Cancer is a disease that not only occurs in humans, but also affects dogs and cats, becoming one of the leading causes of death in geriatric patients. Periodic visits to the Veterinarian and preventive measures are key actions that help pet owners to identify the disease in time.
“Cancer is the cause of approximately half of the deaths of companion animals that are older than 10 years. However, the incidence of this disease in cats is lower”1, commented Adrian Polo Jeréz, Technical Coordinator of the Companion Animal Unit at MSD Animal Health Mexico.
Most types of cancer in dogs and cats are detected by the owner when bathing, petting or brushing them, because they identify warning signs, such as masses (balls), color changes or warty-looking skin wounds and different dimensions.
“The veterinary review -at least once a year- is of vital importance, since a thorough exploration is carried out that helps in the detection of signs or alterations probably associated with cancer, especially since this disease can affect internal organs and are the more difficult to diagnose. It frequently occurs in the spleen, liver, and gastrointestinal tract,” added Adrian Polo from MSD Animal Health in the framework of World Cancer Day, which is commemorated on February 4.
Skin cancer and mammary gland cancer are the most common in dogs. Only 50% of the cases of mammary tumors in bitches and 85% in cats are considered malignant. The sterilization of females before 12 months of age considerably reduces the risk of developing a gland tumor (cancer). mammary.
Head, neck and testicular tumors are very rare in cats, but have a high prevalence in dogs. While bone cancer occurs more frequently in large breed dogs and over seven years. Difficulty or pain when supporting and inflammation in the affected area are the signs that can commonly be associated with the disease.1
As there are several types of cancer, the signs are different and not very specific, in addition to the fact that most of the time, they are not usually evident to the owner, until the disease is already very advanced. For this reason, pet owners should be aware not only of what they can appreciate with sight or touch, there are also general warning signs such as:
Fatigue and unjustified tiredness
Weightloss
Lack of appetite
Pain
Loss of hair
Strange lumps on the skin
Inflammation
bleeding
Color changes anywhere on the body
“The cause of most types of cancer in pets is unknown, however early detection is key to combating the disease. That is why it is important that pet owners examine them at home and periodically take them to the veterinarian for a complete review”, concluded Adrian Polo, Technical Coordinator of the Companion Animal Unit at MSD Animal Health Mexico.