PETS
Canine Cancer BY SUSANNAH MOORE
They say a late-night phone call never brings good news. In this case, it was my veterinarian calling to tell me that my six-year-old golden retriever, Rosie, had cancer. It was 9 p.m. She had waited until the end of the day because she dreaded the difficult conversation. I felt shocked, overwhelmed and scared. I knew golden retrievers were prone to developing cancer, and about 60 percent of them do. I just didn’t think it would happen to my dog — at least not so soon. Rosie had successful surgery to remove the squamous cell carcinoma, but she developed a second type of cancer, melanoma, a few months later, which is much more resistant to treatment. The cancer journey with your beloved pet can often be confusing and discouraging, but you are not alone and treatments for canine cancer have come a long way and will continue to improve in the years to come. Here are a few things I learned while helping Rosie fight cancer and some words of advice and hope from local veterinary oncologists, researchers and pet owners.
BE PROACTIVE According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately one in four dogs will develop abnormal cell growth at some stage in their life and almost half of dogs over the age of 10
Dr. Tuohy performs exam at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center. PHOTO BY ANDREW MANN, VIRGINIA TECH
will develop cancer. A Morris Animal Foundation lifetime study is currently trying to determine exactly why golden retrievers in particular are so susceptible to the disease. Cancer has normally been associated with older dogs, but it is not uncommon to see cancer develop in dogs under 6 years of age. Cancer treatment is expensive, so it is important to get pet insurance for your dog early on in life, before they develop a problem.
health and pets are living longer, owners and veterinarians are becoming more proactive about detection. Researchers recently developed a test to detect bladder cancer and she believes it is only the beginning of screenings that will become routine for at-risk breeds and older dogs. “I think something that is really starting to take hold is how to screen dogs better. Dogs can’t talk, which is part of why we like them so much,” Tidd observed. “People with cancers might complain
Be on the lookout for strange bumps or abnormal behavior in your dog. For Rosie, her second cancer started in her toe and manifested similarly to an infected, broken toenail. It is better to assume that something is cancer and get it checked out quickly, then to find out after the cancer has progressed. Early detection is key for cancer treatment in both humans and animals.
about chronic pain they’re experiencing
Dr. Kathleen Tidd is an oncologist at the Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield. She believes that because owners care more about their pet’s
Going through cancer diagnosis and
or GI distress or other things that might tip them off that something is going on, whereas a dog or a cat? A. They don’t complain. B. If it’s caught, we don’t usually pick up on it until it’s something more serious.”
FIND A COMMUNIT Y treatment with your pet can often feel lonely. Some friends and family members may not understand how much
March / April 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
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