Pets Care

Normally canine and feline urinary incontinence or frequent urination leads to investigations that involve blood and urine tests for the pet. Frequent and severe urinary infections may be the initial warnings of the presence of a tumor in the bladder.

The most common type of bladder cancer arises in the epithelial cells that line the bladder (Transitional Cell Carcinoma).

The tumor can also be in the glandular epithelium (Adenocarcinoma) or in an epithelial cell that is flat like a plate and forms a single layer of epithelial tissue (Squamous Cell Carcinoma). A highly malignant neoplasm derived from striated muscle (Rhabdomyosarcoma) is rare.

Many symptoms of a bladder cancer are similar to those observed in urinary tract infection in dogs. The first signs are likely to be discomfort in urinating. If you see blood in the urine, you should act immediately since the blood indicates the presence of a growth in the bladder. Some dogs may show signs of exercise intolerance, difficulty in breathing and coughing too. 

As with all types of cancers the cause behind the growth is not easily determinable. The common suspects are carcinogenic substances like chemicals in insecticides for killing fleas and ticks and/or mosquitoes in wetlands. Cyclophosphamide, a drug used to treat different types of cancers and certain immune diseases, may also increase the risk of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer can remain undetected for a long time. It is highly recommended that any occurrence of the symptoms of urinary tract infection in cats  and dogs should be investigated completely if you want to ensure early detection and treatment of cancer.

This is because if urinalysis and blood tests do not reveal a definite diagnosis, bladder cancer can be suspected and investigated further.

An X-Ray usually reveals if there is any type of growth but follow up investigations are resorted to establish the type and nature of the growth. These investigations could lead you to undertake the following:

-    Cytology – For examining and evaluating tumor cells.
-    Either Contrast dye X-Ray or Abdominal Ultrasound – For the purpose of establishing the location and size of the tumor. An ultrasound provides additional knowledge of the condition of the lymph nodes.
-    Urethrocystoscopy – Performed by a veterinarian specialist as it involves introduction of a rigid or flexible scope through the urethra up to the bladder. Along with revealing the location and size of the tumor, this procedure can also be used for biopsy.

If Transitional Cell Carcinoma is suspected the specialist may suggest a new test called V-TBA for determining the likely presence of a bladder tumor marker in the urine.

Benign tumors of the bladder are rare but if they occur they can be removed surgically. Most bladder cancers are malignant and these invade the wall of the bladder and are difficult to remove through surgery. The most common treatment approach that is used currently is to treat the condition with chemotherapy or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Bladder cancer is difficult to treat but, if left untreated, it may ultimately cause a cessation of urination and death.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladder_cancer_in_cats_and_dogs feline urinary incontinencehttp://www.petplace.com/dogs/urinary-bladder-cancer-in-dogs/page6.aspx

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/pcop/CanineUrinaryBladderCancer.pdf

Given that your dog has lived with you and provided you with comfort as a companion, it is your duty to take care of your pet if he is found to be afflicted with a specific disease. The amount of care and companionship that your dog may need increases and becomes more important especially if the disease is terminal in nature.

Cancer in dogs is one such disease where detection happens in the later stages, rendering treatment almost immaterial and useless. In such cases, love, care and comfort are the three things that you can provide for your dying dog.

Even though there are numerous kinds of cancer and each can affect different parts of the dog’s body, the basic fundamentals of care for cancer in dogs remains the same. The basic idea is to make the dog’s life as comfortable as possible. It is now your time to pay him back for his services.

Some of the basic principles of taking care of a dog with cancer are mentioned below.

Pain Management

Cancer causes pain and some types of cancer cause extreme pain. The target of pain management should be to try and prevent pain from occurring rather than treating it with strong painkillers once the pain has started. This is mainly because the response to pain tends to magnify once the pain starts.

Conventional medications like narcotic analgesic patches and oral pain relievers provide instant relief but are addictive. In case of localized pain, a local anesthesia can be used. You may also want to decrease the risk of skin ulcers (bed sores) by providing an orthopedic bed.

