Did you know that cancer accounts for almost half the deaths of pets over 10 years of age? While I didn't realize this (or that dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans, while cats get fewer cancers), I do believe that using animal-friendly products and high-quality food is essential to our pets' well-being. Because of the dangers of household cleaners, environmental toxins, and chemicals in their foods, it's important to know what symptoms to watch out for — with early detection, cancer can be a treatable disease for furry friends.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association [1], the 10 common signs of cancer in small animals are:
- Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight loss
See the rest when you .
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive odor
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent lameness or stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecting
Now, you'll probably recognize that some symptoms overlap with other illnesses [2], but anytime you notice just one of these things, please take your pet to the vet — even though it could be nothing, it could very well be something, too.
Source [3]