You never want to see your dog receive a cancer diagnosis, but detecting it early can significantly improve the chances that treatments are successful. But how can you tell when your dog has cancer, especially when they can’t communicate potential warning signs and symptoms the way that humans can?
There’s no perfect answer, and different cancers present different symptoms, some easier to spot than others. In addition, we always recommend getting your veterinarian’s input rather than trying to make a diagnosis by yourself. But there are a few signs you should be aware of, as well as a few technological breakthroughs and other resources that may be helpful.
The Benefits of Early Detection
As you might guess, dog survival times are significantly longer when their cancer is caught early.
Early detection also allows for a wider range of treatment options.
Signs to Monitor
As we noted above, there are many different signs for the many different types of cancer. And as an additional challenge, many of these signs could point to a range of conditions, some of which are relatively harmless. For these reasons, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian if you think you notice signs of concern.
Signs of cancer include:
- Body & Appetite
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Increased thirst
- Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Abdominal pain or distension
- Respiratory
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
- Nasal discharge
It’s worth highlighting that many of these signs and symptoms could point to a range of conditions, some of which are relatively harmless. It’s a good idea to be on the lookout, without jumping to conclusions - if your dog presents signs of concern, make sure to consult with your veterinarian.
Best Practices with Your Veterinarian
Regular physical examinations by a veterinarian are essential for early cancer detection. Veterinarians can often detect lumps, bumps, or other abnormalities that may indicate the presence of cancer. They can also follow up on potential concerns with a range of tests, including blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests, and biopsies.
Other Useful Diagnostic Technologies
Listed here.
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It’s important to note that it’s not always easy to catch your dog’s cancer early, even if you do everything right. Signs are always more obvious in retrospect than in the moment. Our goal is simply to increase awareness to help dogs wherever we can, and promisingly, cancer detection tools and techniques are constantly improving. As new technologies become to the canine market, we’ll continue to share more details about available resources.
