Steps to Help Prevent Cancer in Dogs

Cancer is a troublesome condition that can develop into a life threatening state. Cancer affects a large population of both dogs and cats around the world and it has been observed that cancer rates are rising among the modern domestic pet population. Research determined that 23% of dogs passed away with cancer in 2002 with 45% of them being in the senior age bracket.

Discovering your dog has cancer is no easy task, we covered recognizing symptoms of cancer in your dog in our previous post. Determining that your dog has cancer through careful daily observation is a developed habit and owners will eventually notice that something is amiss with their lovely doggo’s health. Prevention is a big part of a dog’s healthy lifestyle, let’s take a look at a how we can actively prevent our precious dog’s from developing cancer.  

 Sterilization

Sterilization is the process of permanently removing the reproductive functions of your pet’s body. In addition to reproductive control, it will also prevent cancers linked to the reproductive organs in your dog. It’s recommended to bring your pet when feasible to do so for sterilization surgery to put this preventive cancer measure into place as soon as possible. For female dogs, sterilization is known to be most effective before their first estrus to regulate hormonal levels which are linked to associated cancers. Keep in mind that sterilization must be undertaken after a dog has sufficiently matured. Smaller dogs will usually have the surgery after at least one year of age while larger breeds will typically be mature for surgery after 18 months. Sterilization can sometimes be seen as double edged preventative measure. Preventing cancers linked to reproductive organs is a benefit but researchers highlight this fundamental change in the body also increases the risk of vascular cancers. Sterilization has its benefits and drawbacks and should be carefully considered before proceeding, it’s best to consult your vet beforehand.  

Beware of Commercial Food Recipes

Growth in cancer rates have seen a relationship to commercial dog food sales, not a sudden coincidence. Vast choices of dog food is a great way to accommodate to a variety of dietary needs, however standards across commercial dog foods can be of both good and bad quality. Researching the contents in commercial dog foods is a must for all dog owners, pay particular attention to the origin and volume of raw ingredients. Avoid food pigments/colorants and preservatives. Look out for potential carcinogens and avoid foods that are high in sodium. A healthy source of food is essential to contributing to a healthy lifestyle and minimizing risk of cancer.  

Healthy and Natural Diet

Feeding homemade dog food to your pup is a great way to accommodate their dietary needs with complete knowledge of what is in each and every meal. It’s important to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet when opting for a homemade approach to your dog’s diet. Close attention to fat content and non-organic meats are important. Choose foods that are known to be anti-carcinogens, otherwise known as superfoods for your pup. A healthy selection of vegetables, lean meat and distilled water are examples of healthy food sources. Broccoli and cabbages are our favorite choices as a detox/anti-oxidant that also serve as anti-cancer components.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment 

It is currently still difficult to pinpoint the root cause of cancer manifestation and guaranteed prevention is not certain. Keeping a close eye on your dog through its daily activities is important and looking out for any abnormal symptoms is key to discovering early diagnosis and intervention. Treating early stage cancer provides a much better chance for a dog’s survival and it’s recommended that you bring your pup to a local vet for routine health screenings. This is especially important for dogs who are reaching their senior years above the age of seven years. Regularly screenings will diagnosis cancer in its early stages and considerably boost the chance of survival.  

Manage Your Environment

Cancer does not appear overnight but its presence slowly grows in the body as time goes by. Lifestyle and living environment are important to all animals and it’s important to consider the environment in which they are living in. Second-hand smoking, use of harmful chemical cleaning agents, unhygienic conditions and other detrimental living conditions need to be taken care of immediately. Taking of your dog’s hygiene is also important and you should regularly wash their body, paws and take care of oral hygiene.

Living a healthy life with your pet is an active approach to preventing cancer. In some cases, the unfortunate may occur and illness may strike. It’s important to stay calm and keep looking out for these symptoms, your vet will be the next stop for consultation. Swift diagnosis and treatment will yield great benefits to therapy and operative effectiveness.  

Images used in this post are taken from sources with no attribution required