Pets

Cancer Care 101

  A P

Administrative Supervisor and Marketing Specialist, Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists + Animal Emergency

Just like people, animals are susceptible to developing cancer. The Veterinary Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 4 pets will develop cancer during their lifetime and they say it is the leading cause of death in pets that are beyond middle aged with nearly 50% of dogs over the age of 10 developing cancer. Fortunately, there are a variety of cancer treatments commercially available for our pets as well as many new treatment options being studied each year. Prognosis, of course, is largely dependent on the type of cancer and early detection. As your pet ages, here are some of the top cancer warning signs our team says you should be on the lookout for:

• Abnormal or rapidly growing swellings • Sores that do not heal

• Loss of appetite and weight loss • Bleeding or discharge from body openings • Difficulty eating, swallowing, or breathing • Lameness

• Difficulty urinating or defecating

If your pet begins developing any of the above symptoms, schedule a check-up with your primary care veterinarian right away. Diagnostics such as radiographs, ultrasound, or bloodwork may be indicative of cancer, but ultimately a biopsy, fine needle aspirate, or CT scan will need to be performed to determine what kind of cancer is present as well as stage the progress and grade of the cancer. Often times, these more advanced diagnostics will need to be performed by a specialist. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a board-certified oncologist, internal medicine specialist, or surgeon for more advanced diagnostics and to discuss treatment options for your pet. Once referred to a specialist, it’s important to know what to ask during your consultation. For some, a frank discussion on prognosis is all that is necessary for decision making. For others, a clear understanding of the risks and effects of the various treatments available is important in deciding next steps. Keep in mind that veterinary medicine is an inexact science and the future of any patient or their individual response to treatment is unknown. Even the best specialists won’t be able to predict exactly what will happen, but they should be able to help you understand the range of possibilities to help you make the best decision to maximize quantity and quality of life for your beloved pet. For more information on cancer care, visit our website at www.bgvets.com, or ask your primary care doctor for a referral to see our board-certified internal medicine specialist, Dr. Antu Radhakrishnan, or board-certified surgeon, Dr. Jose Guevara.