How to Look for Signs of Cancer in Your Dog

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, and , along with its Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, are doing their part to educate pooch parents about canine cancer. As the number one cause of death in older dogs, it is estimated that of the 80 million dogs residing in the U.S., 20 million will die of cancer this year. 
 
Feeding your dog a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, spaying or neutering your dog and ensuring your pooch gets plenty of exercise can help reduce the risks of canine cancer. Knowing the early warning signs or symptoms of canine cancers can help, too.
 
According to the Veterinary Cancer Society, dog owners should be aware of the 10 most common signs of cancer, including abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow, sores that do not heal, weight loss, loss of appetite, bleeding or discharge from any body opening, offensive odor, difficulty eating or swallowing, hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina, persistent lameness or stiffness and/or difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating. 
 
If your dog is presenting any of these symptoms, you should have it examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible.  But don’t distress as these signs do not necessarily mean your dog has cancer; they can also be present in many other canine diseases. But just as in humans, early detection greatly improves your pooches’ chance for recovery.
 
There is also data showing which breeds of dogs that are more prone to cancer and the specific types of cancers most often diagnosed in those breeds.  According to CanineCancer.com, 60 percent of Golden Retrievers die from cancer, most often diagnosed with lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma. Those two cancers are also frequently diagnosed in Labrador Retrievers, while lymphoma is also reported frequently in Cocker Spaniels and Boxers, who also have a high rate of brain cancer. 
 
Mast cell cancer plagues Pugs and Shar-peis; osteosarcoma is diagnosed more frequently in Greyhounds and Rottweilers and Bernese Mountain Dogs are more likely to get histiocytic sarcoma (or soft tissue cancer), while Flat Coated Retrievers and Scottish Terriers are diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma (bladder cancer) and melanoma. English Springer Spaniels are more susceptible to mammary gland cancer, Collies get more nasal cancer and Chow Chows are more likely to get stomach cancer. 
 
Knowing your breed’s predisposition for specific cancers as well as how those cancers present is crucial to ensuring your dog remains healthy and happy.  And while dogs can inherit damaged DNA, more often than not, it’s a dog's exposure to environmental carcinogens like second-hand smoke or pesticides that increases its cancer risk.
 
Different types of canine cancer can behave very differently, too. Bone cancer is very different from breast cancer, for example, growing at different rates and responding to different treatments. That’s why dogs with cancer, just like humans, need treatment targeting their specific type of cancer.
 
Once diagnosed, your vet can tell you of the various types of treatment, including conventional approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, hyperthermia (heating) or cryosurgery (freezing); as well as alternative and/or complementary therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, mega-nutrient augmentation therapy, nutritional therapy and chiropractic therapy.

Knowledge is power, and knowing what to look for, both in terms of your dog’s behavior and physical condition, can make a world of difference in combating canine cancer.