5 essential signs to watch in your dog

Just like people, dogs also get cancer. The cancer diagnosis of your dog can bring a whirlwind of emotion as a petowner. Not only is it quite heartbreaking to know your canine friend is sufferingfrom a terrible illness, but also quite confusing regarding the potential costof treatment and other procedures.

This article explores the common symptoms that could be indicative of dog cancer. Here’s a list of the first warning signs that would need you to take your pet immediately to the vet for a conclusive diagnosis.

• Abnormal body lumps

Presence of any bump or lymph nodes on your dog is always a cause of concern for any pet owner. You should not take any chances in matters of your pet’s health. Consult your local vet and get a biopsy done to certify the cause of the lump

• Limb stiffness

Stiffness in the dog after a long rest may seem reasonable but it is far from being an ordinary occurrence. Prolonged stiffness is a primary indication that your dog may be suffering from cancer. That is different from the common arthritis problems, or muscle pulls experienced by pets.

• Loss of appetite

If the dog refuses to eat its food or eat at irregular intervals, it is advisable to get it checked by the vet thoroughly. The problem could be resulting from mouth cancer often evident with signs such as bleeding gums, bad breath and strange growths on the mouth.

• Difficulty in urinating and defecating

Prostate cancer in dogs is rare since less than 1% is diagnosed with it. However, common signs often portray themselves through problems during urinating and defecating, a bloody urine and weakness of the rear leg are also common signs that need immediate attention from the vet.

• Unexplained weight loss

A rapid and unexplained weight loss is often blamed on digestive problems. However, if the weight loss is present despite a healthy diet, you should consult the vet without delay. In adverse cases, a cancerous tumor in the digestive tract may be responsible for weight loss.

Now that you know the lead symptoms of dog cancer, the essential thing to do is to keep an eye out for them and remain concerned for your dog. As the dog owner, you are the only individual who may notice a change in habit and ultimately determine if its cancer or not.  

Science Direct, Purdue, Cancer Org, Scirp