it seems important to us to raise awareness about this disease that unfortunately affects both humans and furry animals and, although it is a delicate and unpleasant topic, we want to dedicate a space to it in a way that helps us detect it in time and treat it properly, so let’s start by contextualizing a bit.
Unfortunately, we have a higher risk of contracting cancer than humans, especially in dogs, due to their metabolism and especially because of the practice of crossing them to get certain breeds. In fact, according to the Veterinary Cancer Society, one in four dogs will develop some type of cancer; a disease that affects almost half of the dogs a. This number, as we can imagine, becomes stronger in the maturity of our colleagues, so the regular check-up is recommended from 6-8 years old, depending on the size of our friend. Because it is vital to detect it early, the earlier we detect cancer, the better our chances of receiving effective treatment, so let’s see 10 symptoms related to cancer that we can perceive simply by observing our friend.
Swollen lymph nodes :
These «glands» are found throughout the body but are most easily detected behind the jaw or behind the knee. When these lymph nodes are enlarged, they may suggest a common form of cancer called lymphoma. A biopsy or cytology of these enlarged lymph nodes can help in the diagnosis.
A lump that gets bigger or changes
Any lump on a pet that is growing rapidly or changing in texture or shape should be biopsied. For this reason, we have to handle our bichillos a lot.
Abdominal swelling
When the stomach or abdomen is rapidly enlarged, this may suggest a mass or tumor in the abdomen, or it may indicate that some bleeding is occurring in this area. An x-ray or ultrasound of the abdomen can be very helpful in identifying the problem.
Chronic weight loss
Our colleagues do not do bikini surgery, so when you notice that you are losing weight for no apparent reason, you should go to the vet. It is not a diagnosis of cancer as such, but it may indicate that something is wrong. That you are giving him a lot of trouble, maybe.
vomiting or diarrhea
Although vomiting or diarrhea can indicate various pathologies, it is important to go for an examination, since tumors of the gastrointestinal tract can often cause chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. Let’s hope it’s just that he’s eaten some forbidden food and it’s taking its toll, but even so, an imminent visit to the vet.
Unexplained bleeding
If you notice bleeding from the mouth, nose, genitals, or gums that is not due to trauma, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian. Because, although bleeding disorders occur in our bichillos especially when they are young, it can be alarming in older wimps. So stay tuned to check it out.
Cough
If your little friend has a dry, unproductive cough, no, he doesn’t have coronavirus. It is true that the causes of this can be multiple, it is important that you examine it when you perceive an unusual frequency, especially in older dogs and puppies.
Limp
Unexplained lameness, especially in large breed dogs, is a very common sign of bone cancer. X-rays of the affected area are helpful in detecting bone cancer. So if our friend limps, to the vet to see him.
Straining to urinate
Pay attention to our friend’s pee. We know that it is not pleasant to invade his privacy in this way, but in this habit, we can identify various pathologies. So if you see that he is straining to urinate and you see blood in his urine, he may have a common urinary tract infection. If these are not controlled quickly with antibiotics or are recurring, bladder cancer may be behind it.
Mouth odor
If your friend begins to experience a strong odor in his mouth and you see that he begins to change from hard to soft food, or changes in his way of chewing, it is advisable to discuss it with the veterinarian, since behind this there could be an oral tumor.
So, let’s try to spend time with our friends, pet them a lot and recognize their habits so that any.
