Cancer in Pets

“Fighthing the Big C.” This was what my cousin in the US posted in social media with a picture of her dog. I had visited their home some five years ago, and had interacted with that dog, together with all the other dogs they had. I can fairly remember one of them was always angry upon seeing me, and even giving me an unwelcoming growl. Probably, the dog was just defending its territory, or it was just jealous of my closeness with my cousin. 

I was saddened and touched by her recent social media post. She mentioned that their dog had given her and her husband 10 years of joy, and that they would gladly give back the favor by fighting the “C” in their pet. I was reminded that for some people, dogs are like family. They also get the same love, concern, care and even expense as humans. Cancer treatment in dogs is expensive, just as any other cancer treatment is. If her dog was just near, I would have gladly offered my services in my clinic. 

Cancer cells must be removed from the body to prevent it from interfering with the normal functioning of the body. Thus, early detection is very important as it may spread to different areas, making it more difficult to control. Cancer can affect animals at any age, but it is usually common in older ages.

When you play with your furry pets, take time to touch its body and try to look for any unusual lumps. If you are able to locate one, go to your veterinarian and have it checked. Another consideration that would warrant a visit to your veterinarian is when you notice abnormal manifestations from your pet, including weight loss, loss of appetite and many others. If you are a health practitioner, this might be very familiar to you as the signs seen in humans can be similar to those in animals. 

I can remember an instance during my internship days when a veterinarian attempted to perform surgery to remove tumors in a dog with distended stomach or abdominal area. After opening the abdomen, he was surprised to see that the tumors were already spread in different organs and was deemed untreatable. He ended up closing the abdomen without performing anything. The dog was allowed to recover from the anesthesia, with the veterinarian and the owner at the side discussing the situation. I can vividly remember the dreadful cries from the owner. It was my first time to see how attached a pet owner can be to its pet. Later, the dog was put down.  

No matter how good a veterinarian is, we cannot guarantee 100 percent success in cancer treatment. But that doesn’t mean that our treatment is useless. Our intervention is aimed at controlling or stopping the spread of the cancer cells and to improve the quality of life of the animals.

I ardently pray that the treatment for my cousin’s dog would be successful. I also pray that in the event that it will not work out as they expect it to be, they would find the courage to accept the fate and live on the appreciation of the loving memories their pet has shared with them, and on the time that they will be devoting to take care of their pet until its last breath.  

This concern and relationship is not only about my cousin and her dog. This resonates to all other owners who truly care about their pets. To those who love their pet not only during the times when they were young and cute, but also until the final moments when the dogs are already going to bid their owners farewell.

I am more than confident that pets still think of their owners even in their (the pets’) dying stage. I salute all of you for your unconditional love.

Dr. Yba?ez is a Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Science from the United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences of Gifu University, Japan. He is a licensed veterinarian with a mixed practice in the academe, research, public health, small animals and laboratory animals. He has received several international and national awards, and has authored several international scientific publications. Dr. Yba?ez welcomes questions from readers; these may be e-mailed to [email protected] or to [email protected], or sent by text to 09157795554.