Fluffy or Fido has developed a lump. You observe your cat or dog having difficulty when chewing. Your pet doesn’t want to play any more. The diagnosis: cancer.Dog, cats, and other mammals are susceptible to many of the diseases that humans get, cancer included. With advances in veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer, which increases their chances of getting cancer and other diseases. The good news is that cancer treatment for pets has advanced at the same pace as cancer treatment for people.

Warning signs of cancer in pets

The warning signs listed here could be caused by other conditions, not just by cancer. Whatever their cause, early treatment increases the odds of success. Take your pet to your veterinarian if you see any of these signs:

Pet appearance and smell

• A lump or sore that won’t heal or go away
• An abnormal swelling that grows
• Difference in testicle size
• Bleeding or discharge from a body opening
• Weight loss despite eating
• Lameness or stiffness
• An odor

Pet behavior

• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Not eating for more than a day or two
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty urinating or defecating
• Fatigue — tiring easily and lacking energy
• Depression
• Appetite loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Coughing

Pet cancer diagnosis

If your cat or dog has a tumor or other visibly affected area, your veterinarian will aspirate a few cells from the area and examine them under a microscope. The presence of any abnormal cells means that the next step in diagnosis is a biopsy — removal of a tissue sample for microscopic examination. After the tissue has been examined under a microscope, the tumor can be classified as high-grade (fast-growing), intermediate, or low-grade (slow-growing).

To find tumors that might not be visible, diagnostic imaging tools can be used, such as X-rays, ultrasound, radiography, scans, and endoscopy. With endoscopy, a small scope is inserted into the body so that internal cancerous masses can be viewed and biopsied. The animal is sedated, but the procedure is less invasive than surgery.

Blood tests are used to look for changes in white blood cells as well as other changes that could point to cancer. In addition, blood tests can detect problems that the treatment itself may be causing.

After a diagnosis of cancer is made, further tests may be necessary to monitor the treatment of the disease.

Cancer treatment for pets

Animals respond differently to cancer treatment than people do. Often a combination of these treatment types is used:

• Surgery is the most effective treatment for most tumors. When tumors can’t be completely removed surgically, other treatments are used in combination with surgery.
• Radiotherapy kills cancerous cells via high-energy X-rays. It’s done as a series of treatments over a few weeks. The most common side effect is hair loss and a sunburn effect around the area of the tumor; severe side effects are rare. Sometimes radiotherapy destroys all the cancer cells. Other times, it just reduces their size enough to allow the animal good health for a long time before the tumor grows again.
• Chemotherapy rarely cures tumors, but it often puts the cancer in remission. It’s typically used for cancer that has spread to other areas and for inoperable tumors. Side effects are less severe than with people.

Special attention to your pet’s nutritional needs helps support your pet’s health. For dogs, Hill’s Prescription Diet Canine n/d has been created specifically to counter the effects of cancer and cancer treatment. The article Nutrition and the Small Animal Cancer Patient has more information on the nutritional needs of cats and dogs with cancer.

Alternative pet cancer treatment

Alternative treatment for cancer in pets may be used to help support the animal’s health while your pet is undergoing conventional treatment, or as a treatment in itself.

• Homeopathic treatments can help stimulate the immune system, prevent and fight cancer, control pain, and prevent side effects from chemotherapy and radiation.
• Nutritional and herbal supplements help your pet’s body fight cancer.

Pet cancer treatment and recovery

Cancer is the leading cause of death in older cats and dogs. However, cancer is sometimes curable, and it is usually treatable. When cancer treatment can’t cure the disease, it can slow its progression and reduce tumor size and related discomfort.

Dogs, cats, and most other pets have much shorter life spans than people do. Treatment that extends the animal’s life by even a year gives a significant increase for an animal with a life expectancy of perhaps 10 to 15 years.

When we provide quality of life along with an increased length of life, we’ve done a lot for our pets.

You’re planning your vacation, or you need to travel for other reasons. Should you take your dog with you? If you take him, how do you prepare for travel with your dog? The answers depend on your dog, the traveling type and distance, and the destination.

Your dog and travel

The SPCA recommends against traveling with pets if possible. Dogs, however, are generally more adaptable to travel than other animals are, and most dogs want to be with their people as much as possible. If you want to travel with your dog, ask yourself these questions:

Your dog

• Is your dog in good health and able to easily adjust to temperature changes during the trip and at your destination?
• Is your dog accustomed to travel and being in unfamiliar places?
• Is your dog well socialized?

The traveling type and distance

• If you’ll be traveling on an airplane or other public transportation, is your dog comfortable confined to a travel crate or travel carrier for lengthy periods of time? Can you get a direct flight to your destination?
• If you’ll be traveling by motor vehicle, does your dog look forward to traveling in a vehicle? Will you have time to stop often? Will you be able to take your dog with you when you leave the vehicle, especially on hot days?

The destination

• Does your destination have pet-friendly accommodation?
• Will your dog be able to accompany you during activities at your destination?

If the answer is no to any of the above questions, your dog may be happier at home with a pet sitter or in a kennel, where the conditions will be suitable for dogs.

If the answer to all of the above questions is yes, consider bringing your dog with you — but be aware of what can go wrong when traveling with a dog.

Dogs and transportation

Dog identification

Whatever your mode of transportation, be sure that your dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag at all times. If you have a cell phone or destination phone number, include it on the ID tag. Your dog will be identifiable even if he loses his collar if he also has a microchip implant or ear tattoo.

A current photo of your dog is useful to have with you in case your dog goes missing.

Traveling by air with dogs

Air travel for dogs carries risks. Airlines consider dogs baggage, and every year, some animals become injured or even die from the conditions and handling they experience as airplane cargo items.

Some airlines allow dogs, particularly small dogs, to travel in the cabin with their owners. If you’ll be traveling by airplane with a dog, find out if the airline allows dogs to travel in the cabin. Also ask if the airline requires a specific type of dog carrier or if they have any other restrictions for dogs on airplanes.

For a long list of tips for traveling with dogs and other pets, see Tips for Safe Pet Air Travel.

Traveling by vehicle with dogs

When traveling in a car or other motor vehicle with a dog, stop regularly to give your dog bathroom and exercise breaks. Offer him water whenever you stop.

Bring with you:

• Travel dog bowls for food and water
• Dog food and, depending on where you’re going, water
• Medication, if your dog is on medication
• Plastic bags for cleaning up after your dog
• A towel to clean or dry your dog if necessary, or to cool him down if he’s hot
• A leash

Never leave your dog alone in a car in hot weather. Heat stroke can develop within a few minutes. The Odor Destroyer article Protecting Your Pet from Summer Heat covers how to protect your pet from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

International travel with dogs

If you’re traveling to another country with your dog, your dog will probably be required to have up-to-date vaccinations. Depending on the destination, a quarantine period may be required. Check the requirements of the country you’re planning to visit about vaccinations and any other restrictions concerning dogs.

Dog-friendly accommodation

Hotels that allow dogs are becoming easier to find. To find hotels at your destination that accept dogs as guests, do an online search for “dog-friendly accommodation.” This search will produce listings of directories of hotels and other types of accommodation that allow dogs.

You are responsible for your dog and any damage he may cause. Bring him with you whenever possible when you leave the hotel. If you must leave him unattended in the hotel room, put a “Do not disturb” sign on the door handle so that hotel staff don’t unexpectedly encounter your dog.

At your destination, give your dog plenty of exercise. A tired dog is less likely to exhibit behavior problems.

With exercise, companionship, and all of his needs met, chances are that your dog will enjoy the trip as much as you will.