My dog Dudley is getting older, as are we all. For me it's the toughest part about being a pet owner, having to see our pets age so much more quickly than we do. But even with the inevitable outcome of aging, I will always have a dog around. The joy they bring to us every day more than makes up for any of the bad times.
I'm mentioning Dudley because he has been fighting cancer. In his case, he has lymphoma, which is the most common cancer in dogs. He's feeling great right now and getting wonderful care from his vet, but we know that cancer will eventually win. In the mean time, he gets all the extra snacks he wants and still goes to work with me everyday. I bring this up not for sympathy, because I know that most dog owners will have to deal with this at some time. I mention it because there is great work being done in cancer research for our pets, just as there is in research for human cancer. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to help with the research, I recommend taking a look at the Canine Health Research Center at the American Kennel Club website. The link is www.akc.org/doghealth
Also from the AKC, here's the early warning signs of cancer in our pets. If you have questions or suspect your dog has a problem, please make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Early Warning Signs of Cancer in our Pets:
1. Lump present more than 1 month
2. Open wound-with or without bloody discharge
3. Bad odors-especially bad breath
4. Loss of interest in food
5. Difficulty swallowing
6. Weight loss
7. Lack of desire to exercise or weak when exercises
8. Persistent lameness
9. Difficulty breathing or persistent cough
10. Difficulty urinating or defecating
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