Avoid Dehydration

Certain types of cancers produce nausea and vomiting. Although not commonly seen in dogs, chemotherapeutic drugs can also cause nausea and vomiting as side effects. Your main goal should be to reduce vomiting and the consequent risk of dehydration.

You may also consult your veterinarian and learn about homeopathic cancer treatment for dogs, with an aim to find a better alternative for avoiding nausea and vomiting.

Quality Diet

Diet is the most important aspect of cancer care. A quality diet based on individual needs will also help. It is a good idea to monitor diet closely if you have chosen chemotherapy as the treatment for your pet because a good diet improves the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Nauseating dogs are liable to refuse to eat. Try some appetite enhancing remedies and feed him warm food in a stress free environment. Ask your veterinarian regarding Omega 3 fatty acids, digestible proteins and supplemental amino acids.

There may be instances where a dog refuses to eat in spite of a completely functioning digestive system. In such cases you may have to resort to enteral therapy, a system of nutrient delivery where fluids are given through a stomach tube directly into the gastrointestinal tract.

Dog cancer is common in old dogs since their immune system weakens to a great extent over time. Your extra care will not only make his life comfortable but also provide give satisfaction to you for having done the best for your pet.

Reference:

http://www.peteducation.com/

It is generally suspected that over exposure to insecticide dips for removing fleas and ticks, sprays used in households and marshlands and other carcinogenic chemicals lead to occurrence of canine bladder cancer. These tend to cling to the walls of the bladder and urethra and lead to the development of cancerous cells.

Bladder cancer in dogs is a life threatening condition in most cases. This is because a large majority of canine bladder cancer is diagnosed as malignant tumor known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). It usually originates in the transitional epithelium linings of kidneys, bladder or ureters and is the most common type of bladder cancer found in dogs.

Certain breeds of dogs are genetically predisposed to urinary tract infections. In dogs this is also a major cause behind the occurrence of the condition. Breeds that are more vulnerable include Shetland sheepdogs, Scottish terriers, West Highland white terriers, beagles and wirehaired fox terriers.

Other factors that influence occurrence of bladder cancer are gender (females are more affected), neutering, (neutered dogs are at a greater risk) and obesity.

Symptoms of bladder cancer tend to remain concealed for a long time in pets. Even when the symptoms reveal themselves, they are usually mistaken for canine or feline urinary infection.

More often than not, it is an unresolved treatment of urinary tract infection in dogs that leads to the detection of a tumor in the bladder. If the dog shows the following symptoms you should ensure that you include investigations like X-Ray and or ultra sound imaging along with the routine blood and urine tests.

- Difficulty in urination – the dog strains to urinate.
– Blood in the urine.
– Frequency of urination.
– Incontinence or involuntary urination.
– Breathing problems.
– Coughing.

UTI in puppies and adult dogs is routine and most dogs respond to treatment. Older dogs that do not respond to routine treatment or those that have frequent recurrence of urinary problems, especially incontinence and blood in the urine, should be diagnosed further for bladder cancer.

Treatment modalities are not curative and only attempt to control the disease temporarily. Drugs that allow partial relief from obstruction in the urinary tract are prescribed to make life easy for the pet for as long as he lives.

References:
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/urinary-bladder-cancer-in-dogs/page1.aspx

http://www.dvmnews.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=90590&sk=&date=&pageID=2

Swamp cancer is a relatively uncommon form of infection in dogs, horses, cats and humans. It is caused by a fungal infection known as phycomycosis due to pathogens that are present in stagnant water molds and fungi.

The most common form of the disease is pythiosis that invades the body by contact and/or consumption of infected water. Although more common in dogs and horses, it can potentially occur in cats, cattle and even humans.

The most likely cause is the invasion of Pythium insidiosum. The organism needs stagnant water to reproduce and thrive. It can affect dogs swimming in swampy water or drinking contaminated water and also those coming in contact with grass that has been exposed to stagnant water.

The organism, present in water molds, enters into wounds in the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. Gradually the disease grows in the stomach and small intestines and leads to symptoms similar to the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and gastrointestinal cancer.

