Pets Blog

Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancers seen. It is also referred to as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In dogs, many different species develop Lymphosarcoma. Like any other cancer, this one can “metastasize”, which means it can spread and affect other organs and tissues.
Most dogs get a type of Lymphosarcoma that originates the lymph nodes and usually the nodes under the jaw get swollen. Sometimes this is the only symptom your dog will have. But the jaw is not the only place where this disease can begin. Some forms of Lymphosarcoma begin in the bone marrow, the chest, abdomen, or even the skin.
DIAGNOSIS
It is difficult to detect the Lymphosarcoma because it can spread to many places in the body. So full analysis is essential to determine this disease and also establish the stage of disease. It is very important to determine the stage of the disease and decide the kind of treatment and the right dosage. Vets usually do the following tests in order to detect the stages:
* Cytology – checking the lymph node cells
* Blood work
* Abdominal radiographs
* Abdominal ultrasound
* Bone marrow analysis
Most of the times, the vets do just a few of the tests listed above. Even a few of the tests alone can determine the stage and if the dog can be submitted to the treatment.
DISEASE STAGES OF EVOLUTION
Lymphosarcoma has 4 stages.
In state I the cancer exists in just one lymph node. This stage is rarely diagnosed in pets.
In stage II the disease has spread to more than one node and has occupied a body region.
In stage III the cancer is in the nodes but has spread in the body.
In stage IV the Lymphosarcoma has reached the liver or the spleen.
There is also a stage V and it refers to all the stages above but with cancer spread to the bone marrow or the blood or any other organ.
The main stages have sub stages: “A” and “B”.
“A” means the patient doesn’t have the illness. “B” means the patient displays clinical symptoms like fluid in the lungs, vomiting or diarrhea.
Stage IIIA is the earliest detected and it can be treated.
MEANS OF TREATMENT
Many people have heard of chemotherapy. This means treatment with chemicals. The dog anti-cancer drugs, orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously. The good fact is that animals have a high tolerance to anti-cancer drugs, far better than humans. Also, side effects because of the treatment appear only in 5 cases out of 100.
Some of the most common questions a dog owner has are:
Is the dog going to lose the hair? Usually, they don’t. But poodles and old English Sheepdogs are predisposed to lose their hair after chemotherapy. But don’t worry. It will grow back. Keep in mind that Lymphosarcoma treatable but not curable.
Will the disease come back and how long will it last? This depends on the type of Lymphosarcoma the dog has. But with the latest medical advances, approximately 90% of dogs achieve a complete remission. The average remission is between 8 and 12 months.
What happens after the dog comes out of remission? It can be treated just like the first time. Also, the second and third remissions are treatable.
The whole cost of the treatment begins at about $500 and can go up to $2,000 in case of a large pet.

If you own a male dog for a pet, something you should be aware of is that he can develop prostate cancer, just as a human male can. A tumor or growth in the prostate is the reason behind most prostate gland issues in male dogs. There are signs and symptoms that will help alert you to the fact that your dog may have prostate cancer. You need to schedule an immediate visit to your veterinarian, when you notice the following:

• Your dog has a fever and displays a lack of appetite.
• His urine shows a pink color and may also contain blood.
• He’ll typically pass urine with short spurts intermittently.
• You’ll notice stiff back legs in your dog and he may take shorter steps.
• Your dog may have an arched back when he walks.

Other facts that you need to know about dog prostate cancer include:

• If you notice the above symptoms in your dog, he most likely has a tumor in his prostate, as it’s highly improbable that any other condition will cause the same symptoms.
• The prostate gland is located within the urethra. It’s a small, rather spherical gland that produces fluids that carries and feeds the sperm during the mating process of dogs.
• If your dog develops a tumor in his prostate, it will cause inflammation of the gland. As growth continues, it will push against the urethra’s wall, making it difficult and very painful for your dog to urinate.

The most important thing that you can do once you start to notice any of these things with your dog is to get him to the veterinarian immediately. Once there, the vet will perform X-rays, ultrasound scans, and may use a camera to view your dog’s prostate. These are done to confirm whether or not your dog has prostate cancer.  Read more...

Old age in dogs bring many problems. Old aged dog sometimes do not get the full benefit from the diet he has been eating. He may become thin, and his coat becomes harsh and dry. In some cases, a different food, a new feeding dish, or a different person preparing the food may upset the dog.

