3 Ways You Can Reduce the Chances of Your Pet Developing Cancer

When it comes to cancer, awareness is the key to catching symptoms early so that a treatment can be started as soon as possible. Just as in humans, pets too can show certain symptoms which could mean they are suffering from some form of cancer and just as in humans, the earlier the cancer is detected the better chance your pet has of living a longer time. The bad news is that cancer is high on the list of causes of pets deaths today but the good news is that owners can do three things which will help reduce the chances of them developing cancer in the first place.

Keeping Your Pet Fit & in Good Shape

Unfortunately, many people who own dogs, cats or other pets literally love them to death by over-feeding them. Overweight or obese pets are considered to be high risk when it comes to cancer and other health related issues. Millions are spent by owners every year on veterinary fees to have their beloved animals treated for some form of cancer or other illness which is all due to the fact their pets are overweight!

It is essential for pets to be fed the right nutritious diet and a careful eye needs to kept on their weight to ensure they are not putting on the pounds. You need to remember the amount you feed your dog, cat or other pet has to be a well balanced diet that corresponds with their breed and the amount of daily exercise they receive. If an animal lives a more sedentary life, then they should be fed accordingly. Pets that lead very active lives will naturally burn up far more calories and would therefore need to be fed larger portions of good quality and nutritious food.

The Importance of Managing Environmental Risks

People who share their lives and homes with pets whether it's a cat, dog or any other pet often subject them to a few substances that are known to increase the risk of cancer developing. This includes second-hand tobacco smoke, some household cleaning products and other chemicals which are frequently used in a garden. Pets need to be kept away from things that might be harmful to their health and especially if they are connected to cancer.

The best way to reduce the chances of your pet coming into contact with these harmful substances is to make sure you only use natural products that are chemical-free on your garden. To make sure no products have been treated with any sort of flame retardant which have shown to be linked to certain health issues and cancer for both pets and their owners. You should never smoke around your pet or better still, give up altogether.

Recognising the Early Warning Signs

It is really important to check your pet over on a regular basis and this is especially true as they get older. This would mean regular health checks with the vet. As previously mentioned, the earlier a cancer is detected the better and just as in humans, it can be treated accordingly which might prolong your pet's life by months or even years which would not be the case otherwise. Even if you do organise regular health check-ups with the vet, you should still give your pet the once over in between their appointments just to make sure there are no lumps or bumps developing anywhere on their bodies.

The things to check for include the following:

• Any abnormal swellings, lumps or bumps that just keep getting bigger
• Sores that will not heal
• Weight loss & loss of condition
• Loss of appetite
• Any bleeding or discharge from any body openings
• An offensive smell
• Difficulty swallowing and eating
• Reluctance to move, go for a walk and loss of stamina
• Stiffness and lameness
• Difficulty urinating, defecating and breathing

Keeping Pets Healthy is the Key

Making sure you take your pet for regular check-ups with the vet is crucial because if caught early enough some cancers can be treated very effectively. Modern day veterinary medicines just like human medicine, has come on in leaps and bounds over recent years. However, some pets will develop cancer no matter how careful you are and just as with humans, the only way forward is to treat them with the best cancer treatments available so they live comfortably for as long as possible.

If you have pet insurance you would not have to worry about the cost of your pet receiving the right cancer treatment which can turn out to be expensive. This naturally puts extra stress on pet owners who are only having to cope with the knowledge of their pets suffering from cancer but worrying about the cost of having them treated too. This is just one of the reasons why it is so important to have pets insured.