* Vomiting.
* Diarrhea.
* Lethargy.
* Loss in weight.
* A lump of mass in the abdomen.

Pythiosis of the skin leads to ulcerated lumps but it is rare in dogs. Granulomatous and itchy lesions containing yellow, firm masses of dead tissue form on lower limbs, abdomen, chest and genitals. In instances of severe prevalence the disease may spread to the underlying bone.

As a form of feline cancer, swamp cancer usually affects only the skin in cats and appears mostly in the limbs, perineum, and the base of the tail and rarely in the nasopharynx.

Even though an ELISA (enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay) test has been developed for animals, a definitive diagnosis is done through biopsy. Prognosis for swamp cancer in dogs is bad. S

urgery is not possible in all cases and even where surgery is performed there is an inherent risk of postoperative recurrence. Antifungal drugs have a limited affect on the disease and a new drug meant for water moulds is extremely expensive.

Regardless of the fact that water is utmost necessary for the survival, we have paid scant regard to this natural source of life. As long as the water around us is polluted the only prevention that we can take for our pets is to keep them away from potentially infected water.

It is also recommended that dogs should not be allowed to drink from puddles and ponds. Even if this care can be taken, there still remains the risk that dogs face from contaminated grass that has come in contact with contaminated water.

Moreover, it is improbable that we would be able to keep a hunter dog away from swamps and stagnant waters. Unless we take efforts to make our planet greener and avoid polluting the atmosphere and water, it seems that we may have to be careful of the contamination that exists.

The liver is a major organ that helps in detoxification of the body. Carcinogenic and toxic compounds consumed by dogs pass through it, which can potentially cause primary liver cancer in dogs. The liver is also a front-runner in destinations for metastatic tumors in humans as well as dogs. Primary cancer tends to metastasize to other parts of the body quite easily and this can happen before the disease has even been diagnosed.

A liver than functions improperly is tantamount to shutting down the multiple functions that the liver has to perform. These include:

* Detoxification of toxins and drugs.
* Storage and dispersion of nutrients.
* Regulation of body temperature and circulation.
* Metabolism.
* Digestion of food.

Initially the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs appear as abdominal pain when the dog is lifted from the stomach, a large mass felt in the abdomen or excessive weight loss. High levels of bilirubin in the blood stream or urine and an ultrasound that shows an enlarged liver or inflammation in the pancreas are indicative of liver cancer. A definitive diagnosis, however, is done with a liver biopsy.

Primary liver cancer, where removal of the affected lobe is possible, is often treated with surgery. Surgery is mostly ruled out in instances where multiple lobes are affected. Secondary liver cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy.

It is difficult to detect liver cancer in its early stages and prognosis of advanced stage is extremely poor. The cause of the disease is also difficult to ascertain. Our pets are called upon to digest large quantities of chemically processed commercial foods. That appears to be the major reason behind the increased incidence of canine and feline liver cancer . The best you can do for your ailing dog is to feed him a diet that will keep him healthy and also aid in the chemotherapy that might be advised by the veterinarian.

Home cooked food is the best diet that you can give to your dog. If that is not possible you should try and be careful while buying commercial pet food. Don’t just assume that an expensive brand is the best.

The basic rule that should be kept in mind is that dogs are meat eaters and do not graze. They have evolved in a way that they do not produce enzymes necessary for digesting grains. High levels of proteins and fats with lower levels of carbohydrates are best suited for dogs. The primary constituent of dog food should thus be a meat product. You can assess this simply by reading the label of your dog food. Almost all brands mix grains in varying quantities. The difference is the proportion of grains that are added to the dog food.

To be on a safer side you can take your own preventive measures. Add a can of sardines to any dog food that you buy. These sardines contain high amounts of fish oil, which is a natural source of fatty acids called Omega 3, 6 and 9. These fatty acids are good at combating cancer cells and can be added in the ratio – 1000 mg per 9 kg of body weight.

