Author: Benjamin Schiltz

There is no doubt that cancer kills. About 50% of dogs over ten years of age die of cancer; 25% of dogs contract this disease statistics say.

What is cancer?

“Cancer (neoplasia) is a transformation of normal cells into abnormal malignant cells,, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, and it can take many forms. Some involve solid masses, or tumors, while, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, others involve the blood or bone marrow in leukemia.

Cancer can develop in virtually any organ or body system.”

- Courtesy of: petplace.com

So what are the different types of cancers out there? Well, this article will give you a list of cancers, and I don’t go into all the specific symptom, diagnosis, and treatment details. I am in the process of writing an article for each of the cancers listed below. Stay tuned in on my blog and watch for these articles as they are posted.

Common canine cancers are:

Lymphoma
Hemangiosarcoma
Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
Mammary Carcinoma
Mastocytomas (Mast Cell Tumors)
Bladder Cancer
Mouth Cancer
Prostate Cancer

Lymphoma

Lymphoma, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, sarcoma is a very aggressive cancer that causes a high mortality rate in dogs if left untreated. It occurs in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and other organs.

If you treat your dog with chemotherapy,, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, it could add months or even years on to your dog’s life. We do not know why dogs contract this illness, but there is some speculation as to why it forms. It affects middle aged dogs and it doesn’t matter of the sex or gender.

Hamangiosarcoma

Another aggressive cancer that is often metastatic, which means it spreads to a remote location by tumor cells carried in the blood.

This cancer can occur in any sex, age, or breed of dog. It arises from the blood vessels. There are certain breeds that are more susceptible which are, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Boxers, and English Setters.

A combination of surgery and chemotherapy is the treatment used to add years onto the dogs’ life. However, surgery alone will not do the trick and 10% of dogs will pass away in under a year, possibly two to four months.

Combine the surgery with chemotherapy and you will add five, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, to seven months onto your dog’s life. but 90% of these canines do not live for more than a year. It depends on early intervention and location.

Osterosarcoma

Only 5% of dogs get this illness, yet it is another aggressive bone cancer that is usually treated by removing the affected limb and administering chemotherapy which can be done at the veterinary office.

Ask your vet about this, maybe it could save you travel time. The dogs which are affected are larger and older. This includes Great Danes, Saint Bernard’s, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundland’s, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Irish Wolfhounds. Large breeds such as Rottweiler’s, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Shepherds, Dobermans, Weimaraners,, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, and Boxers are also at an increased risk.

Most osteosarcomas develop on the limbs of dogs below the elbow or near the knee. It appears that this cancer is not preventable.

Mammary Carcinoma

This tumor is most common in female dogs which have not been spayed. The good news is that if it is treated early on, it is known to be a successful outcome. The chances of your dog (female) developing this Mammary Carcinoma that has been spayed before the first heat cycle is very rare.

A 0.5% chance prior to first heat cycle; 8% chance after first heat cycle; and 26% chance of developing this tumor after two heat cycles. Get your dog spayed! You could save her life. The most likely treatment for this is a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. Many veterinarians will spay a dog having a mastectomy (unless she is very old). The value of this in decreasing the recurrence of tumors is still controversial.

Mastocytomas (Mast Cell Tumors)

To keep control of this tumor, it must be properly identified and treated. This mast cell tumor accounts for 20% of all skin tumors in dogs, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, and although they appear rather small, they can be life threatening. They are easily removed and most often dont redevelop. They are most common in Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pugs, English Bulldogs, and other brachiocephalic breeds.

Older dogs which are 8 or 9 years old are susceptible to the development of this tumor. Surgical removal of the tumor is the most favoured choice of treatment and even the removal of a large a large area of healthy tissue around the tumor will ensure it is completely removed, usually one inch diameter. If they can’t remove the tumor surgically, they use radiation and even chemotherapy.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is said to be often diagnosed too late in about 50% of dogs.

Combinations such as urinary obstruction causing the dog to not being able to empty his bladder and and metastasis where the blood transports tumor cells through various parts of the body. Suspect your dog might have bladder cancer if he has blood in his urine, painful urination or urination increases but very, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, little is released, frequently having urinary tract infection.

Mouth Cancer

Oral cancer in dogs is very common and it affects older canines. If you see anything unusual in your dogs’ mouth consult, Canine osteosarcoma treatment
, a vet. The two most common tumors of the mouth is benign & malignant. I won’t get into that in this article. Like I said there will be more articles to come that will focus on the symptoms of treatment of each individual cancer listed in this article.

If your dog is having problems chewing, decreased appetite, or is bleeding from the mouth, and is drooling or has bad breath, it could be from dental issues or cancer in the mouth. If you suspect any problem with your dog, always consult a vet. But there is no need to run to the vet for every single little problem your dog has though.

Prostate Cancer

Although it is unknown what causes prostate cancer, we do know that it is highly aggressive and invasive.

Diagnosis is always too late and the life expectancy of a canine is about one month.

What we have learned here is that cancer is dangerous and specific cancers are more likely to occur in older, larger dogs; as well as canines of the female gender. Having your dogs spayed will decrease the likelihood of developing mammary tumors as long as she is spayed before her first heat cycle. The longer she goes without being spayed, the higher her chances of tumor development.

Finally, have your pets seen by the veterinarian for routine physical exams just to make sure that everything is well. So, if you liked this article keep a look out for more articles that will give more details on each of the cancers listed herein.

Benjamin Schiltz
Dog Diagnosis Blog
http://www.dogdiagnosisblog.com

Source: ezinearticles.com