Friday 1 November 2013

The Dog Cancer Survival Guide

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 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 uses focused radiation to destroy cancer cells in the bad tissues so they won?t be reproduced. The difficulty lies in making sure the correct dosage is administered so that only the damaged cells are harmed and the normal cells are spared. To do this, radiation is meted out in lower amounts intermittently. This gives the normal cells adequate time to recover whilst dealing with the cancer cells effectively.

Radiation, when done on human beings, is literally a traumatic and nauseating experience. With dogs however, there are no unfavorable side effects. This is largely due to the fact that smaller doses are used. Besides that, radiation treatments also prolong the life of the animal for a few months instead of weeks as previously thought. Hyperthermia employs high temperature to kill cancer cells and is sometimes used together with radiation.

Chemotherapy disrupts the development and spread of cancer cells through medication and drugs. It is used for rampant dog cancer. The levels of the drugs amounts must be monitored closely. This is because the toxicity of these chemicals in large quantities, cause heart and bladder problems?complicating the health of the canine.

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 you undertake any form of alternative cancer treatments for dog - it is imperative that you consult your vet first for correct diagnosis of the problem. Observe for behavioral and physical changes in your pet. Have him tested often so that any form of sickness may be arrested in the beginning stages. Maintain a nutritional diet, regular exercise and a clean environment to ensure optimal health.




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