There comes a life after a dog’s body has reached a certain size and maturity that the natural multiplication of cells by division stops producing new cells. Cells are then produced only to replace dead cells. The body produces new cells only in exceptional cases like a cellular injury.

Such replacement is the necessity of the body and the process of replacement or otherwise is natural. Sometimes there are instances when the controlling system that maintains a balance between the death and growth of cells is unsettled by internal or external factors.

This causes the cell production to start producing in an unregulated production mode. This results in a mass of cells (tumor) that perform no specific function and are not required by the body.

Not all tumors or cancers in dogs, are harmful for the body. Sometimes the cells that grow unnecessarily resemble the normal cells of the organ from which they grow. These are benign tumors.

A benign tumor cannot be identified merely by its shape and has to be examined by a number of diagnostic tests. A biopsy or a sample of the tumor is obtained by performing a simple surgical procedure. This is then examined under a microscope. Benign tumors are normally enclosed in a capsule of fibrous tissue. T

he tumor is benign if the microscopic examination reveals a resemblance of the cells in the tumor with those of the surrounding organs. Malignant cells do not resemble the normal cells of an organ.

Another difference is that normal cells would show as being inactive while the cells in the tumor would show a greater percentage of cells in the dividing stage. Malignant tumor may sometimes appear similar to benign tumors and can only be differentiated by the presence of an unnatural count of chromosomes.

All types of pet cancers, including feline cancer follow the same rule of prevalence and growth and therefore, can either be benign or malignant. Unfortunately it is difficult to unearth cancer in its early stages because the symptoms of cancer usually mimic symptoms of other conditions.

A typical example is that of liver cancer. Symptoms of liver cancer in dogs like a decrease in appetite or refusal to eat, a bloated stomach or excessive vomiting may be symptoms of an inflammation in the liver, a pus filled abscess, or an injury to the liver.

Benign tumors do not spread to other organs. Moreover, the fact that benign tumors are encapsulated in fibrous tissue, surgical removal of the entire tumor does not involve any major problem. Although malignant tumors may also be similarly encapsulated in their initial stages, in advanced stages they do not remain restricted to the organ from which they develop. Surgery poses a great challenge in such cases. Care has to be taken to remove as much of the tumor as is possible. Even experts cannot guarantee that there are no residual cancerous cells left after surgery. Sometimes a malignant tumor can metastasized to affect certain vital organs ruling out a surgical removal.

Cancer is an uncontrolled malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal cell division. Cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream. Generally speaking, cancer is usually associated with the organ it affects and termed as such. Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in dogs and along with cancer of the mammary glands it forms nearly 58% of all cancers in dogs.

Carcinoma and sarcoma, the two out of the four major types of cancer, are the ones that normally occur in the skin of a dog that need to be differentiated for treatment purposes. Skin cancer usually affects four different types of cells and is divided into four categories as such.

* Epithelial tumors are associated with the skin, skin glands and hair follicles.
* Mesenchyme tumors are cancers resulting from cells that support fat, connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
* Round cell tumors include cancer of the external sex organs, mast cell tumors and plasma cell tumors.
* Melanomas are cancer of the cells responsible for pigment in the skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Carcinoma is a term that denotes to a cancer that initially starts in the cells and surrounds an organ completely. Another form of carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, grows gradually and does not normally spread to other parts of the body.

Another common form of skin cancer is associated with mast cells that control coagulation of blood and permeability of blood vessels. Mast cell tumors are usually malignant and arise from connective tissue. Allergic reactions may activate mast cell in a manner that any genetic or environmental predisposition can result in transforming these cells into a cancerous state.

The symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and cancers associated with other organs bring about symptoms like diarrhea, appetite loss, seizures, weight loss and certain immune mediated ailments. Waiting for clinical symptoms of skin cancer, however, can often result in delay in treatment.

Detecting signs of skin cancer requires regular examination of the skin of your dog, preferably at monthly intervals. Take a close look at the skin beneath the hair and look for any new growth, change in color and increase in size of any previous growth. Tumors that bleed easily or lesions and abrasions that do not heal even after treatment should be reported to a veterinarian immediately. Similarly a swelling in the breast tissue or a discharge oozing out of nipples too requires immediate attention of a specialist. Make sure that you check the entire body including the base of the tail.

