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October 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
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a needle into the mass to get a small
sample of tissue and cells from it. He
or she will examine the sample under
the microscope to determine if those
cells look cancerous. A biopsy usually
consists of taking a larger piece of
tissue from the mass or removing the
mass completely and sending it to a
laboratory to determine exactly what
kind of cancer your pet has. Your
veterinarian can then determine the
appropriate treatment or if any additional treatment is necessary.
When should you
take your pet to the
veterinarian?
PET HEALTH
Cancer in Pets
By Dr. Addie Reinhard, Veterinarian, Village Animal Hospital
Cancer can affect dogs and cats
just as it affects their people. If cancer
is caught early, your pet may have a
much better chance of living a longer
life. This article will review early signs
of cancer, explain when you should
seek veterinary help and outline various treatments for cancer in pets.
Lumps and Bumps
Some lumps and bumps on
pets can be just benign (harmless)
growths. Lipomas, or fatty tumors,
are common, especially in older pets,
and are usually soft and movable
under the skin. You can’t determine
for sure if a lump is benign or malignant (harmful and able to spread)
unless you take your pet to a veterinarian. The diagnostic test of choice
for lumps and bumps is fine-needle
aspirate and cytology or biopsy.
When performing a fine-needle
aspirate, your veterinarian will poke
Working with animals requires
patience, understanding, and,
above all, compassion; both for
the animal and for
their owners
FREE NEW PATIENT EXAMS
(859) 252-4917
www.villageanimalhospital.net
1801 Alexandria Dr., Suite 180 • Lexington, KY 40504
• If your pet has any lumps or
bumps.
• If you notice any changes in lumps
and bumps currently on your pet,
especially if the lumps change rapidly in size, grow quickly or start to
have a discharge.
• If your pet has a change in appetite.
Sometimes internal cancers can
cause subtle changes in your pet.
You may notice it does not want
to eat as much as normal. Anytime
you notice any change in appetite,
you should take your pet to the vet
right away.
• If your pet has unintended weight
loss. If your pet loses weight without being on a diet, then underlying disease, including cancer,
should be investigated.
• If your pet is coughing or has difficulty breathing. Some cancers can
metastasize (move) to the lungs.
Dogs and cats can also get lung
cancer. This may cause coughing.
Difficulty breathing may also be a
sign there may be fluid in the lungs,
which can be a complication with
some cancers.
• Lethargy and depression can be
signs of some internal diseases,
including cancer.
• Limping, especially in older, largebreed dogs, can be caused by bone
tumors. Any time your dog is
limping, you should bring it to the