Just say the word cancer, and any of a host of scary thoughts will pop in your mind — and with good reason. Cancer is one of the most common of diseases among pets, and its rates increase as the pet ages.

In dogs, the frequency of getting cancer is equivalent to a human’s. In fact, cancer accounts for close to half the deaths of pets over the age of 10.

Just what is cancer, and what causes it? Basically, cancer occurs when cell growth rates go out of control on, or inside, the body. What causes this chaos inside the cell system is still unknown — but the results have been well documented, and its reputation is well-known.

Some cancers, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer or testicular cancer, can be largely prevented by spaying or neutering your pet while still very young (6-12 months or so). But other types are tougher to detect, leading to less reliable methods of prevention.

Following are many common types of cancers seen in pets:

• Skin tumors in dogs. These should always be checked by a vet.
• Breast cancers have a high rate of malignancy in dogs: often 50%.
• Lymphoma is common and is characterized by an enlargement of the lymph nodes.
• Testicular tumors are common in dogs, especially those with retained testes.
• Cancers occurring in the head and/or neck are common in dogs and often malignant. Aggressive and quick therapy is required.
• Abdominal tumors are harder to detect, but very common. Watch for weight loss or abdominal enlargement.

Testing for cancer can be done in a variety of ways, ranging from x-rays or blood tests to actual biopsy samples (tissue samples). Most often, biopsies are required to diagnose cancer.

Treatments run the gamut in cancer therapy. Since each disease can vary from animal to animal, and each animal’s internal environment can react differently to the same drug, cancer care is highly individualized. Your veterinarian may choose from such options as chemotherapy or radiation, hyperthermia or surgery, immuno-therapy or cryosurgery (freezing) to treat your pet, although it’s most common to combine these methods rather than rely on just one.

Now for the big question. Just what are the success rates of these methods in treating your pet for cancer? Just as in humans, the rate depends on a number of variables — what type of cancer your pet has, how early it’s detected, how aggressively you treat it, and how strong your pet is … just to name a few.

Sometimes, cancer can be cured if response is quick, but virtually all pets will benefit from receiving therapy. But the best therapy, it seems, is early detection through regular vet visits and an intimate knowledge of your pets’ overall health at all times. Watch for changes and be aware if any unusual symptoms pop up.

Common Signs of Cancer in Smaller Animals

• Loss of appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Slow,or non-healing sores
• Offensive odor
• Abnormal growths or swellings
• Loss of stamina
• Hesitation in exercising
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Difficulty breathing, defecating or urinating