Treatment of skin cancer is similar to treatment of other types of cancer. Depending upon the stage to which the cancer has developed, chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgical excision of tumor are the three such options.

Apart from ensuring a healthy and a natural diet, all that you can do to prevent skin cancer is not to expose your dog to known carcinogens. Dogs that have a family history of skin cancer, especially mast cell tumors, are more predisposed to develop skin cancer from exposure to allergens due to the hereditary genetic defects. Exposure to sun, which is a major reason behind feline cancer of the skin, can be equally risky for dogs with a light colored skin.

Lymphoma, one of the four major types of cancer, is a neoplasm (an abnormal growth that serves no purpose) of the lymph tissue. It is commonly known as lymph cancer and is almost always malignant. Lymph cancer usually occurs in middle aged dogs and one of the major indications is the prevalence of one or more lumps just under the skin. Physical examination would normally reveal that the peripheral lymph nodes are enlarged and firm.

While there is no evidence of a link between the leukemia virus and canine lymphoma, feline cancer of the lymphatic system is normally associated with the leukemia virus. The fact that lymphoma is more prevalent in certain breeds is indicative of a genetic predisposition for this type of cancer. Besides this, like all other types of cancers, there is no known cause for lymph cancer in dogs.

The most common form of lymphoma is multi-centric and therefore it appears at several sites at the same time. In normal conditions, lymph nodes are difficult to feel under the skin. The indication of lymph cancer comes in the shape of enlarged lumps that can be felt easily under the skin.

In some cases the symptoms of lethargy, loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination and loss of energy appear before the lumps can be felt. Multi-centric lymphoma can potentially spread to the liver and demonstrate the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs .

Other types of lymphomas present different symptoms.

* Lymphoma in the alimentary canal is associated with diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and lethargy. Cutaneous lymphoma is rare and affects the skin.
* Lymph cancer in the mediastina, the part of the thoracic cavity between the lungs that contains the heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea and thymus, shows as a tumor in the front part of the chest leading to fluid retention and a difficulty in breathing.
* Extra-nodal lymphoma pertains to other parts of the body including eyes, the central nervous system, bones, heart, kidneys, bladder and the nasal cavity where the lymphatic system can be potentially affected by cancer cells.

Aspirates from the lymph nodes are sent to the pathological lab to establish the malignancy of the lumps Blood tests, x-rays and a biopsy of the lymph tissues are some of the other tests that may have to be performed for an effective diagnosis.

Without treatment, lymph cancer results in the death of the dog within four to six weeks. Chemotherapy protocols are well defined for treating lymphomas as they are the most commonly treated cancer in dogs. Most dogs respond favorably to anti cancer drugs and there is an approximately 84% chances of abatement and increase in the survival time.

Although the overall prognosis of lymphoma is poor to bad, drugs can induce remission. If money is not a consideration another round of drugs can be administered for a second remission. Even a one year increase in the life of the dog is worth the expense especially if you keep in mind that that one year is equivalent to six to seven years in dog’s life.

Despite a good prognosis for some types of cancer, due to the fatality and toxicity of the medication associated with it, pet owners are often confronted with a dilemma whether to go for a treatment or not. Most of the times, cancer in dogs occurs in old age making dogs more vulnerable to the side effects of conventional treatment. Surgery has a limited scope in as far as it can only excise parts of the tumor.

There is a dire need for exploring new areas of cancer treatment. Despite significant developments in this field, a lot more needs to be done to develop new strategies and drugs that target only cancerous cells and spare the normal cells.

The development of any new treatment needs to be done keeping in mind that any medication should cure the disease with a minimum of side effects. To achieve this goal the therapy has to target and destroy only the cancer cells while it allows the normal healthy cells to live.

