Your pet with cancer is no different than it is with humans. Just as unpredictable and unapproachable as with humans. Only humans can do something, say something, etc. Things are different with animals and owners often wonder if they couldn’t have done something earlier. You can’t really do more than an occasional “check-up” at the vet, and even then you can’t beat it.
Cancer in animals versus humans
Cancer occurs in animals, just like in humans. People still have the advantage of being able to pronounce it when they feel something and possibly take it straight to the doctor. It is different with animals. People have to play a part in that. Older people get cancer more often and this also applies to older animals. But when your pet gets cancer, it’s a downer anyway.
Prevent or treat?
Prevent (or at least be quick)
Prevention is not always possible, you cannot give a pet more than healthy food and a happy life with sufficient exercise. However, an occasional check-up can nip something in the bud at an early stage. The question is whether this is financially feasible, such a study can quickly cost 75$.
What you can do at no cost is to check your animal yourself, on a regular basis. As the woman examines her breasts, you can also check your pet’s body. You will recognize certain points and if you are worried, check with your vet.
Reading suggestions; White Dog Names
It goes without saying that this is not possible for all cancers, unfortunately. You can also pay attention to a pet that is losing weight quickly for no apparent reason or the behavior is suddenly different. It often seems as if the character is changing.
Just as people with too much sun can get skin cancer, so can a pet. In particular, animals with a white coat (especially if this coat is short and thin) are more likely to develop squamous carcinomas.
The nose and ears are then extra sensitive and you can only do one thing … keep the animal inside more with a lot of suns.
Treatment
In animals, cancers can also be treated better, and more and more and more animals are cured or at least made chronic. It is good to think about the route because the owner of the animal also asks many questions, such as:
- How do follow-up studies work?
- Will the animal suffer from it (quality of life)?
- What is the chance of success?
- Can it be lived with (so can it be made chronic)?
- Does it have an impact on the boss (and his/her family)?
- What are the costs (and are they covered by insurance?)
About 30% of pets (especially cats and dogs) will experience it in their lifetime. It is now the number one cause of death for dogs. If one is going to treat then there are several ways to do this and is actually equal to the human being.
Surgery can be performed, chemotherapy can be applied and radiation can be applied. Just like in humans, it depends on the type of cancer that is used. Surgical treatment still takes place most of the time.
Strangely enough, in many cases animals endure the treatments more easily than humans. Where humans become bald from various types of chemotherapy, this will not actually happen to the animal and humans sometimes suffer from diarrhea, the animal does not suffer from this.
Unfortunately, radiation without anesthesia is not possible, because you have to lie still for radiation and the animal will not undergo that easily. When we talk about terminal care, it is usually about dealing with the pain of the animal. The quality of life must be adequate, otherwise, euthanasia is – however bad – better for the animal.
Handle costs
Sooner or later, it will in any case cost you. Where an investigation can quickly cost around $ 100, costs can rise from 2700$ to 3300$. This of course depends on what has to be done. There are insurance policies that cover these costs.
Finally
Technology continues to advance – in all areas – and so does the technology for (pet) animals “in need”. Remains at the top of the list, that for animals, just as for humans, the quality of life must be central. Fortunately, more and more can be treated well and an animal can last for years in health. There’s nothing like a wonderfully happy cat or dog!
