CANCER - An ever growing problem in our pets

We all seem to be aware of the ever increasing problem of cancer in humans. There is also a the huge increase in cancer in our pets. When I graduated veterinary school in 1981, cancer was the 3rd leading cause of death in our animal friends, behind kidney and heart disease. Since then cancer gradually has not only become the number one disease, but it has become number one by a large margin!

Some breeds are virtual cancer "factories". The Golden Retriever has surpassed even the Boxer (for years the big cancer breed), in recent years. I'm seeing cancer in dogs as young as 2 years of age. In cats, the increase of thyroid, mammary and fibro sarcoma cancer is also significant.

To what do we owe this increase? The theories are many and varied. Environmental pollution such as chemicals, smoke, bad water may be a cause. Over vaccination, poor diets, genetics, inbreeding are also implicated. As in humans, no one knows what "causes" cancer.

Treatments are similar to humans. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. While some animals do well, some do poorly or do not respond. What follows here are discussions of alternative cancer treatments, as well as nutritional support therapies, and therapies to decrease the side effects of cancer.

Which of these therapies work? Well, just as in conventional therapies, no one treatment works all the time and in all patients. Most of the time, we combine therapies to try to get the most beneficial effect. I see better results than single therapies alone, less side effects and happier healthier pets during treatments.

Read about some alternative cancer therapies here.