Let us try to understand how radiation and chemotherapy work to kill malignant cells. These therapies make use of the fact that malignant tumors have cells that grow rapidly by division whereas the normal cells are mostly in a resting stage. Chemotherapy attempts to intervene at the DNA function of cells to divide and multiply thus leaving the normal cells alone.

There is an exception to this rule because even some normal cells like those in bone marrow and the GI lining naturally continue to divide and replace dead cells all the time. Moreover, sometimes normal cells start dividing and replacing after the treatment is given. This leaves a very small margin of error.

Another limitation of conventional drugs is the field of recurrence. There is a great amount of heterogeneity within the cells of a single tumor. As the tumor increases in size, some of the cells get lesser blood supply causing them to divide at a reduced pace compared to others in the same tumor. This results in making some cells resistant to drugs and they can survive even after the patient is cured of the disease. These cancerous cells remain dormant for a time and lead to recurrence of cancer at a later stage.

On the other hand, surgery has a different set of limitations. Pet cancer, including canine and feline cancer has the uncanny property of surfacing when it has already metastasized to neighboring, distant and even vital organs. This either rules out surgery or at best results in partial excision of a tumor. And therefore, chemotherapy and radiation become necessary. It is only in rare cases like liver cancer where pet owners can notice the condition early enough for treatment since the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs are quite apparent at an early stage.

Total excision is only possible in cases of a benign tumor, which is, in most cases, harmless. On the other hand, any increase in dosage of chemotherapeutic drugs or time of radiation exposure has an accompanied and corresponding risk of increase in toxicity. Pet owners need to take an educated decision based on the general health of the dog and risks involved. In fact owners have to strike a balance between compassion, quality of life after treatment and benefits likely to be derived from treatment.

The question what causes cancer has been one of the most frustrating questions for scientists involved in cancer research. Despite huge amounts of funding and resource being spent on the subject, there is still an element of doubt behind what causes cancer. At the most we know what the risk factors are because most of the causes carry an element of doubt along with them.

An important risk factor behind the development of lung cancer in humans is cigarette smoking. But cigarette smoking does not cause cancer on its own because there is strong evidence of many heavy smokers who do not develop cancer. Genetic predisposition and a change in genetic messages caused by carcinogens combine to cause cancer. For example, age may be one factor that has been identified.

This is because advancing age allows for a series of changes in the body that can lead to the transformation of normal cells into cancerous ones. Risk factors are important in as much as they have the ability to affect genes responsible for normal cell functioning.

In dogs and other pets, risk factors like smoking and other items of human use are of little importance. Most of the factors that increase the risk of feline cancer and cancer in dogs can be classified under two categories:

* Carcinogens – viruses, chemicals and physical carcinogens that can be found in the environment
* There are certain DNA and RNA viruses, normally termed as tumor viruses that have the capacity to pass their own genetic information to the DNA of the cells they infect. It is a complex infection which may involve the virus turning into a cancer causing agent or merge partially with the infected cell.
* There are chemicals that may cause cancer directly or indirectly. Indirect carcinogens need enzymes present in the body to act as catalysts for them to turn carcinogenic. Direct carcinogens, however, are reactive compounds in their own right.
* Physical carcinogens include exposure to radiation: ionized or ultraviolet, fibers like asbestos, and hyperthermia.

Genetic Disorders – inherited or acquired.

* A dog may inherit cells carrying genetic material from generation to generation. A gene that suppresses formation of a tumor may get inactivated. On the other hand a gene that causes normal cells to change into cancerous cells may get activated in the sperm or the ovum.
* In some cases cancerous cells develop during mitosis, the process of multiplication of cell by division and are not hereditary in nature. This is an instance of an acquired chromosomal defect where a parent cell passes on the genetic information to the daughter cells that it divides into.

Prediction of cancer is highly improbable. It is ultimately left to the correct reading of signs, such as symptoms of liver cancer in dogs, which can lead to an early detection of this fatal disease. Advancements in treatment therapies for cancer have resulted in many success stories of pet cancer treatment.

If it is determined before metastasis affects vital organs, it is possible to extend the life of your dog as well as improve its quality for as long as he lives.