When your old dog becomes thin and weak you should try feeding him more often. Give him two feedings instead of one per day; or three instead of two. Smaller amount at each feeding is easier on the digestive system, and don’t forget a few treats now and then, such as custard.

Keep fresh drinking water available at all times. If you find an increase in the volume of water consumed, especially accompanied by increased thirst, report it to your veterinarian. Kidney deterioration is common in geriatric dogs. Medication and prescription diets may be necessary. If your old dog has heart disease or stomach or intestinal problems, special foods are available in canned conditions through your veterinarian.

Watch carefully for any changes in the appearance of your dog. The old dog cannot fight infections as effectively as in the young age. If anything seems wrong, take the temperature. Even a degree rise in the body temperature which may mean nothing in a younger dog is a danger sign in the old dogs. Though infection spreads slowly, yet it does spread. Proper treatment must begin before damaging headway is made.

Growth is also a common part of the aging process. Growths may be found on almost any part of the body. The flaps of the ears, the eyelids, and the flesh between the toes are probable places. This should receive immediate treatment by your veterinarian.  Read more...

Oral hygiene is very important for dogs and without the proper dental care; your dog is at risk of developing oral diseases such as tartar, cavities, plaque, or even gingivitis. Dog’s teeth need to be brushed and flossed regularly to prevent this since they aren’t very picky eaters, you can’t be sure about where your dog’s snout has been. Dogs have been known to drink from toilet bowls. Germs and bacteria tend to accumulate in warm, damp places – much like the inside of your dog’s mouth. As dogs are exposed to them regularly, they are more prone to develop oral and dental problems.

You need to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, and you need to do it right! However, you can’t use a regular toothbrush and toothpaste. Some veterinary gel/toothpaste will be needed, asks your veterinarian and he’ll surely carry them. There are various types of dog toothbrushes a popular kind can be fitted on a finger. If your dog needs extra-soft bristles, they are available as well. While in some cases, using a regular toothbrush for humans would work okay, using regular toothpaste could pose some health hazards. It is not meant to be swallowed, but your dog may not have control over it. Furthermore, you will definitely have a harder time trying to brush your dog’s teeth; toothpaste for dogs is usually meat-flavoured.

Brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t that hard. All you have to do is coat the bristles of the toothbrush (either finger-brush or a child’s toothbrush) with dog toothpaste. Make sure that it is distributed evenly among the bristles as your dog will just eat the paste up if it just sits right on top of the bristles. To brush your dog’s teeth, use a mechanical, back and forth motion. Make sure that every tooth is clean; look out for any left-over food stuck in between teeth as it could accumulate and cause their teeth to go bad.  Read more...

Soon the birds will be back and the leaves on the trees. That warm summer breeze will make you feel all warm inside and happy the cold winter has past. This is the time to remember our furry little friends who sometimes suffer from the summer heat. They love us unconditionally even if they are suffering. We can take steps to insure that our pets are safe when that first heat wave comes by. Our pets are like our family members, so let us treat them like it.

First step is to be prepared. Water, can’t stress this enough. Make sure your pets have continual supply of water. Imagine working or playing outside and not having any water. Heat stress will take a toll on your body without replenishing the water that you sweat out. The same can be said for our pets. There has been countless times when you hear in the news of pets dying because of not being cared for in the summer heat and not having water. Another preparation you should make is shelter. Protect your pet from the summer sun and heat. Your pet may not dissipate heat as well as humans. Dogs and cats are susceptible to sunburn, especially recently shaved dogs or cats, or pets with thin hair. How would you like it standing in the blazing sun and not being able to get into the shade. For pets it can be even more dangerous. If you have an animal in a kennel and sitting in the blazing sun, they have no choice but to cook with their heavy fur coats. Shelter is also important for stormy days or nights. You could tell yourself that all those wild animals are outside in this weather and they survive. Well the truth of the matter is many of them do not. They maybe able to hide in shaded areas but sickness does follow them more than you now. Wild animals are very resilient and in most cases only the strong survive. They have been in this environment and have learned how to survive. Our pets are domesticated. They only know what you have trained in them and most can not survive on their own. So having shelter for them to get out of the elements can go along way to insure your pets health and safety.  Read more...