Is Animal Cancer Treatable?

September 29th, 2011

Finding out that a beloved pet has cancer can be just as difficult as if it were a close friend or family member. While we know that there are many different treatment options available for humans, what can pet owners do if their animal has cancer? The good news is that treatment options for pets are available as well, and pets have a better chance of successful cancer treatment today than ever before. Any pet owner should know about these options so that his or her furry friend can get treatment as soon as possible.

If you suspect your pet has cancer:

If you find a lump or bump on your cat or dog, especially one that slowly changes, it is important that you talk to your vet as soon as possible. Keep in mind that fatty lumps are common on a dog’s trunk, and so a benign growth may not be cancer if it does not change in size. However, any lumps found on a cat should be examined immediately, as growths are not normal for felines.

In addition to abnormal growths, your pet may exhibit other symptoms such as:

- Sores that do not heal

- Weight loss

- Loss of appetite

- Bleeding or discharge from any opening on the body

- Offensive odor

- Difficulty eating or swallowing

- Weakness or loss of stamina when exercising

- Lameness or stiffness

- Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating

(Please note that these symptoms may also be due to another illness).

If you suspect cancer or anything abnormal in your pet’s health, the best thing to do is always to consult your veterinarian as soon as you can.

If your vet confirms that your pet has cancer, you should find out what type of cancer it is because treatment options may vary. You can discuss these options with your veterinarian to decide which would be best for your pet.

Treatment options

1. Aspiration and diagnosis of fatty lumps:

If a lump is discovered, it is important to determine whether or not it is cancerous. A fine needle aspirate of a mass can usually be performed on an outpatient visit and sedation is not necessary. If the lump is simply a fatty mass, a veterinarian will usually leave it in place and monitor for changes in size and consistency. However, if there is rapid growth or the lump is already big, the veterinarian will probably recommend surgery.

2. Surgery:

Surgery to remove fatty cancerous tissue can often cure the animal of cancer. Even if it is not completely curative, it can decrease the size of the tumor and help the veterinarian give an accurate diagnosis.

3. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment has been shown to significantly extend the lives of cats and dogs with cancer. It has been especially effective on lymphoma, which is one of the most common types of cancer in cats and dogs. Animals with chemotherapy treatment generally have fewer side effects and less hair loss than humans, and the doses are much smaller. If your vet does not specialize in chemotherapy or surgeries for cancer treatment, there are many animal cancer centers that offer these types of treatment to which your local vet can refer you.

4. Holistic options

Some animal cancer treatment centers also offer holistic services such as acupuncture and herbal doses to reduce pain and improve the pet’s immune system. They may also prescribe pain medications formulated specifically for animals.

If you find out that your pet has cancer, don’t get discouraged. New diagnostic methods are helping to detect animal cancer earlier, and the improvement of treatment methods means better success rates and fewer side effects for your pet.

Ashley Porter is a pet lover who writes about various topics including pet health issues and is the owner of the site www.veterinariantechnician.org

Kitten Season!

May 26th, 2011


Hello again!

As you all know, springtime marks the beginning of new growth, greenery, and blooming flowers. Along with all of this new & exciting rebirth in plant life is the beginning of new life in the animal kingdom – including newborn kittens! The end of March, through spring & summer it is officially the time of year when the most kittens are born!

Seeing the furry, fuzzy, adorable cuteness of a kitten can overshadow rational questions like: “Could I provide the best possible living environment for him/her? Will my other pets get along with him/her? Do I have enough money to care for him/her – what costs are involved when getting a kitten?”

The biggest, most important question to consider before assuming the responsibility for any new pet – cat, dog, or otherwise – is: “Do I plan on neutering/spaying him/her?” The answer to this question should always be “yes”. The bittersweet reality behind “Kitten Season” is that, though there are thousands of newborn little kittens out there, the majority of those kittens will not be given proper care, and will be abandoned after they lose their baby cuteness.

Since you’re reading this, I know you are very much a pet lover, but there are many pet owners who, despite their love for animals, still do not realize the importance of spaying & neutering. For each cat that is not spayed or neutered, there will be thousands more kittens that will also not be spayed and neutered. We need to stop the abandonment of kittens & cats (and all other animals) at its root cause: too many unspayed & unneutered animals.

Did you know that altered male & female animals generally live longer, healthier, and happier lives? According to the American Human Association,“Spaying females (dogs & cats) prior to their first heat cycle nearly eliminates the risk of breast cancer and totally prevents uterine infections and uterine cancer. Neutering males prevents testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate gland, and greatly reduces their risk for perianal tumors.”

We as pet owners have a duty to our pets to give them the best possible lives, which includes spaying & neutering them. And, as always, make sure to always keep ID tags on your pet, and keep them up to date w/ your current address & phone number.

That said, if you have considered all the above questions, and fully plan to spay or neuter your new pet, “Kitten Season” can be a fulfilling & exciting time as you embark on a new journey with a new furry little family member!

Until next time,

Peace.Love.Pets. :)

Peace.Love.Pets

July 6th, 2010

Little Orion, My Netherland Dwarf

Hey all!

My name is Taylor, and I am the new writer for the Love Your Pets blog! I am very excited to write all about pet tips, funny pet stories and videos I come across, and experiences I have with my own pets!

I am the proud owner of several pets: one Tibetan Terrier named Toby, two cats named Zippy & Ella, a Netherland Dwarf buck named Orion, and two goldfish named Briany and Dexter . :) My family and friends joke that I am turning into quite the crazy cat lady, but I just can’t help myself!

