concerns. Listed here are some alternative cancer treatments for dog that will guide you in making the best decision for your pet.

Cancer is defined as the growth of abnormal tumors in specific parts of the body. Like in people, there are two kinds of tumors: benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are cysts that have defined edges, making it fairly simple to remove through surgery. Malignant tumors are the opposite. They spread and have blurry edges, in effect making it more dangerous and impossible to completely take out by surgery.

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.

Drug therapy is used for chemotherapy. These drugs interrupt the growth of cancer cells and prevent it from further spreading. Chemotherapy is frequently utilized for the more extensive dog cancer forms. The drug dosage must be carefully monitored because the levels of toxicity cause severe infection and may induce heart and bladder complications.

More and more veterinarians are also promoting use of several supplements to prevent and cure cancer. Flaxseed oil and fish oil are potent anti-tumor supplements that not only have shown to reduce tumor size by fifty percent - it has accounted for improved appearance, increased energy and performance for the animal.

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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