Dog disease - lung cancer!
Few people realize that dogs can get lung cancer and it is just as devastating for them as it is for humans. Lung cancer in dogs is not breed specific, but dogs can be genetically predisposed to it or put into environments where there are factors that would increase the dogs likelihood of becoming ill.
The type of lung cancer to be discussed in this entry will be carcinoma. Carcinoma lung cancer is usually malignant, meaning that it will spread to other areas of the dog’s body if not treated and sometimes treatment does not stop the spread of this terrible disease which will lead ultimately to the dog’s death. The cause of this type of cancer in dogs is most linked to second hand smoke. Smoking, as we know is the leading cause of lung cancer in humans. It is also the leading cause of lung cancer in dogs. If you smoke, QUIT and if you don’t want to quit, smoke outside away from your dog.
Carcinoma of the lung will usually begin as a small mass and with symptoms so vague, it may be difficult to identify. However, some of the symptoms your dog may experience in the beginning of the disease is some trouble breathing and a little cough. As the mass in the dog’s lung begins to grow, the symptoms will worsen. You might notice some blood in the dog’s saliva. This is a sign that the lung is beginning to deteriorate. The dog’s coughing will get worse. He/she will be lethargic, lose weight and have increased trouble breathing.
Many of the same treatments that are available to humans are available to dogs for lung cancer. If the mass is small enough, surgery might be the first option. If it is too large, radiation or chemotherapy might be used to shrink the mass and then surgery and further treatments might be used.
It is of utmost importance to get your dog treated as promptly as possible when you see symptoms occur that were described above. And secondly, when diagnosed, look at the treatments versus your dog’s quality of life. If your dog is going to continue to suffer without much hope of regaining good health, you may have to consider a difficult decision. Always keep your dog’s needs rather than your own as primary consideration.
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