The newest addition to my little pet family is Orion, my darling little bun. He is nearly 14 weeks old now, and those of you who have ever owned a rabbit probably know that it’s just around this age that junior bucks (under 6 months of age) start becoming a little feisty! I guess rabbits deal with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, too! He has recently learned how to box, growl, and lunge – ways he tells me I need to “back off!” and that he’s in the middle of one his favorite activities and I need to try again later. But don’t get me wrong, he is such a sweet little boy most of the time, coming over to me for pets and snuggles – he is just too cute! Who knew rabbits could have such funny little personalities?! :)

Though my two cats are seldom interested in Orion, my dog Toby is just as curious as can be! Whenever possible, Toby sits next to Orion’s cage (or should I say palace, it is so spacious!) and pines for him! It was cute at first, but Orion’s safety is of the utmost importance to me, so I always take precautions when taking Orion in and out of his cage. I know Toby means well and just wants to play, but dogs still have instincts that make them want to chase small animals. So to all those small animal owners reading – always secure your dogs when your small pet is out and about, it’s necessary for their safety! And the same goes for cats, too! Even though Zippy and Ella aren’t really concerned with my rabbit, some other cats out there might be! So if you’re letting your small animal roam in the yard, ALWAYS make sure they are supervised and that no other animals can get to them during their freetime!

Thank you so much for putting up with my obsessive pet ramblings, haha! Comment below with your own summer pet stories!

I hope you’re all enjoying the summer wherever you are, and until next time,

-Peace.Love.Pets

Ten Tips to Keep Pets Safe This Summer

June 10th, 2010

Summer is here so it’s time to start thinking about how the warm weather will impact pets. Whether taking a walk, a drive or just hanging out in the backyard, there are extra precautions that people can take to keep their four-legged family members happy and safe.

1. Never leave a pet unattended in the car on a warm or sunny day. Cars quickly heat up to a dangerous temperature, even with the window slightly open.

2. Be sure to keep pets up-to-date on their vaccinations and preventative medications. Fleas and ticks stay busy in warm weather and summer is also the prime time for heartworms. Check with a veterinarian about the best way to keep pets healthy.

3. Keep cats indoors to keep them safe. Cars, other pets and wild animals can all pose risks to cats’ safety. By providing playtime, cat trees and other enrichment, a cat will be happy and content to stay indoors.

4. Beware of cocoa mulch and other gardening products. Cocoa mulch can be deadly if ingested and has an appetizing scent to some animals. Pesticides, fertilizers and other harsh chemicals can also be quickly fatal if ingested.

5. When taking a dog for a walk on a hot day, plan for shorter walks midday, when temperatures peak, and longer walks in the morning and evening when it’s cooler. Hot sidewalks can burn the pads on a dog’s paws, so walk on the grass when possible.

6. Pet rabbits should be kept indoors because they don’t tolerate heat well. Keeping a rabbit indoors will also provide protection from predators who might try to attack a rabbit in an outdoor hutch.

7. Never leave a dog outdoors unattended on a chain or tether. Long-term chaining during the hot summer months can result in countless insect bites, dehydration and heat stroke. Even short-term unattended tethering can pose risks such as theft or attacks by people or animals.

8. When driving with pets, be sure to keep them properly restrained and inside the vehicle. Special seatbelts and secured carriers can protect pets during accidents and prevent them from distracting the driver. The back of a pick-up truck is never a safe place for a pet to ride.

9. Be mindful of pets around our wild neighbors. When going for walks or playing in a fenced yard, don’t allow pets to harass birds, rabbits, squirrels or other wild animals.

10. Stay bite-free. The summer months are the peak season for dog bites because so many kids and dogs are playing outside. Training, socialization, and dog spaying or neutering a dog can reduce the risk of dog bites. Kids can learn to stay safe through good manners around pets and humane education.

Pet Memorial Necklace

March 12th, 2010

We love our pets and consider them members of our family. We celebrate their birthdays, confide in them, and carry pictures of them with us. So when our pet dies, we feel a tremendous loss. A Colorado artist has found a wonderful way to let us keep our beloved pets close to us. She takes a small amount of your pet’s remains and makes it part of a beautiful fused glass flower pendant as a way to celebrate the happiness and sheer joy your pet brought to your life every day. See her creations here  Pet Memorial Necklace.

To learn more about coping with pet loss see our article here   Dealing With The Loss of a Pet

February is Responsible Pet Ownership Month!

February 15th, 2010

Are You a Responsible Pet Owner?Providing for your pets’ physical needs and caring for them with love and commitment are the first requirements of responsible pet owners. But these are not the only requirements. Are you a responsible pet owner? If you are, these are the things you do:

  • Clean up after your pets and dispose of the waste in a sanitary manner
  • Keep dogs on leashes at all times when outside the home
  • Help  cats stay safe and live longer by keeping them indoors and away from situations where they could become nuisances
  • Ensure that your dogs or cats are licensed and outfitted with visible identification at all times. You can order ID Tags here: Love your Pets ID Tags
  • Obey local animal nuisance laws (which generally define “excessive noise” by any animal as continuous or incessant for a period of ten minutes, or intermittently for one-half hour, to the disturbance of any person at any time of the day or night)
  • Spay or neuter your dog, cat, rabbit, or ferret to improve the health and behavior of the animal and to prevent their animal from adding to the problem of pet overpopulation
  • Maintain an active flea-and-tick control program so these pests won’t spread to neighboring units, the common areas of a building, or public parks
  • Maintain a pet emergency kit that includes an emergency plan and supplies in the event the home must be quickly evacuated because of a disaster.

"Help! My dog is lost!"

January 28th, 2010

Those are five words every pet owner hopes they never have to say, but probably will as 1 out of 3 pets is lost during its lifetime. Each year more than 10 million pets will become lost and only 1 in 10 lost pets are found.Your pet should always have a current nametag on its collar. There are no exceptions to this rule, even if you have a fenced in yard, an exercise pen, a tie out, or plan on being with your pet the entire time.