THE LIFETHREATENING SICKNESS OF YOUR DOG
“Cancer” is such an ominous and preoccupying presence in the subject of human health that we can all too easily forget that it affects other animals too, not least dogs. People are preoccupied with cancer nowadays that they think that it only affects humans and not animals. Like men, canine cancer can emanate from different forms, acquire from several sources and with all sorts of diagnoses. Using simple words cancer is when the process of the original cell division goes astray. In the body there is a damaged cell or irregular DNA which breaks up and keeps on getting bigger beyond the needs of an average cell replacement. A tumor in a form of a lump results from this. Like men there are countless reasons for the irregular separation of a cell. It may be down to environmental or chemical factors. Dogs may not be cigarette smokers or alcohol drinkers but they are exposed to the sun and may have come into contact with carcinogenic chemicals during their life time. Canine cancer may also be hereditary. However the abrasion of the DNA through the years may also be the reason. Older people and older dogs usually suffer from cancers.
WELLPETS KENT ANSWERS – WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE ILLNESS?
The most obvious symptom of cancer in a dog is some sort of lump. But you might notice other symptoms, including weight loss and a lack of appetite, a general lethargy and a sense of decline. The vet should now take over and make an analysis. If a lump is not evident a scan or x-ray may be needed and once a lump is detected it has to be biopsied. The tumor can be taken out with a needle or through a simple operation. Oftentimes the tumor is not malignant. This implies that it will persist to get bigger at its exact place but no sign of it spreading in a different area of the body. As long as the tumor can be removed quickly and no permanent damage is sustained by the tissues or organs around it a dog will most likely make a full recovery. Sometimes, however, the tumor may be “malignant”, with the potential for its abnormal cells to spread and grow new tumors elsewhere. Similar to people these situations can become lethal and incurable. The treatment for canine cancer has progressed and improved a lot for the past decades
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and most of what the doctors have acquired and learnt have been pass on to the veterinary professionals. There are times when treatments used for human beings such as chemotherapies and radiotherapies can likewise be applied to dogs but these can prove to be traumatic with its side effects. Want to know more about dogs possible illnesses? Visit us here:
http://wellpets.co.uk/sheerness/
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